2007, Oakland, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

A masked crack cocaine dealer looks out onto the street from his home window.

Crack dealer looking out his window

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Tuesday November 22, 2005, Oakland, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

A child living at the CPMP look through the bars on a secure door. The Oakland Community Prisoner Mother Program (CPMP) is a low level incarceration facility which houses up to 24 women inmates who gave birth behind bars and are now able to live out the duration of their sentence with their new born child. Qualifying inmates are allowed to live in a apartment style locked facility with their child for as long as six years. Three such facilities exist in the state of California housing a meager 75 women total.

A child living at the CPMP look through the bars on a secure door.

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Friday December 9, 2005, Madera, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

Inmate Laura Strange, 25 years old, mother of 2, feeds her new born baby Haley for the last time before being sent back to Valley State Prison (VSP). Strange is serving a 2 year sentence at VSP for meth related drug charges. Madera Community Hospital serves as the main birthing center for VSP housing its own pregnant prisoners ward delivering on average 28 babies a month and approx 340 babies annually. The average stay for a pregnant prisoner is 48-72 hours. During this time the mother is allowed to visit with her child. The hospital acts as a broker to distribute the new born infants to their appropriate temporary/permanent guardians. Valley State Prison (VSP) for women is the worlds largest female correctional facility, housing nearly 4,000 inmates on any given day.

Inmate Laura Strange, 25 years old, mother of 2, feeds her new born baby Haley for the last time before being sent back to Valley State Prison (VSP)

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

2002, Sierra Leone

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

On March 23, 1991 Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels attacked a police station in Bomaru, Kailahun District marking the beginning of nine years of brutal war in the country. Rebels accused the Sierra Leone government of profound corruption, including mismanagement of diamond and mineral resources. At first, the national army attempted to defend the government. However, in the following year the army itself joined the insurgence and overthrew the government. While the RUF denounced the government for its fraudulence, it was concurrently committing these same crimes, including using diamond and mineral funds to purchase weapons. To champion their mislead cause, rebels committed widespread human rights violations, torturing and murdering over 50, 000 people. During the conflict, much of civilization in Sierra Leone was destroyed. Villages were burned, the electrical grid was demolished and the water supply was ruined, leaving thousands of amputees, tens of thousands of orphaned children and over a million people displaced.

A woman whose arm was chopped off by RUF rebels holds her prosthetic limb

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Wednesday January 23, 2008, Los Angeles, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

Mexican Southsiders hanging out in the Los Angeles river. Southsider is a broad gang affiliation related to the geographic area in CA from Bakersfield to the Mexican border. Mexican gangs are separated in 2 parts North of Bakersfield Norteno and the Southsiders. The 2 gangs are mortal enemies.

Mexican Southsiders hanging out in the Los Angeles river

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Tuesday April 15, 2008, Los Angeles, California, USA

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Paparazzi surrounds reality TV star Kim Kardashian on a visit to high end shoe store Jimmy Choo in Beverly Hills.

Kim Kardashian

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

2006, Baghdad, Iraq

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

A US soldier in Baghdad.

US Soldier

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Tuesday January 29, 2008, Watts, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

Members of the LAPD Gang Enforcement arrive on the scene of a double shooting from assault rifles in Watts.

A shooting victim on the ground at a crime scene

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Thursday January 24, 2008, Los Angeles, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

A Blood gang member separates his crack cocaine, dips cigarettes in PCP (called sherm), and counts his money in a crack house deep in the JUNGLE housing projects in South Central.

A Blood gang member holds money in front of drugs

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Wednesday September 21, 2005, Three Rivers, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

A Sequia National Park Ranger watches as two CAMP officers are Short Hauled by rope and harness from mountain top illegal marijuana gardens. Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) is a multi jurisdictional task force created by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat marijuana growing on public lands including National Forests. DOJ authorities say that fisherman, hunters, hikers, and tourists are stumbling onto marijuana gardens all over the state running into armed individuals protecting their crops or falling victim to booby traps set by growers. The DOJ also cites that these marijuana growers are destroying the natural habitat by clearing land for marijuana growth, leaving tons of trash behind, and dumping fertilizers and contaminants into the environment. 70% of the marijuana found growing is on public land and the majority of that is found in National Forrests.

