Meet Karen Elizabeth Baker | Fine Art Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Elizabeth Baker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen Elizabeth, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
When I was working in my fashion career, thatʻs what I did, I worked; there was no balance of work and personal time. However as I became more senior, and was able to bring more to the table in my industry, it seemed that more personal time opened up.

I think that the notion of balance occurs commensurate with effort put in. If you are not putting in a significant effort, or taking risks, my sense is you remain in more entry level positions.

Now that I have retired from my fashion career I am working exclusively on my fine art photography, I create my own schedule which includes personal time. However, I think the benefit from all the years of working diligently carry over to this new venture. I push myself like I would if I was working for someone else which has resulted in measurable success.

My experience is, donʻt worry about balance in the beginning it will come in time.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I was always fascinated with photographers and the images they created; Dian Arbus, William Eggleston, Robert Frank, Stephen Shore, Ansel Adams, Julius Schulman. I was inspired to learn the craft of photography to conceivably create images as impactful as those with which I was moved. We all have artists we would like to emulate, however, how one sees and what is in one’s head is unique to the individual and is indelible, fortunately resulting in the creation of wholly new work. My work has evolved to capturing the mundane aspects of American social landscape in straightforward, unglamorous images.

My foremost career was in the fashion industry. As I grew in my industry, I was longing for something to leave behind besides the spreadsheets I attended to every day. I began studying photography, printing and digital imaging at nights and weekends and in photo festival workshops. My progress was very slow as I was working full-time. I knew that I was lacking in knowledge, but I kept with it. When I retired from my career in 2016, I enrolled in the BFA program at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, and Covid hit. I kept working throughout and was able to receive my BFA.

In 2023 I was able to reap some rewards. I had a solo show, “Segue” at Pacific Hawaiʻi University in Kaneohe, and 6 group shows in Los Angeles, Palm Desert, CA, Winchester, MA and Austin TX. Two books have been printed with my images this year. One will be in the Fine Arts Library at the University of Texas, Austin, and one is a book featuring prize winning images from the New York Center for Photographic Art call for entry “Luminosity”. I also received a first place award at the Los Angeles Center of Photography along with three honorable mentions.

None of it came easily, but my advice is: never give up. If you have a passion that keeps permeating throughout your life, give it attention, and it will produce something surprising for you. Maybe not what you envisioned, but maybe something different or even better than your plans. The best advice that I received as I began this work was to network consistently. People are the foundation of any industry or art and they are generous in giving direction and lending a helping hand.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Indian Wells is in the desert, so the best time to visit is the winter/spring, January/March.

Here is what I would set up for a visit from a good friend:

Hiking

Palm Springs Tram: Visit the Palm Springs Visitor Center at the North Entrance to Palm Springs, then head to the tram. It will take you from sea level to 8,000 feet. There you can have lunch and walk in the forest. However, I would take a hike to the top of Mt. San Jacinto, 10,834 ft.

Painted Canyon: Drive one hour east of Indian Wells, north of the Salton Sea. The minerals in the rocks leave the mountain painted with layers of color. There are ladders to access the slot canyons and ropes to climb up or rappel down. Beautiful hike.

Taquitz Canyon Hike. Easy, beautiful hike outside of downtown Palm Springs. At the halfway point in the loop is a beautiful waterfall, flowing from the snowmelt in the spring.

Sunnylands: The Annenberg Estate is an Architectural beauty, historically significant, with incredible landscaped grounds for a wonderful botanical walk.

Modernism Week: In February, 15-25 Palm Springs hosts Modernism Week, an annual 11-day festival that features more than 350 events including the Palm Springs Modernism Show, CAMP (Community and Meeting Place), tours of iconic homes in more than 30 neighborhoods, and the popular Signature Home Tour on both weekends. Also offered are architectural walking, biking and double-decker bus tours, and tours of the historic Annenberg Estate at Sunnylands, a classic car show, garden tours, a 2-day vintage trailer show, nightly parties, and a special series of compelling and informative talks at the Annenberg Theater and at the Modernism Week Theater at CAMP.

Tennis: In March the Tennis Garden in Indian Wells hosts the PNB Paribas Open. It is one of the most prestigious golf events outside of the majors in the US. After watching a match, you can have dinner at Nobu in the center.

Golf: The Indian Wells Golf Resort is ranked in the best 25 municipal courses in the US.

Spa Day: The Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort and Spa houses the best, most luxurious spa in the valley. A day of spa treatments and lounging by the pool is the best way to spend a day on a visit.

Shopping: My favorite place to shop in Palm Springs is at The Shops at Thirteen Forty Five. It is a modernist building curated with 15 separate shops, all of which you would want something from. They feature vintage, jewelry, furniture, men’s and women’s clothing and accessories and a garden shop. I bought something for my entire family there for Christmas!

For Dinner and Cocktails I love the smaller retro restaurants in the vintage hotels:

Pink Cabana in the Sands Hotel in Indian Wells has an incredible setting by the pool with a Moroccan vibe. The food and cocktails are excellent, the cuisine is Mediterranean.

Del Rey restaurant in the Villa Royale in Palm Springs has a 40s Hollywood glamour vibe. The Food is Tapas, incredible!

Art:

Palm Springs Art Museum: The Palm Springs Art Museum is a visual and performing arts institution. Founded in 1938. PSAM has been focused on design and contemporary art since 2004.

Desert Open Studios: In January visit studios of 154 artists working throughout the Coachella Valley – in this free, self-guided tour. In 2024, our artists span the Coachella Valley, from Indio in the east through La Quinta, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs. You can plan your tour by region or particular artists or even by artist’s media: the route is up to you. Visit and tour their open spaces, see their creations, talk with them and learn about their processes, and buy art directly (sometimes artists provide specials during the tour).

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My first mentor was Director of Photography Robert Jaye. When I decided to pursue this art and recognized that I did not know how to take a photograph, he was instrumental in giving direction on the basics.

The classes from Julia Dean Photo Workshops in Venice,CA, now the Los Angeles Center of Photography, began building my knowledge.

Palm Springs Photo Festival Workshops moved my skills forward and allowed me to work with several giants of creativity in photography: Keith Carter, Roger Ballen, Shelby Lee Adams, Ed Freeman and Julie Blackmon.

Many thanks to UCLA Extension for making classes available in the evenings and weekends allowing me to attend instruction while I was still working in my career.

Finally, thanks for the best push forward to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, with their BFA program in Art and Art History with immersion in analog photography. And especially to Professor of Photography Phil Jung, who provided the critical eye to aesthetics and layering of artistry.

Website: https://www.karenelizabethbakerphotography.com

Instagram: @karebaker200

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenbaker5/

Image Credits
Karen Elizabeth Baker