My Biggest Project To Date: The Mackenzie Project
- markhoude
- Sep 26
- 2 min read
Over 3 months of filming, thousands of photographs, and a pandemic. Follow my journey as I capture nature's epic, hidden secrets in everyday, ordinary places.
All said and done, this project took four years to complete, but most of the footage was gathered over 3 months during the peak of the COVID pandemic (2021) through daily visits to a local reservoir.
The film resembles a documentary but without narration. I like to refer to it as a visual journal. At the heart of this project are everyday, familiar places, and how we can discover beauty in the ordinary.
The theme is based on a well-known quote by the Dutch post-impressionist painter, Vincent van Gogh:
"If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere."
This film features carefully selected songs that complement each chapter with elegant flow and rhythmic movements, aligning well with the visuals. You might find yourself longing to spend more time outdoors - and that's the point. You might also enjoy the benefits of reducing stress, at least that's what I've been told by many who've watched the film.
I have two pages for this project on my website. You can read everything there is to know about the backstory and dig into the creative process that went into each chapter. You'll also find a poem that was exclusively penned for this project by my friend Mark Camp.
I've also included some Easter Eggs, little visual snippets hidden within scenes that are fun to discover. There's an art gallery of my favorite shots, all of which can be purchased in several mediums: Paper Prints, Metal, and Digital Files.
As a bonus, I've also included a playlist of the entire soundtrack, with bonus songs that didn't make the final cut but were close runner-ups. Music is a significant part of my filmmaking, and I dedicate a considerable amount of time to finding and integrating music with the visuals to achieve the ultimate flow and experience.
If you're interested, head over to my Mackenzie Project Page, where you can learn everything there is to know about this project and how you may get inspired to photograph your local woodlands, or take a walk in the woods.
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