Mark I Chester
@sfphotou.bsky.social
75 year old gay ‘radical sex’ photographer who has documented his life in San Francisco’s South of Market sexual underground since the late 1970s. Authentic. Provocative. VERY sex positive. Also a guerrilla gallery, gay sketch group and rope enthusiast.
Peter @classicalhunk.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️2025. Almost too normal of a shot. 😉 But he is so fine here. Like many gay men, Peter had to create his own identity because who he was instinctively didn’t match the community that he was born into. Classical hunk indeed!
November 10, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Peter @classicalhunk.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️2025. Almost too normal of a shot. 😉 But he is so fine here. Like many gay men, Peter had to create his own identity because who he was instinctively didn’t match the community that he was born into. Classical hunk indeed!
Photo of @jessiepegasis.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️2025 for my Racial Portraits project. Photo retouching by @shanesasaki /IG
There are no easy answers. It challenges each viewer. When we see a face, our first two instinctual responses are to gender and skin color.
There are no easy answers. It challenges each viewer. When we see a face, our first two instinctual responses are to gender and skin color.
November 8, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Photo of @jessiepegasis.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️2025 for my Racial Portraits project. Photo retouching by @shanesasaki /IG
There are no easy answers. It challenges each viewer. When we see a face, our first two instinctual responses are to gender and skin color.
There are no easy answers. It challenges each viewer. When we see a face, our first two instinctual responses are to gender and skin color.
An outtake from a 2016 shoot w/Corey and Guy for Racial Portraits by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️2016. While Diaper Don, running for prez, was ranting and raving about black people, I was in my studio photographing interracial queer men. Love is our super power. Love for our fellow man. 🫂❤️
November 7, 2025 at 8:36 AM
An outtake from a 2016 shoot w/Corey and Guy for Racial Portraits by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️2016. While Diaper Don, running for prez, was ranting and raving about black people, I was in my studio photographing interracial queer men. Love is our super power. Love for our fellow man. 🫂❤️
Photos of Enzo by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️2025 for inclusion in my Racial Portraits project. I love these pix of this sweet sensual man. He was afraid that he didn’t belong. He deserves to be on the wall and in the book.
Which one do you like? They are similar but also very different.
Which one do you like? They are similar but also very different.
November 6, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Photos of Enzo by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️2025 for inclusion in my Racial Portraits project. I love these pix of this sweet sensual man. He was afraid that he didn’t belong. He deserves to be on the wall and in the book.
Which one do you like? They are similar but also very different.
Which one do you like? They are similar but also very different.
Photo of Pablo @tiddiesdeloser.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️2025. From a shoot for my Racial Portraits project. A portrait before we took images for the project. Let’s just say that the chosen image probably can’t be shown on IG, but maybe on bsky.
Papi chulo mio! 🥊🩸🥊
❤️🫂❤️
Papi chulo mio! 🥊🩸🥊
❤️🫂❤️
November 1, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Photo of Pablo @tiddiesdeloser.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️2025. From a shoot for my Racial Portraits project. A portrait before we took images for the project. Let’s just say that the chosen image probably can’t be shown on IG, but maybe on bsky.
Papi chulo mio! 🥊🩸🥊
❤️🫂❤️
Papi chulo mio! 🥊🩸🥊
❤️🫂❤️
Photo of @selfiegeneratorstudio /IG by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️2025 from a recent shoot. A beautiful, sensual shot of Jeffrey, capturing his hard work in developing his physique. He is really rocking it and looking great!
I’m always looking for models for sketching or photographs.
I’m always looking for models for sketching or photographs.
October 28, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Photo of @selfiegeneratorstudio /IG by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️2025 from a recent shoot. A beautiful, sensual shot of Jeffrey, capturing his hard work in developing his physique. He is really rocking it and looking great!
I’m always looking for models for sketching or photographs.
I’m always looking for models for sketching or photographs.
Photo of Jeffrey @selfiegeneratorstudio /IG by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️10/25
Jeffrey has grown and evolved. With a new trainer, his physique is smoking’ hot.
I’m just trying to use light to sculpt the body; to reveal and inspire. We need all the hope and beauty we can find right now
Jeffrey has grown and evolved. With a new trainer, his physique is smoking’ hot.
