A graphic of the MGFAP logo.

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.

Completed Works

ROMA: Stage & Observer (2026)
A visual evolution of the Eternal City.This series documents a narrative transition from raw, candid street photography to deliberate architectural studies, eventually culminating in a set of surrealist "Dream" plates. By pairing original, unmanipulated captures with final surrealist interpretations, the work explores the boundary between the city as a physical "stage" and the photographer as a subjective "observer."* Four-Act Narrative: The Street, The Art, Cinema Roma, and The Dream.
* The Artisan Version: Includes "The Alchemy," a section dedicated to the technical and creative process behind the surrealist works.
* Format: High-Resolution Full-Screen Interactive PDF.Acquire ROMA at GumroadIn 2023 I published a two-book series called THIS IS A TEST, and the books are called Blurb For Photographers - Using Adobe InDesgn, Photoshop, and Lightroom. This book will help you even if you don't have InDesign, Photoshop, or Lightroom. The principals work across the board, whether you are making prints on your copy/fax machine, print on demand, or high-end press.
If you have ever wanted to test ideas before publishing your book, the THIS IS A TEST series will help you get there faster. I've done all the testing for you. Do you want to know what a one-color and four-color black look like on a printed page—it's in there. How about what borders around photos look like in different weights—it's in there. Do you know how to view colors that won't print—it's in there.This is a premium, magazine-style book in hard copy that you are going to want to refer to. Follow the Details link to go to my other website, where you can learn more about both books and download a PDF sample. Or if you are ready now, click Order Now.

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.

© 2026 Mark Gilvey. All rights reserved.

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)

The cover of "Roma: Stage & Observer" by Mark Gilvey, showing a stone sculpture reaching toward a bright sun behind clouds with the title in red text.

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.

Click an image for enlargement

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.

Click the first image for enlargement.

Then arrow right through the sequence. You can mouse over the thumbnails to see image titles.