Step Into Freedom

Mark Peters

Born and raised in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Mark Peters began his extraordinary career as a news photographer amidst the turbulence of war-torn Rhodesia. In his own words, during his early days at the Bulawayo Chronicle in 1975, he “covered everything from old ladies’ tea parties to murdered nuns.” Little did he know, this formative experience would prepare him for a lifetime of capturing history’s most defining moments.

From the late 1970s onwards, Mark’s camera became his passport to the world. Working for renowned publications such as the Johannesburg Star, The New York Times, The LA Times, The London Sunday Times, the Chicago Tribune, and ultimately Newsweek Magazine, Mark fearlessly documented pivotal global events.

His portfolio spans protests, revolutions, and conflicts, including those in South Africa during the Apartheid struggle, Rwanda, Somalia, Mozambique, Angola, the Congo, and his homeland Zimbabwe. His work extended to the Balkans, Cambodia, Mali, Israel, Jordan, the First Gulf War, and most recently Afghanistan.
Throughout his storied career, Mark Peters has amassed achievements and experiences that few photographers could dream of:

• • 22 Newsweek Covers: Among them, two world exclusives that solidified his reputation as a visual storyteller of global significance.

  • Nelson Mandela’s Walk to Freedom: Mark captured the iconic first photograph of Mandela as a free man — an image transmitted around the globe and etched into history.

  • Mandela’s Inner Circle: Mark was the first person personally escorted by Nelson Mandela into his prison cell on Robben Island. Mandela became not only a subject but a friend, often joining Mark for Sunday lunches at his Johannesburg home.

  • Mark also accompanied Mandela on his 1990 trip to the USA, photographing him during New York’s iconic ticker-tape parade and in the Oval Office alongside President George H.W. Bush.

  • The Hall of Heroes: Mark’s photograph of the first pilot to take off in the First Gulf War now hangs in the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes and was commemorated as an Air Force Medal.

  • Encounters with Legends: Mark has photo-graphed global icons including Mother Teresa in Cape Town, Margaret Thatcher at 10 Downing Street, and King Hussein of Jordan in Oman.

  • Survival in Conflict Zones: Mark’s intrepid nature often placed him in life-threatening situations. He survived two death sentences — one issued by the Dogon tribe in Mali, and another during the violent Soweto uprisings of the mid-1980s, where he was threatened with “necklacing”.

Despite the risks, Mark Peters has remained unwavering in his mission to document truth through his lens. His work stands as both an artistic and historical legacy, capturing the beauty, tragedy, and resilience of the human experience across decades and continents.

Nowadays, Mark Peters is an international motivational keynote speaker, raconteur, war journalist, and photographer based in South Africa near Cape Town. Known for his candid storytelling and ability to inspire audiences, he remains deeply passionate about the art of photography, often proclaiming: “I am a real photographer”.