FROM LOCKUP TO LEADING PRODUCTIVE LIVES
Finding freedom in photography
In Krancer’s self-portrait, he is surrounded by items that have significance to him and humanize him against the handcuffs and jumpsuit he is wearing. Those items include a book of hopes and dreams he completed in prison, photography awards he has won, his bachelor’s degree, and items that symbolize his love for his wife, Kristin.
After being locked up for 18 promoted to team leader of shipping months, Mark Krancer came out of and receiving. prison clean and sober and ready to Each morning, he rode his bike reclaim his life. But he soon discov- through Memorial Park and along ered that despite his best intentions, the Riverwalk to get to work. At first, it just wasn’t that simple. He had he dreaded the drudgery of the early learned his lesson and was ready to morning ride, but then he started to move forward, but potential employ- take notice of his surroundings and ers perceived his past as a permanent fully appreciated them. He began stain on his character, and he strug- taking photos of the scenery with his gled to find a job. cell phone and grew to love photogAlthough he had a phobia about raphy, which resulted in him buying needles, Krancer was forced to a camera and establishing a photogdonate blood plasma to earn money raphy business. when he couldn’t find employment. His big break came on the heels of He rode his bike to the donation a natural disaster. When Hurricane center and said that during the pro- Irma struck in 2017, Krancer heard cedure he would sweat, shake and from his pastor that Memorial Park feel like he was going to pass out. Yet was flooded. He made his way to the he pushed through it, because he park, waded through chest deep didn’t have an alternative. water, and began to fire away with Krancer landed in prison after his camera, taking hundreds of shots. being dually convicted of his third His photo of the Life statue, standing DUI and for selling drugs. Being in tall while the rest of the park was prison was a sobering experience for under water, quickly went viral on him, in more ways than one. Just the internet and netted him instant prior to being incarcerated, Krancer recognition. “I went from getting a had a life-changing experience; he few emails a week to getting 500-700 said he gave his heart to Jesus. emails a week after announcing that However, he was still addicted to I would sell prints. My phone was drugs. “I looked at it as a chance to dinging all day long,” Krancer said. get clean. I was physically dependent Now Krancer’s business is on drugs,” he said. “At first. I couldn’t booming, and he will be featured in sleep. I hallucinated and I was sick. the Jax Makerspace gallery downBut I got through it.” town early next year. “People don’t When Krancer connected with just see me for my past – they see Prisoners of Christ, an organization what I can do artistically. People are that helps ex-offenders get reestab- more than the sum of their pasts – lished in the community, things they can have a future,” said Krancer. began to turn around for him. He “I hope that perceptions of felons will got a job bundling newspapers for a change, and people will give them a local publication and was eventually second chance.”
People are more than the sum of their pasts – they can have a future.
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SOCIAL DATEBOOK & CHARITY REGISTER
PHOTO BY MARK KRANCER
— MARK KRANCER