I’m just trying to use light to sculpt the body; to reveal and inspire. We need all the hope and beauty we can find right now
October 19, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Photo of Jeffrey @selfiegeneratorstudio /IG by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️10/25
Jeffrey has grown and evolved. With a new trainer, his physique is smoking’ hot.
I’m just trying to use light to sculpt the body; to reveal and inspire. We need all the hope and beauty we can find right now
Jeffrey has grown and evolved. With a new trainer, his physique is smoking’ hot.
I’m just trying to use light to sculpt the body; to reveal and inspire. We need all the hope and beauty we can find right now
Another shot of @thiccvirtualboy.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️ 2015.
OMFG!!!!!!!!
Thicc indeed but his shape and proportions are fantastic.
Sadly, I was on my best behavior!!!! 😝🤣
OMFG!!!!!!!!
Thicc indeed but his shape and proportions are fantastic.
Sadly, I was on my best behavior!!!! 😝🤣
October 13, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Another shot of @thiccvirtualboy.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️ 2015.
OMFG!!!!!!!!
Thicc indeed but his shape and proportions are fantastic.
Sadly, I was on my best behavior!!!! 😝🤣
OMFG!!!!!!!!
Thicc indeed but his shape and proportions are fantastic.
Sadly, I was on my best behavior!!!! 😝🤣
Photo of @thiccvirtualboy.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️ 10/11/25. I found Mark on bsky and asked him to model for @gaymenssketch.bsky.social. One pose really hit me, so I asked to photo him.
When I’m photographing a beautiful man (all men are beautiful…) I feel alive.
1/2
When I’m photographing a beautiful man (all men are beautiful…) I feel alive.
1/2
October 12, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Photo of @thiccvirtualboy.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social ©️ 10/11/25. I found Mark on bsky and asked him to model for @gaymenssketch.bsky.social. One pose really hit me, so I asked to photo him.
When I’m photographing a beautiful man (all men are beautiful…) I feel alive.
1/2
When I’m photographing a beautiful man (all men are beautiful…) I feel alive.
1/2
Rosebud Gallery is doing a show celebrating queer Latin voices. My photo of Al Lujan was accepted.
With every passing day, in a country attacking brown skinned people, this image and its outrage gets stronger. No one is safe. Everyone except straight white Christian males are in danger and at risk.
With every passing day, in a country attacking brown skinned people, this image and its outrage gets stronger. No one is safe. Everyone except straight white Christian males are in danger and at risk.
August 27, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Rosebud Gallery is doing a show celebrating queer Latin voices. My photo of Al Lujan was accepted.
With every passing day, in a country attacking brown skinned people, this image and its outrage gets stronger. No one is safe. Everyone except straight white Christian males are in danger and at risk.
With every passing day, in a country attacking brown skinned people, this image and its outrage gets stronger. No one is safe. Everyone except straight white Christian males are in danger and at risk.
So this happened. 40 fucking years of photographing/drawing men! 1985-2025. In cement outside my front door.
Thanks to the SF Leather/GLBT Cultural District @sfleatherdist for this honor.
The promise of gay lib was to come out of the closet and live full open, authentic lives without shame.
1/4
Thanks to the SF Leather/GLBT Cultural District @sfleatherdist for this honor.
The promise of gay lib was to come out of the closet and live full open, authentic lives without shame.
1/4
August 18, 2025 at 6:53 AM
So this happened. 40 fucking years of photographing/drawing men! 1985-2025. In cement outside my front door.
Thanks to the SF Leather/GLBT Cultural District @sfleatherdist for this honor.
The promise of gay lib was to come out of the closet and live full open, authentic lives without shame.
1/4
Thanks to the SF Leather/GLBT Cultural District @sfleatherdist for this honor.
The promise of gay lib was to come out of the closet and live full open, authentic lives without shame.
1/4
Photo of Steven @steven336.bsky.social ©️ Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social
Steven sex he never sees his butt, so here is a little butt action.
Steven sex he never sees his butt, so here is a little butt action.
August 2, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Photo of Steven @steven336.bsky.social ©️ Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social
Steven sex he never sees his butt, so here is a little butt action.
Steven sex he never sees his butt, so here is a little butt action.
Photo of Jack Mance © Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social titled ‘jack encounters x, y and z’ from the series Lost on a Sea of Desire, 1983.
