Kathryn Costello

I grew up in a family with six siblings who had the insight to buy me a camera for HS graduation. I loved taking pictures but had no inclination that I would be a professional photographer one day. I was underwhelmed by the look of professional portraiture that was popular at that time—it seemed stiff and lifeless to me. After college, I worked with homeless teenagers in NYC which had its rewards but left me craving nature and solitude. So shortly thereafter I rode my bicycle from Montana to Alaska, carrying everything I needed with me and pitching a tent every night.

Summer comes to an end in Alaska in a way that is haunting and abrupt as the tourists leave and the darkness and cold set in. It was in the last week of the trip that I stopped using my camera as a point and shoot to capture postcard-style snapshots, and started using it to capture internal truths—not just what I was seeing but what I was feeling. This was the beginning of my journey into the art of photography, and I took what I consider to be my first photograph (http://ph2pro.com/costello/images/71052). I returned and settled down in my home state of Massachusetts where I now live with my husband and three children.

I’m creative. I started playing the piano when I was four-years-old, often accompanying my father who was a classical singer. I think music and photography both appeal to me because they use a similar combination of the technical and artistic—left and right sides of the brain. I believe the most powerful music and photographs are those which invoke an emotional response.

I started my training in the technical aspects of photography in 2000 with black and white film. I have long since switched to digital but retain a classical approach where I strive for a perfect capture through lighting and technique. I have spent years studying and learning to manipulate light and know the setup in my studio to be the most flattering in smoothing the skin and making the eyes shine.

Over the years I rose to many challenges and gained experience in photojournalism, portraiture, architecture and event photography, but I became increasingly aware of how much I enjoy photographing people—their relationships, their moods. I particularly enjoy narrowing in on one person at a time. It is fascinating to me that a person's face can be co