A Park Ranger watches as two CAMP officers are Short Hauled by rope and harness from mountain top illegal marijuana gardens

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Saturday June 14, 2008, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

A BASE jumper prepares to land on a city street in California. B.A.S.E stands for Building, Antenna, Span and Earth where a person jumps from of one of these fixed objects with a parachute unopened.

A BASE jumper prepares to land on a city street in California.

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Saturday June 18, 2005, Beaumont, Texas, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

Wives and family members prepare breakfast for competitors in the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. For almost a decade discrimination and lack of funding kept Black Rodeo Cowboys out of the rodeo limelight. Now on any given Sunday afternoon from February to November within a 60 mile radius of Houston, Texas black cowboys can be found competing in an all black rodeos. The self proclaimed "Greatest Show on Dirt" Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR) celebrates its 21st year as the only touring black rodeo in the world visiting ten cities nationwide in this 2005 season. Some black cowboys make a living competing for prize money on the (BPIR) others are weekend warriors who have regular jobs to support their rodeo habit.

Wives and family members prepare breakfast for competitors in the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

2002, Sierra Leone

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

On March 23, 1991 Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels attacked a police station in Bomaru, Kailahun District marking the beginning of nine years of brutal war in the country. Rebels accused the Sierra Leone government of profound corruption, including mismanagement of diamond and mineral resources. At first, the national army attempted to defend the government. However, in the following year the army itself joined the insurgence and overthrew the government. While the RUF denounced the government for its fraudulence, it was concurrently committing these same crimes, including using diamond and mineral funds to purchase weapons. To champion their mislead cause, rebels committed widespread human rights violations, torturing and murdering over 50, 000 people. During the conflict, much of civilization in Sierra Leone was destroyed. Villages were burned, the electrical grid was demolished and the water supply was ruined, leaving thousands of amputees, tens of thousands of orphaned children and over a million people displaced.

Men whose arms or legs were chopped off by RUF rebels prepare for an amputee soccer match

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Wednesday June 16, 2004, Calipatria, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

Inmates of the Sensitive Needs Housing Unit are stripped and full body cavity searched Calipatria State Prison. Though Inmates of the Sensitive Needs Housing Unit are no longer gang affiliated or validated, they are some of the most hardened and dangerous men behind bars. They are routinely stripped and full body cavity searched for weapons and narcotics. The California Department of Corrections (CDC) houses approximately 162,000 inmates. The most dangerous are sentenced to serve their time in Level 4 maximum-security facilities. It is estimated that 95-97% of inmates in Level 4 prisons are gang affiliated.

Inmates of the Sensitive Needs Housing Unit are stripped and full body cavity searched Calipatria State Prison

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Sunday July 20, 2008, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

BASE jumpers leap a bridge into a national forest . B.A.S.E stands for Building, Antenna, Span and Earth where a person jumps from of one of these fixed objects with a parachute unopened.

BASE jumpers leap a bridge into a national forest

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

2006, Amarillo, Texas, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

A massive cross on the side of the road in Amarillo.

A massive cross on the side of the road in Amarillo.

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Wednesday January 19, 2005, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria; Air pollution is widespread in Port Harcourt, the oil and gas capital of Nigeria.

Air pollution in Port Harcourt

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Thursday February 10, 2005, Ughelli, Nigeria

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

A woman dries cassava by the heat of an oil flare near the Eriemu Field Well. Villagers have learned to be resourceful in their struggle to survive amidst severe environmental air pollution due to gas flaring.

A woman dries cassava by the heat of an oil flare near the Eriemu Field Well

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Tuesday August 1, 2006, Lake City, Missouri, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

Producing nearly 1.4 BILLION rounds/bullets in 2006 alone the Lake City Army Ammunition plant is the worlds largest small caliber munitions plant in the world producing 5.56mm, 7.62mm and 50mm and 20mm rounds. Since Sept 11, 2000 when the US WAR on Terror began production of rounds/bullets has sky rocketed by over 300% at the munitions factory producing almost 6 MILLION rounds/bullets per 24 hours. With such a demand by the US military for ammunition currently rounds/bullets are in some cases being shipped directly to the field instead of to stockpile depots. Since 1941 the plant has produced almost 50 BILLION rounds/bullets. With a history dating back to World War 2 the plant employs over 2,000 employees. The work force at the plant consists of local people many who are 3rd and 4th generation employees. The Lake City Army Munitions plant is owned by the US government and operated by Alliant Techsystems (ATK) on a fixed price contract.

