Mark Albertin

Artist’s Statement

Few places remain along the Eastern Seaboard untouched by development, but the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is one of those rare sanctuaries. Spanning 684 square miles in the southeast corner of Georgia, it is a vital reminder of how the Earth once functioned before the advent of dikes, dams, and roadways. The swamp’s biodiversity is astounding, and its relative isolation has preserved its status as a designated dark-sky site, offering visitors a rare chance to marvel at the Milky Way in its full glory.

In 2020, I was invited by the Okefenokee Protection Alliance—a coalition of over 40 environmental organizations—to create a film highlighting the threats posed to this fragile ecosystem. A mining company, Twin Pines, proposed extracting titanium dioxide just outside the swamp’s borders, a project that could have devastating consequences. Over six months, the film took shape, aiming to inform and inspire action. It reached thousands through social media and film festivals, spreading awareness about the swamp’s beauty and the urgent need for its protection.

This exhibition, The Sacred Waters of the Okefenokee, along with my forthcoming book of the same title, represents the next phase of this mission. The book, set for release in Spring 2025, will be distributed to legislators across the Southeast, urging them to enact legislation that safeguards this irreplaceable natural treasure. I hope this work— visual and written—will serve as a catalyst, energizing public support and fostering a deeper connection to the Okefenokee’s sacred waters.

Biography

Mark Albertin – Filmmaker and Photographer
Albertin’s journey with photography began in his youth, always with a camera in hand. He honed his craft by creating a darkroom and working at a private photo studio during college. He holds an associate’s degree in printing and publishing and built his expertise in the printing industry, specializing in color separation.

Since 1999, Albertin has dedicated his career to creating documentary films that focus on preserving the history and culture of Southern communities. His work has been featured on PBS and screened at film festivals across the United States. Notable titles include Displaced – The Unexpected Fallout from the Cold War, Discovering Dave – Spirit Captured in Clay, and At What Cost? Pipelines, Pollution, and Eminent Domain in the Rural South.
In 2022, Albertin was honored with the Susan A.K. Shaffer Humanitarian Award at the Beaufort International Film Festival for his documentary Sacred Waters – The Okefenokee in Peril.

In 2016, Albertin returned to his roots in film photography by founding Albertin Film Photography and opening a community darkroom. He uses this space to teach black-and-white film photography, create silver gelatin prints, and inspire a new generation of film photographers.

His deep passion for film photography reached a milestone with the release of his first book, Along the Fall Line, in January 2024. This collection captures five years of black and white film photography documenting the Piedmont, Fall Line, and Coastal Plains regions of Georgia and South Carolina. His upcoming book, The Sacred Waters of the Okefenokee, set for release in Spring 2025, continues this journey. The photographs in this series were taken with vintage cameras and lenses using 120mm, 4×5, and 8×10 formats, emphasizing Albertin’s meticulous attention to detail and respect for traditional techniques.

Albertin’s work has been exhibited at several galleries in the Augusta area, including The Aiken Center for the Arts, The City Gallery, The Frame Shoppe & Gallery, and The Morris Museum of Art.
Through his films, books, and photography, Albertin continues to celebrate the history and natural beauty of the South while preserving its stories for future generations.

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