James Baker
Photography

I have always been drawn to photography. As a child, I pored over the pages of Life and National Geographic, captivated by the power of images to tell stories and reveal beauty. Now, as I step into retirement, I am pursuing fine art photography with the same sense of wonder that first inspired me.

My work celebrates the richness of Louisiana—its wildlife, landscapes, cityscapes, festivals, and everyday details. I am compelled to photograph both what is vibrant and joyful, and what carries the quiet weight of time: flowers in bloom, the rhythm of music in the streets, and the haunting presence of buildings slowly giving way to decay.

Working primarily in digital photography, I am also exploring historic processes such as cyanotype, bringing new life to my images by printing them on wood or tile. Whether upbeat or contemplative, my photographs invite viewers to pause—to feel warmth and joy, to reflect on the passage of time, or to simply see beauty in the ordinary.

At its heart, my work is a celebration of Louisiana and of the emotions that bind us to place, memory, and each other.

Gene Tomko
Photography, Mixed Media

My earliest and most vivid childhood memories involve two things – creating art and playing 45 RPM records on a portable schoolhouse player. A passion for both the visual arts and music not only remained with me throughout my life but got more serious and intensified as I grew older. My most satisfying work is when I can combine the two, whether it is through photography or pen and paper, to celebrate Louisiana’s rich cultural legacy.

Gene Tomko is a visual artist and writer based in Lafayette, Louisiana. He is the creator of the Louisiana Music Map and Southwest Louisiana Music Map which together visually documents the birthplaces of nearly 2,000 native musicians who performed the indigenous music of Louisiana. He also creates his own custom frames out of local and reclaimed wood such as sinker cypress. As a photographer, his work has been featured in numerous publications worldwide throughout the past 25 years, including Living Blues, Juke, and Down Beat. His photography has also appeared in various books and film as well as on releases by artists such as B.B. King, Big Jay McNeely, Nappy Brown, Warren Storm, the Campbell Brothers, and Little Freddie King. Gene is also the author of “Encyclopedia of Louisiana Musicians: Jazz, Blues, Cajun, Creole, Zydeco, Swamp Pop, and Gospel,” published by LSU Press.

Harriet Blum
Photography

I am fascinated by nature…trees, oceans, flora, and the expression of human nature.   I enjoy seizing the essence of a moment and forever capturing it on film or digitally.

I grew up in Miami, Florida, graduated from the University of Florida and moved to New Orleans in 1971.  I owned and operated the Uptown Photo Lab out of my home for many years as well as shooting portraits, commercial work, photojournalism and exploring fine art photography.  In the late 80’s, I started hand tinting black and white infrared photographs using transparent oils.  That technique become my recognizable style.  My main subjects are trees and landscapes, and my style is often described as romantic peacefulness, dreamy and ethereal.

My photographs are in many commercial and private collections across the country and internationally, including numerous hospitals and other medical settings, where they have a “healing art” quality.  Until a recent renovation, my art was displayed in all the sleeping rooms and meeting rooms of the Loews New Orleans Hotel.  My works are in the collection of the Roger Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Mobile Museum of Art, the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Tulane University Jazz Archives and others.  I have won numerous awards, including “Best of Show” in the Bethesda Row Art Festival, Bethesda, Maryland.