The times were dark. Deaths piled up. Like some sort of evil lottery, no one knew who would be next. In fact, no one knew anything. We were all afraid.
1/4
The times were dark. Deaths piled up. Like some sort of evil lottery, no one knew who would be next. In fact, no one knew anything. We were all afraid.
1/4
July 21, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Photo of Jack Mance © Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social titled ‘jack encounters x, y and z’ from the series Lost on a Sea of Desire, 1983.
The times were dark. Deaths piled up. Like some sort of evil lottery, no one knew who would be next. In fact, no one knew anything. We were all afraid.
1/4
The times were dark. Deaths piled up. Like some sort of evil lottery, no one knew who would be next. In fact, no one knew anything. We were all afraid.
1/4
Photo of Steven @steven336.bsky.social © Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social from our shoot 7/12/25.
Steven also likes this image. It is sexy and sensual, suggestive yet discrete. I love the touch of leather. There is so much here to think about. The dedication required for a tattoo body suit!
Steven also likes this image. It is sexy and sensual, suggestive yet discrete. I love the touch of leather. There is so much here to think about. The dedication required for a tattoo body suit!
July 13, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Photo of Steven @steven336.bsky.social © Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social from our shoot 7/12/25.
Steven also likes this image. It is sexy and sensual, suggestive yet discrete. I love the touch of leather. There is so much here to think about. The dedication required for a tattoo body suit!
Steven also likes this image. It is sexy and sensual, suggestive yet discrete. I love the touch of leather. There is so much here to think about. The dedication required for a tattoo body suit!
Another photo of Peter @petarious.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social, 5/25.
I really like this image and then I’m not so enamored of it. 😉 Can’t decide which is right. What do you think?
I love how the nipple stands out and in some ways is the center of visual power in the image.
I really like this image and then I’m not so enamored of it. 😉 Can’t decide which is right. What do you think?
I love how the nipple stands out and in some ways is the center of visual power in the image.
June 24, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Another photo of Peter @petarious.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social, 5/25.
I really like this image and then I’m not so enamored of it. 😉 Can’t decide which is right. What do you think?
I love how the nipple stands out and in some ways is the center of visual power in the image.
I really like this image and then I’m not so enamored of it. 😉 Can’t decide which is right. What do you think?
I love how the nipple stands out and in some ways is the center of visual power in the image.
Photo of Peter @petarious.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social 5/25.
Gay Greek Statuary
Gay Greek Statuary
June 23, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Photo of Peter @petarious.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social 5/25.
Gay Greek Statuary
Gay Greek Statuary
1/4 One of the most common questions I get asked is am I just a photog or am I really into this? I assure you, I am really into this. But at 74, it has been 9 months since I was last tied up. That is just too long.
I get it. But a desire for rope and restriction is a life long need and exploration
I get it. But a desire for rope and restriction is a life long need and exploration
June 20, 2025 at 9:13 AM
1/4 One of the most common questions I get asked is am I just a photog or am I really into this? I assure you, I am really into this. But at 74, it has been 9 months since I was last tied up. That is just too long.
I get it. But a desire for rope and restriction is a life long need and exploration
I get it. But a desire for rope and restriction is a life long need and exploration
Photo of Grant Wells @theoriginalgrant.bsky.social © Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social 3/25 from a shoot for Racial Portraits.
We are obsessed with the duality of black and white. Light and dark. Good and evil. Day and night. How the color of clothes are filled with coded msgs on race. 1/3
We are obsessed with the duality of black and white. Light and dark. Good and evil. Day and night. How the color of clothes are filled with coded msgs on race. 1/3
June 10, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Photo of Grant Wells @theoriginalgrant.bsky.social © Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social 3/25 from a shoot for Racial Portraits.
We are obsessed with the duality of black and white. Light and dark. Good and evil. Day and night. How the color of clothes are filled with coded msgs on race. 1/3
We are obsessed with the duality of black and white. Light and dark. Good and evil. Day and night. How the color of clothes are filled with coded msgs on race. 1/3
Photo of @jessiepegasis.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social 6/25. For my Racial Portraits project.
A super fun shoot! This really tapped into Jessie as a sex fantasy everyman. So handsome and his eyes bore right thru you.
Do you have enough courage to tell him what you REALLY want?
