Investing his radiant images with the friends, family, love and harmony that defines his way of life, the award-winning Mark Borthwick has become one of the most influential photographers of his generation by steadfastly following his own vision. Challenging the conventions of fashion photography, Borthwick’s images appear as poetic documents of everyday moments shot candidly on an old Leica 35mm camera (a wedding gift from his wife, designer Maria Cornejo), the resulting humour and optimism unimpeded by digital technology.
Over the past 15 years the Brooklyn-based, London-born Borthwick has produced editorial for countless high-end fashion magazines and campaigns while regularly collaborating with creatives including The Boredoms, Cat Power, Chloe Sevigny and creating installations, drawings and texts for unconventional exhibitions that include musical performances, poetry readings and dinner parties. The one-and-only Mark Borthwick shared his ‘sweet moments’ with RIKA through original poetry and images. Indigo Clarke.
“After a while, you realise you love everything that you look at – all the people and things that make up your world. So it’s very natural to nurture those aspects of your life – and that gives you the courage to share these beautiful things, your family and your friends, with people through photography. I am always about letting images breathe – for them to not be about me necessarily, but perhaps remind people of their own lives and sweet moments. I believe the sweetest images are images people can feel. This is something that brings the image back to the beginning. I thrive in that moment – the beginning, which is why I nurture the amateur side of things.” Mark Borthwick
as ey`m touch`t by mark`t by
all that meet`s the eye
is of all the thing`s taking place an embrace
revealing to reveal ay universal urning
ay turning meta`phoning raw`ing
an horizon rising upon all eye`s in
as ay requiem un`furls one`s world
into the thrill oblivious to it all
into an oblivion
reflect`s you to where ya going
never knowing
as an echo till were arising
upon an horizon rising
Poetry by Mark Borthwick