Baker Artist Portfolios

I have been an artist since childhood, having come by it honestly from my mother and grandfather. While I always had a camera, and practically grew up in my mother's darkroom, painting had been my primary form of expression and photography was something to do on vacations. Now I find that photography is my passion. But not just any photography - I am driven to photograph people. I have learned that my camera is a conduit for connections to be made between me and my subject. I love talking to the people I photograph: listening to their stories, hearing about where they work and live, and telling them about myself and what I am doing. With my camera, I open a door that I, an introvert, would not otherwise open. As this interaction develops, the camera disappears. At that moment I realize the potential for the connection between subject and photograph to transform into one between photograph and audience. I want others to see what I see in the people I photograph - the warmth and heart of these connections I make, and to see a city or a town in a different light, through the people I meet.

I have seen many changes over the last 50 years, but to me, the soul of Baltimore has remained the same - a mix of hard-working, quirky, gritty, and most of all, warmth. While Baltimore's neighborhoods each have a distinct character, they combine to form a single picture of a unique city. I have spent the last three years wandering these neighborhoods to capture and communicate an honest and intimate portrait of the soul of Baltimore as I see it. It is my hope that this "Aesthetic of Resilience" will give words to what I see and connect the viewer with this warm soul.