SOUTHEND’S very own photographic night crawler has been out and about, capturing the bright lights of town after dark.

Mark Thomasson, 21, has followed in the footsteps of his father, Vic, by making a living via the lens.

Vic Thomasson worked as a travel photographer for the best part of 30 years, flying around the globe taking pictures of exotic landscapes, luxurious holiday homes and glamourous models on a sandy beaches.

But Mark has decided to work closer to home. He has been busy snapping Southend’s most famous man-made landmarks, including the gaily-illuminated pier, the Kursaal and the fairground rides at Adventure Island.

“Most of these buildings can look pretty boring and dull during the daylight, but come to life after dark,” says Mark.

“When their different-coloured lights are switched on something really magical happens. They are completely transformed when illuminated against the background of the black night sky. They look beautiful.

“It shows a completely different side of these landmarks, giving them a more attractive face which really brightens up the town, whether it is the pier, heading out into the Thames Estuary, or the Kursaal dome, piercing the evening skyline.”

Mark recently spread his wings, spending a month in Barbados with his camera.

“I spent a month in the Caribbean just before Christmas, before coming back to Southend to spend the festivities with my family,” he says.

“It was a lot different to taking pictures around Southend. The landscape was amazing, with swaying palm trees, golden beaches and clear blue seas.

“Spending time out there was just like being in my dad’s shoes. It’s the sort of thing he used to do all the time when he was working as a travel photographer.

“He would get flown to all these interesting places, just to go and take pictures for people. It must have all been very exciting and it was nice to get a taste of that myself.”

But when it comes to making the choice between Barbados and Southend, there is no competition in Mark’s eyes.

“Southend at night wins every time,” he says.

“I really enjoyed taking pictures of the fireworks on the seafront at the end of last year, with the mixture of colours a stunning display above the dark sea below. To me, the combination of the two is perfect, and I look forward to spending many more nights out and about with my camera.”

For Mark, being able to indulge his passion for photography is a true blessing. He says he is all too aware he might not have lived to take his first picture, He explains: “At one point, I was the most premature baby in the world to survive.

“I was born 18 weeks prematurely, back in 1987 and there was a picture of me in the Echo as a tiny baby wired up to an incubator.

“I only weighed 1lb 4oz and it was a miracle I survived.

“I’m just pleased to be here and able to go out and take these pictures I love so much.”

When not snapping the bright lights, Mark works as a commercial photographer, taking pictures for company brochures, and images which can be used online to give potential customers a visual tour of a building.

You can contact him by calling 07827 500182, or e-mailing mrkthomasson@yahoo.com