A super fun shoot! This really tapped into Jessie as a sex fantasy everyman. So handsome and his eyes bore right thru you.
Do you have enough courage to tell him what you REALLY want?
June 8, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Photo of @jessiepegasis.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social 6/25. For my Racial Portraits project.
A super fun shoot! This really tapped into Jessie as a sex fantasy everyman. So handsome and his eyes bore right thru you.
Do you have enough courage to tell him what you REALLY want?
A super fun shoot! This really tapped into Jessie as a sex fantasy everyman. So handsome and his eyes bore right thru you.
Do you have enough courage to tell him what you REALLY want?
Photo of @petarious.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social, 5/25
I was very nervous about photographing Peter. I love his shoots, particularly the b&w ones. Feeling some imposter vibes about whether I was up to the task. 😉📷
Peter is an artist in everything he does. And that body!
I was very nervous about photographing Peter. I love his shoots, particularly the b&w ones. Feeling some imposter vibes about whether I was up to the task. 😉📷
Peter is an artist in everything he does. And that body!
June 7, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Photo of @petarious.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social, 5/25
I was very nervous about photographing Peter. I love his shoots, particularly the b&w ones. Feeling some imposter vibes about whether I was up to the task. 😉📷
Peter is an artist in everything he does. And that body!
I was very nervous about photographing Peter. I love his shoots, particularly the b&w ones. Feeling some imposter vibes about whether I was up to the task. 😉📷
Peter is an artist in everything he does. And that body!
I love this outtake from a photo session with Ellis Rush Atkins @sfpunisher.bsky.social © by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social 2018 for my Racial Portraits project. Some really potent images came from this shoot. The point of view is haunting. I might change my mind that it’s an outtake. 😉 1/58
May 19, 2025 at 9:19 AM
I love this outtake from a photo session with Ellis Rush Atkins @sfpunisher.bsky.social © by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social 2018 for my Racial Portraits project. Some really potent images came from this shoot. The point of view is haunting. I might change my mind that it’s an outtake. 😉 1/58
Photo of L. from our recent shoot with his husband A for my Rxxxxx Portraits series by Mark I Chester @sfphotou 5/25. During the shoot I photographed L alone. He’s a little shy and like most of us, he worries about his imperfect body, including showing his ass and his face in the same shot. 1/3
May 16, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Photo of L. from our recent shoot with his husband A for my Rxxxxx Portraits series by Mark I Chester @sfphotou 5/25. During the shoot I photographed L alone. He’s a little shy and like most of us, he worries about his imperfect body, including showing his ass and his face in the same shot. 1/3
Photo of @sonicsensor.bsky.social and his husband L by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social 5/25. Possibly for my Racial Portraits series. They included the serape as they are proud Mexicans. Hope it’s not too subtle. I love this tender moment when L bent over and gently kissed A. Electric! 1/5
May 13, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Photo of @sonicsensor.bsky.social and his husband L by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social 5/25. Possibly for my Racial Portraits series. They included the serape as they are proud Mexicans. Hope it’s not too subtle. I love this tender moment when L bent over and gently kissed A. Electric! 1/5
A single frame/single exposure shot of Peter @petarious.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social. Like a modern day gay boy Cupid embracing and displaying his message of love 💕 for all to see.
“Love is love is love is love is love is love is love!” LMM
We just want to love and be loved! ❤️
“Love is love is love is love is love is love is love!” LMM
We just want to love and be loved! ❤️
May 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM
A single frame/single exposure shot of Peter @petarious.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social. Like a modern day gay boy Cupid embracing and displaying his message of love 💕 for all to see.
“Love is love is love is love is love is love is love!” LMM
We just want to love and be loved! ❤️
“Love is love is love is love is love is love is love!” LMM
We just want to love and be loved! ❤️
Photo of the incredible model/artist @petarious.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social, from our shoot last weekend. I seem to be doing images of men looking up as if to ask WTF????? We have suffered so much: AIDS, recessions, earthquakes, covid, a mad king and political retribution. 🖕🖕
May 5, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Photo of the incredible model/artist @petarious.bsky.social by Mark I Chester @sfphotou.bsky.social, from our shoot last weekend. I seem to be doing images of men looking up as if to ask WTF????? We have suffered so much: AIDS, recessions, earthquakes, covid, a mad king and political retribution. 🖕🖕