5.56mm bullets

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Friday May 15, 2009, Compton, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

An man shows off his low rider car and gun in the backyard of his home in the Farm Dog Crip neighborhood. In LA County every 22 hours someone is murdered. Almost 80 per cent of these murders result from gun shot wounds. 86 per cent of the victims are men, of whom 50 per cent are between ten and 29 years of age. 88 per cent of these men killed are either black or hispanic.

An man shows off his low rider car and gun in the backyard of his home in the Farm Dog Crip neighborhood

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

2006, Baghdad, Iraq

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

A dead insurgent lies on the ground after being shot during a gun battle with US forces.

A dead insurgent lies on the ground after being shot

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

2006, Baghdad, Iraq

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

An Iraqi family lives in an abandoned building after fleeing scretarian violence.

An Iraqi family in an abandoned building

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Tuesday November 23, 2004, Venice, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

Gunter Schlierkamp flexes in Gold's Gym, Venice Beach, known worldwide as the "Mecca" of body building. 6'2" tall, weighing in at 325 lbs., with 24 inch biceps, 33 inch thighs, and a 58 inch chest, Gunter Schlierkamp is one of the largest men ever to compete in professional body building. Shlierkamp exercises twice daily during competition season, and consumes more than 6,000 calories a day. His resume boasts titles such as Mr. Universe, European Champion, German Champion and placing 6th at the 2004 Mr. Olympia competition. Schlierkamp is one of the world most recognized body builders in the world.

Gunter Schlierkamp flexes in Gold's Gym

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

2006, Baghdad, Iraq

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

A US army soldier plays pool with Iraqi children.

A US army soldier plays pool with Iraqi children.

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

2006, Baghdad, Iraq

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

A US soldier searches a palm grove for a weapons cache.

A US soldier searches a palm grove for a weapons cache.

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Saturday February 9, 2008, Los Angeles, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

A Gang Funeral for Brandon B.L Bullard a well respected Grape Street Crip. East Coast Crips sprayed a party with bullets wounding 7 people and killing Brandon Bullard of the Grape Street Crips. This explosive attack sparked off an all out gang war in Watts. During the funeral a fight broke out causing panic and sending funeral goers running and screaming for their lives.

Gang members look at the body of Brandon B.L Bullard in his coffin

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Friday July 22, 2005, Chatsworth, California, USA

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

Zach Smith, a cast member of Rent A Midget sucks on the breast of a porn star before performing at a Porn Video shoot for Shanes World Productions.

Zach Smith sucks on the breast of a porn star

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

2006, Baghdad, Iraq

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

Iraqi private security wear masks while sitting in their car during heavy street traffic.

Iraqi private security wear masks while sitting in their car during heavy street traffic.

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Wednesday January 26, 2005, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Mark Allen Johnson Portfolio

Workers at the Rainbow Slaughter Yard kill approximately 300 cows daily. The meat must be distributed and consumed by days end, as Port Harcourt, the oil and gas capital of Nigeria, lacks the infrastructure to provide regular electricity for refrigeration.

Workers at the Rainbow Slaughter Yard killing cows for meat

Credit: Mark Allen Johnson / Polaris

Mark Allen Johnson

Mark Allen Johnson stories have been published on nearly every continent and countless countries.

Johnson specializes in producing photo, written, and video stories from within difficult to access areas and sub cultures. In pursuit of a story Mark prides himself in making the impossible possible. Mark has a B.A. In Journalism from California State University, Northridge. His work has broad international appeal and attracts a diverse list of clients including but not limited to:

  • Newsweek Magazine and online
  • TIME magazine and online
  • The New York Times newspaper and online
  • Marie Claire
  • Vanity Fair
  • The Economist
  • STERN
  • Rolling Stone
  • Mother Jones
  • Maxim
  • FOCUS
  • VIBE
  • Playboy
  • Parade
  • FHM
  • STUFF
  • World News Tonight


    • Personal web site of Mark Allen Johnson