Mitru (Mike) Costea's Member Spotlight

I attended the Philadelphia College of Art for three years as a painting major and I took photos of people on the street to use in paintings. But I got tired of waiting for the paint to dry so I switched to photography as a major. I always took pics, but not nearly enough – it's a little too late for regrets at this point.

I've worked for Larmon Photo and I was working for Mid-City Camera when they went under. I've also worked in the video/film industry for "Shooters" in New Jersey where I learned Photoshop and did graphics for TV and corporations. I’ve taught Photoshop at the Art Institute of Philadelphia and Bucks County Community College, and adult photography classes as well.

I've run an art gallery and partnered another. My photographs have been in a one man show, which an Art News review called "hauntingly poetic and blatantly gross", and I have participated in various group shows.

Mostly, my photographs include things and people I've seen or known but currently I just get an idea and shoot themes. For example, this summer’s theme is 'creepy places'.