Mark Dunsmuir

MARK IS A RECOVERING CORPORATE LAWYER WHO LEFT BIG LAW TO FOLLOW A PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND WRITING. STANDING IN A GROCERY STORE QUEUE A FEW MONTHS AFTER RETURNING FROM BACK-TO-BACK TRIPS TO THE SUB-ARCTIC AND THE ANTARCTIC, MARK REALIZED HE NEEDED TO UP-END HIS LIFE AND FOLLOW HIS PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY.

Mark has now led or guided over 50 expeditions to the northern and southern polar regions. Mark’s other recent photography adventures include Madagascar, Namibia, Bhutan, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, India, Tanzania, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Orkney, and Northern Scotland. If there is a getaway or road trip in the offing, you can count Mark in. 

When not guiding, Mark writes for Fstoppers.com, where his articles focus on the ethics of wildlife photography, the history of expedition photography, and the mentorship of emerging photographers. Mark has worked closely with Polar Bear International in Canada’s sub-Arctic to develop ethical photography related guidelines. Mark also teaches photography in association with Canon Canada and is always eager to work with guests to develop their own personal style of seeing the world through a camera lens. Mark is a firm believer that intention and a desire to tell a story are the best tools in a photographer’s arsenal.  

Although Mark favours using Canon’s new mirrorless cameras, one of his most treasured possessions is a collection of medium format instant film that is chilling in his fridge waiting for the right project. Any ideas? 

Mark’s work has been featured by Bradt Guides, Newsweek, Canon Canada, BBC Earth, the Automobile Association, the Lt. Governor of Ontario, Frontiers North Adventures, GAdventures, IAATO, Polar Tourism Guides Association, Fstoppers, and the Toronto Star.