Baker Artist Portfolios

Photography is the focus of my life. My humble beginnings were in college working for the school newspaper. I worked with my trusted and most beloved Pentax K-1000 to complete assignments and tell stories with my photos. I was mostly interested in the latest gadgets and the features of various cameras systems. After 30 more years of (semi) professional photography, I learned much about the medium and technique. After retiring from that in 2011, landscape and nature photography have been my primary interest.

I used to go out LOOKING for a photograph; sometimes with a scene pre-visualized in my head, sometimes with a specific topic in mind. I would feverishly scour the landscape trying to find the perfect composition. I would bring along a heavy backpack with every lens, filter, and gadget I could afford. I thought a great picture was a technological achievement and I sought out knowledge wherever I could find it.

In time, I started realizing that a great photograph was less about something I created; not something I could take credit for, but rather a “gift” that had been laid out in front of me. My photos are a result of my being present with my surroundings; not regurgitating something from my past. I am less interested in the “Grand Landscape” that awaits me in some far away place, and I find that my best subjects are closer to home where I can visit often. This teaches me how to dig deeper into my personal vision and personal experience of nature. With meditation, I am learning to hear that still small voice inside me and acknowledge when and how a particular scene resonates within my being. I am becoming more “self-aware” and realize that my pictures are less an expression of nature, but rather an expression of my relationship with nature.

I am learning that I am a hopeless romantic and lean toward scenes of mythic proportion and storytelling. More recently, I find myself straying away from the straight photograph and embarking on a journey to embellish the quintessential essence of a scene with painterly effects. This allows for a deeper appreciation of the “story”, and communicates my evolving sense of self and relationship with nature. As my relationship with nature grows, I am sure my expression of it will grow. I can’t wait to see what’s next!