Eve Baker
CCP asks Eve Baker the deep questions about her craft
1. What is it that gets you out of bed every day?
Possibilities. The possibility of a beautiful sunrise, a chance encounter, an unexpected invitation, an honest conversation... Simple things really 😊
2. Who is the photographer that has inspired you the most?
Matt Stuart’s street photography inspired me to pick up a camera. I was living in London at the time and his captures around that city were so witty and made me reflect on the absurdity of human life and how things aren’t always as they seem. I love the playful way he sees the world. He’s a really sound guy too, very humble and what you see is what you get. Highly recommend his book “Think Like A Street Photographer”.
3. What camera and lens do you like shooting with and why?
I have a Sony A73 and I like the versatility of the Tamron 28-75mm f2/8 lens. In the water I’ll go wide angle for underwater shots or a 50mm for surf/wave stuff above the water. That’s my full kit tbh! I’m quite the minimalist, some of my favorite shots were taken on my phone. The best camera is the one you’ve got on you at the time, as they say.
4. When you are shooting do you listen to music, and if so; what genre and/or band? and if you don’t are there other essential items that you use?
5. In the digital world how important and significant is the print?
6. B/W - Colour - Analogue - Digital. What are your thoughts and ideas about these 4 different photographic concepts?
7. Have you exhibited your work, and other than the print, how important was the framing process to you?
I haven’t exhibited before although it’s crossed my mind. I think I’d like to start with something more intimate like a short zine or coffee table book. I like the idea of coupling the images with thought-provoking quotes, a line of poetry or music lyrics and leaving them in a hospital waiting room or something 😅
8. What is it that defines a great image?
I think a great image makes you instantly feel something - awe, compassion, warmth, joy, surprise. I think great photographers are sensitive to the world and have this wonderful ability to convey what was going on inside them when they took the image. Then it’s like this special human ripple effect where the viewer gets to feel the same thing ✨
9. What is your favourite genre of photography and why? and also your favourite photo?
Ahhhhhh impossible to pick a favourite photo. What resonates changes on the daily for me and I think that’s the beauty of the art - it kind of mirrors where I’m at. Favourite genre is street - I love the immediacy of it. Anything could happen if you’re open and paying attention. A good metaphor for life really.
10. What is the best and most enduring advice about photography that you have received? Tell us by who if you can or want to?
“Stay on the f*****g bus!” - This will make more sense if you read Arno Minkkinen’s graduation speech. But my take on it is that it’s about persistence and letting originality find you eventually rather than it being the thing you chase from the start.
11. When you are not capturing photos, what else do you do?
I’m an explorer at heart so love being out in nature with friends, camping, surfing, hiking. Or in my introverted moments reading a good book or tuned into a podcast.
Eve Baker - November 2023
“Every work of art has its necessity; find out your very own. Ask yourself if you would do it if nobody would ever see it, if you would never be compensated for it, if nobody ever wanted it. If you come to a clear ‘yes’ in spite of it, then go ahead and don’t doubt it anymore.” - Ernst Haas
