About the Artist:
If you’ve been to Cumberland, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the images of Bill Merlavage somewhere.  Bill is well known in the area for his unique captures of local scenes.  His images have been used in the Allegany County Visitors guide, the Western Maryland Scenic railroad brochure and many other publications that promote the beauty of Western Maryland.  His images are offered in galleries throughout Maryland & West Virginia and he is a regular on the summer/fall art festival circuit in the tri-state area.

Bill’s photography style is highly technical, with a borderline fanatical attention to detail.  He seeks out situations that require analysis & manual manipulation of the camera settings.  Bill says “If the camera made the decisions regarding exposure, aperture & shutter speed, how can I claim credit for the shot?  I want the shot to be entirely mine, so I want the setting used to be my decision.”  The final images are professionally printed on Kodak Endura paper with a Metallic finish that gives the images the appearance that they are popping off the page.  It also gives the prints added longevity, with a minimum 100 year guarantee against fading.

Publications:

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad brochure

Allegany County Visitors Guide

Tristate Town Planner Calendar

Deep Creek Lake Calendar

Deep Creek Magazine

Mdmountainside.com

Allegany Magazine

Natural History Magazine

Preservation Magazine

Mountain Maryland PACE postcards

 

 

Organization Memberships:
Allegany Area Arts Alliance

Allegany Arts Council

Garrett County Arts Council

Bedford County Arts Council

 

 

Prints available at:
Along the Towpath, Shops at Canal Place in Cumberland Maryland

Arts at Canal Place, Shops at Canal Place in Cumberland, Maryland

Cumberland Store in Cumberland, Maryland

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Station in Cumberland, Maryland

Rocky Gap Lodge & Resort, just outside of Cumberland, Maryland

Elder Street Gallery in Oakland, Maryland

1884 B&O Train Station Shoppe in Oakland, Maryland

Shelby’s Creative Custom Framing in Leonardtown, Maryland

Water Street Gallery in Petersburg, West Virginia

 

 

Postcards available at:
Along the Towpath, Shops at Canal Place in Cumberland Maryland
Allegany County Transportation Museum in Cumberland, Maryland

Awards & Exhibitions:

Bill is the founding member of the Western Maryland Photographer’s Association.

Bill has won numerous awards for photography in Maryland, Pennsylvania & West Virginia.

Bill’s work has been featured at various locations in the Cumberland, Maryland area.

Delicious chocolate bars featuring Bill’s images are available at Timeless Treats in Cumberland, MD. .

Bill’s book “The Big Picture” is available at Along the Towpath in Cumberland, MD. Along the Towpath is also the official home of Fripperies!

A small number of Bill’s Limited Edition hard cover book of night photography “Man, is my shutter slow” are still available for $99.  For a preview click here.

Several of Bill’s images have been on display in Times Square as the Kodak Picture of the Day.

Bill’s images are on year round display at the following locations:

          Puccini’s Restaurant in Cumberland Maryland

          Comfort Inn lobby in Lavale Maryland

          Tristate Community Health Department in Cumberland Maryland

          Western Maryland Health System Campus in Cumberland Maryland

          Queen City Creamery in Cumberland Maryland

 

 

Classes / Instruction:

The Western Maryland Photographers Association (WMPA) meet upstairs at Marks Daily Grind in Cumberland, Maryland on the last Thursday of every month.

Guest speaker at Penny Knobel-Besa’s “More Art of Photography” class, providing instruction on night-time photography.

Bill & Mike Calhoun have been teaching a photography class at the Cumberland YMCA throughout 2008.

Member of PhotographyPros - Merlavage Images wedding photography

Find a DJ for your wedding or special event

 

 

Contact:

merlavage@atlanticbb.net