Over the past twenty years spent documenting some of the world’s most brutal wars, Marcus has focused on campaigning against human rights abuses. He has been documenting these issues for Human Rights Watch, and he is a contributing photographer for National Geographic Magazine. Marcus was appointed Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2023 Kings Birthday Honours list for services to international photojournalism and human rights.

Using his background in business and economics and his masters in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, he researches the sources of financing driving the conflicts, which usually lead to the mines and the armed networks linked to them. Marcus covered the conflicts in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Uganda, The Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Somalia, Chad, Darfur, Kashmir, and Georgia.

Since 2000 Marcus has worked extensively in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, documenting a war funded by the extraction of the minerals used in everyday electronic products. Marcus has partnered with international advocacy groups Human Rights Watch and the Enough Project to engage US and European politicians and multinational companies to change government policy and working practices.

Over the past ten years, Marcus has been working in the Central African Republic, documenting the conflict in the region. The work from the Central African Republic won the Amnesty International Award for Media in 2014 and the prestigious Robert Capa Gold Medal from the Overseas Press Club of America in 2015.

Marcus has published three books "One Hundred Years of Darkness" (2002), documenting life along the Congo River after the overthrow of Mboutu"The Rape of a Nation" (2009), documenting the exploitation of natural resources in Eastern Congo, and most recently "The Unravelling" (2015) documenting the brutal conflict in the Central African Republic. 

He lives in Oslo with his extremely funny and beautiful wife Karin Beate, his exhausting but adorable twin daughters Vilja and Saga, and their amazing dog Vega. 

Awards

2015 Overseas Press Club of America The Robert Capa Gold Medal
        2015 FotoEvidence Award
        2015 Amnesty International Award
        2014 Soc. of Environmental Journalists Award
        2014 Overseas Press Club of America The Photography Prize
        2013 World Press Photo Contemporary Issues
        2013 The Photographer Society The Hood Medal
        2011 USA Webby Award
        2010 Picture of the Year USA Book of the Year Award
        2010 Nobel Peace Prize Photographer
        2010 Anthopographia Award Human Rights and Photography
        2009 Days Japan Readers Award
        2009 Picture of the Year USA
        2008 American Photography Award
        2007 Freedom of Expression Foundation
        2006 Overseas Press Club of America Olivier Rebbot Award
        2006 World Press Photo Daily Life Singles
        2005 Open Society Institute
        2005 Alexia Foundation for World Peace Award
        2005 Picture of the Year USA Magazine Photographer of the Year Award
        2004 UNICEF Photographer of the Year
        2004 Picture of the Year USA Magazine Award
        2004 NPPA Magazine News Story Award
        2003 Picture of the Year USA News Award
        2002 Picture of the Year USA Magazine Award
        2000 Sunday Times Nikon Ian Parry Award

Exhibitions

2006 "The Rape of a Nation" The Federal Building NYC

2006 "The Rape of a Nation" The Central Library, Chicago

2006 "The Rape of a Nation" The Holocaust Museum LA

2007 "The Rape of a Nation" Visa Pour L’Image

2007 Nobel Peace Centre Oslo

2008 Ministry of Foreign Affairs France

2009 Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, Oslo

2009 US Senate

2009 UN Headquarters NYC

2010 Nobel Peace Centre (2010), Nobel Peace Prize Photographer

2010 "The Rape of a Nation" The Houses of Parliament UK

2010 United Nations Geneva

2011 “Congo Women” US House of Representatives

2011 Nobel Peace Centre Oslo

2012 Norwegian Houses of Parliament

2013 Fotografiska, Sweden

2014 Lincoln Centre

2014 European Parliament – Congo Women

2015 Lincoln Centre NYC

2015 Visa Pour l’Image

2018 UN Headquarters Building NYC

2018 International Criminal Court - The Hauge

2019 Venice Biennale