FARGO — A local photographer is on day 97 of a photography journey across the United States.
Mark French is taking photographs in all of the lower 48 states over the course of a year as part of his efforts to support organizations that helped him when he needed it most.
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch helped him get to where he is today.
“Let me just say it’s been amazing being on tour,” French said.
French probably never imagined he’d end up traveling across the United States while growing up in Grafton, North Dakota.
After getting into trouble as a teenager, he was sent to the Dakota Girls and Boys Ranch in Minot, where life began to chart a new path for him.
“They showed me the path I was on and the direction I was heading in and gave me the ability to have other options and make better choices,” French said.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1981 and was stationed 70 miles from London, where he bought a Canon F1 camera and developed a passion for photography.
“I drove around the one-lane back roads of England looking for cathedrals, historic buildings and cemeteries, and just by looking at photographs I realised I loved trying to create something,” French said.
After retiring, French decided to realize a dream he had had for 42 years and embarked on a scenic road trip across the lower 48 states.
“I always had this in the back of my mind that I had to accomplish something big in my life before I got old or before I died — not for any other reason, but just for myself, to be able to say I could do it,” French said.
French has traveled 13,000 miles through 12 states, spending nights in his car, and said he’s been amazed not only by the places he’s seen, but also by the people and stories he’s heard.
“The people, the places and the things. What started as a photography journey has actually turned into something much bigger. I feel like I’m enriched every day by the people I interact with,” French said.
He hopes to one day speak at youth facilities about his journey and help pave a different path for others.
French earns money for his travels through the sale of his prints.
More information can be found on his website, and a portion of every purchase will be donated to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.
