Reception for wildlife photographer Aug. 14 'Illusion of Proximity' at Gallery at the Vault through Sept. 19

The Gallery at the Vault, 68 Main St. in Springfield, will be hosting a reception for wildlife photographer Steve Costello, who grew up in Burlington, on from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14. The exhibit of his work, An Illusion of Proximity, will be on display from Wednesday, Aug. 5 through Saturday, Sept. 19.

Costello credits his special interest in wildlife, especially his love for birds and animals, to three mentors. Growing up in Burlington, a childhood friend’s father introduced him to the outdoors and wildlife. Costello later attended St. Michael’s College, where photography professor Chazz Sutphen’s critiques and inspiration helped him fall in love with the camera.

After a 10-year journalism career, Costello met bird advocate Meeri Zetterstrom on his first day at work at Central Vermont Public Service, the electric utility serving Milton, where she lived. Zetterstrom, a native of Finland, had seen a single osprey, a species that had been nearly wiped out by DDT in the 1930s in Vermont. She wanted the state and CVPS, which owned the lake above  Zetterstrom’s home, to help restore the elegant raptors to Vermont skies.

Costello, about 30, and Zetterstrom, in her 70s, became fast friends, and a partnership was born. Working with Zetterstrom, CVPS, later Green Mountain Power, and the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife, Costello helped make Zetterstrom’s dream come true. In 2005, osprey were removed from the Vermont endangered species list.

Costello had learned at Zetterstrom’s hand how to photograph wildlife without affecting it, and how to use photography to move people to support wildlife conservation. Most of this collection was photographed from substantial distances with long telephoto lenses.

“One of my primary objectives is to provide the viewer with a look at wildlife they might not normally be able to see themselves, to put them face to face with these beautiful and interesting species,” Costello said. “I aim to create portraits of the birds, animals, and even reptiles, and what I call the illusion of proximity.”