Mark Gilvey Fine Art Photography

The deep dive into the right side of my brain

Street photography, light painting, painted photography, books I've written, surrealism, and story-like sequences. This will be the new home for my creative musings.

Artist Statment

Gallery

My Books

Shop

Work In Progress

1. A four-book set of my street photography from two weeks of traveling: New York City, Paris, Amsterdam, and Bastia.
2. Pee Wee's Garage: A book I wrote about my neighbor's garage after he passed away.

Artist Statement: Mark Earl GilveyMy work exists at the intersection of technical precision and narrative surrealism. Having begun my career in the era of pin-registered cameras and E-6 chemistry, I view the digital sensor not just as a tool for capture but as a canvas for the same meticulous optical "alchemy" I once performed by hand.Whether I am documenting the candid geometry of a bookstore or constructing a surrealist vision, my process is informed by the Zone System and the deliberate pace of large format photography (no matter what size of camera I use). I am fascinated by the "narrative of the frame"—the idea that every image is a passage between the reality we see and the story we choose to tell.By blending decades of industrial expertise with a passion for photo-illustration, I aim to create imagery that feels both technically flawless and emotionally evocative, offering the viewer a high-fidelity window into the "right side of my brain."

### Mark Earl Gilvey | Artist CVWoodbridge, VA | [email protected] | mgfineartphoto.comEducation* Associate Degree in Specialized Technologies (Photography/Multi-Image), Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
* Specialized studies in the Zone System, color theory, commercial product photography, portraiture, and large-format camera usage.Notable Commissions & Public Exhibits* National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, VA.
* Permanent Installation: Produced a 28-foot large-format banner currently on display at the Medal of Honor theater.
* USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), Permanent Exhibit.
* Mt. Suribachi Flag Raising: Created a 4′ x 6′ hand-colored photo montage commissioned by the U.S. Marine Corps Historical Museum.
* United Way of America, America (multi-image presentation).
* Photographed and developed for a national campaign; privately viewed by President Ronald Reagan.Books, PDFs & Monographs* Blurb for Photographers: Using Adobe InDesign, Lightroom, and Photoshop (Color Edition), 2023.
* Blurb for Photographers: Using Adobe InDesign, Lightroom, and Photoshop (Black and White Edition), 2023.
* ROMA Stage & Observer, 2026.Selected Awards & Competitions* First Place, Fredericksburg Street Photography Collective Annual Shoot-Out (In-camera category), 2021.
* High Score (85/100), Rustic Pathway, Northern Virginia Professional Photography Association (NVPPA), 2019.Selected Publications & Media* Street Photography Magazine, The Sony RX100 MKIII: Coolest Camera For Street Photography (Feature Article).
* Advanced Photoshop Magazine, 30 Retouching Tips For Pros (Technical Contributor).
* Street Photography Magazine Podcast, It’s Not About the Gear, Interviewed by Bob Patterson.
* Creative Space with Catherine Shapiro, Omega Radio. Featured Artist Interview.
* Tips From The Top Floor, Photo Retouching Special, Interviewed by Chris Marquardt.Teaching & Lectures* Guest Lecturer, A Different View: Minimalist Design in Photography, Northern Virginia Photographic Society & Bethesda Camera Club.
* Workshop Lead, Advanced Photoshop for Photographers, Manassas Warrenton Camera Club.
* Co-Presenter, Color Correcting Stock Imagery, Federal Office Systems Expo (FOSE).Professional Affiliations* Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
* American Society of Media Professionals (ASMP)
* Northern Virginia Professional Photographers Association (NVPPA)

ROMA: Stage & Observer

A Visual Journey Through the Eternal CityThis collection explores Rome as a living theater, examining the intersection of ancient sculpture and modern life. To ensure the best possible experience for your specific device, the book is available in two distinct PDF editions:1. The Exposition Edition The standard digital exhibition. This includes the complete, uninterrupted visual sequence of ROMA, beautifully formatted for immersive, two-page spread viewing.2. The Artisan Edition (The Complete Masterclass) For artists, photographers, and collectors who want to see behind the curtain. The Artisan Edition includes the complete visual gallery, plus an extensive, text-heavy final section called The Alchemy. Here, I pull back the layers on the surrealist plates, presenting the final art alongside the "ORIGINAL" unmanipulated captures, detailing my complete thought process and digital techniques.

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Purchase PDF on Gumroad

THIS IS A TEST:
Blurb For Photographers

Stop guessing and start publishing. If you’ve ever wanted to proof your artistic concepts before committing to a final print, the THIS IS A TEST series is your shortcut. I have conducted extensive technical stress tests on color, black and white, and paper response so you don't have to.

Bowling Day

A Saturday at the lanes, 2017. Captured during a local craft show, this 13-image sequence documents the quiet, mechanical heart of the alley and the human rhythms surrounding it. From the ritual of the rental counter to the visual irony of the lanes, these frames explore a community space caught between two worlds.

View Sequence

Black and white street photography of rental bowling shoes organized in wooden cubbies at a bowling alley service counter.

Digital Alchemy

### Light Painting & Digital AlchemyThis portfolio explores the intersection of physical light and digital reimagining. Using handheld flashlights and speedlites, I physically sculpt the textures of my subjects—from ancient stone and industrial relics to organic botanical forms and studio glassware.Through a process I call Digital Alchemy, I transform these captures into surreal narratives. Whether it is a submerged anchor guarded by a hidden observer, the spatial paradoxes of Paradox in Bloom], or the cosmic arrival in The Visitor, these images exist in the space between the documented and the dreamt."Light painting has opened a new door for my creative process. While the opportunity to sculpt with light in total darkness is a rare luxury, the lessons learned—controlling the falloff, emphasizing texture, and defining form—carry directly over into my high-end commercial work."Curious about the technical stress-tests behind these vibrant colors and deep blacks? Visit my Details page to learn about the Blurb For Photographers series.

View Sequence

Street Photography

### Street PhotographyThis curated selection of "one-hit wonders" represents over a decade of observation across the globe—from the high-contrast shadows of Washington DC and New York City to the sun-drenched textures of Bastia, Corsica and Amsterdam.Unlike my narrative-driven series, these images are singular moments where light, timing, and human presence aligned for a split second. They are presented as pure observations—unfiltered, un-staged, and captured with the same technical precision I bring to my studio work.