My name's Maria Costello, and I'm a Wayne-based artist specializing in fine art photography.
My passion for the outdoors goes all the way back to my childhood spent in Moscow, Russia. As a kid, I used to reflect on my experiences by drawing and sketching. Nowadays much of my inspiration comes from hiking around Valley Forge and gardening, which is where my interest in photography began after my eldest son was born. I use my camera to capture the often missed everyday beauty.
My extensive portfolio includes images of waterfalls, sunsets, flowers, birds and other beautiful scenery and wildlife I encounter in Pennsylvania and during my travels, most of which are to the UK. I enjoy macro photography because it allows me to study my subjects in greater detail. I also find myself drawn to minimalism because it declutters my mind and lets me examine the relationship between nature and man.
I enjoy transforming the ordinary into extraordinary using my imagination and skills, developed by constantly experimenting with various subjects, conditions, equipment and editing techniques. My work is more than just an outlet; it's a passion bordering on addiction. Taking a break from birds usually means chasing insects. My latest "thing" is capturing airborne anthropods.
Seeing my creations come to life on canvas and being able to share the beauty with others by helping them transform their personal and professional space into a unique, stimulating environment, be it via wall art or other items of home décor makes it so much more rewarding. My ultimate goal is to help others take a pause, look around and appreciate the world which is at our fingertips but so often gets lost in the daily grind of Starbucks, Facebook and the boss who wants everything yesterday.
