Baker Artist Portfolios

Even before I started taking pictures, the night had a strong hold on my imagination. As a kid I was afraid of the dark and was, seemingly, affected by it for longer than most. Even today, darkness gives me the sense that it's something I could fall into and be smothered by, but it is also a comfort, a warm blanket, a link to my earliest memories. Perhaps because the dark frightened me so much, I felt a powerful sense of curiosity about worlds I could see at night. From my parents' car window I encountered gas stations, old buildings, cars, and people who only seemed to exist in that element. These are places that still attract me today. Perhaps the fleeting nature of my presence within them has caused me to want to return. I'm drawn to darkness or, more accurately, the light that can be found in dark places. Daylight is expansive, it uncovers everything which can make it easy for our eyes to gloss over things. Night time points in the direction of introspection and can, quite literally, put a spotlight on something while leaving other things in darkness. The places we illuminate, however simple, become more precious and meaningful, even when such illumination is often accidental.
This collection of images represents over ten years of work. Many of the images you see were taken in Baltimore and other parts of Maryland, but I've also traveled to South America, California, New England and Canada, exploring different nocturnal landscapes. You can find out more about me by having a look at the "meta" section at the bottom of my nomination page. There you will find photographs and links to interviews and pieces that have featured my work.