Statement of Purpose: Stanford University
(In Progress)

My name is Mitchell Baker and I am applying for the MFA program of Art Practice in Photography. It didn't occur to me that brain surgery would be a life or death decision until I was signing the release form when I entered the hospital the day of the procedure. As I hesitatingly penned my name on the line, I contemplated my life's past, present, and future. However, despite the pause, I knew that taking this action was the best direction for me. A few days later I awoke to be paralyzed, but cured from a lifelong epilepsy disorder that no-doubt shaped my life and my art.

Along with epilepsy, art seemed to be a constant companion in my life. From a young age, I wrote short stories and was a talented pencil artist. I developed the technical skill of drawing and painting up until my final year of undergraduate school. Until finally, I was introduced to a darkroom photography course and the process of making an enlarged handmade photograph. Watching the images appear as if by magic in the developing bath under safelight greatly interested me.

All seemed to be well, until in 2020, I had an eye opening experience rehabilitating my life after brain surgery. After the operation, I was rendered paralyzed, being forced to relearn everyday habits that I took for granted from eating, to dressing, to washing myself, even how I made art. Despite the challenge, I took up a 35mm camera and I photographed myself in hospital and in rehab. Although, not included in my portfolio, it is a defining turning point in my life and would be amiss without it. You can find a section at my website called "Brain on Fire" which features this in more detail.

From my healing after surgery I took up a 4x5 inch camera and had a great interest in the work of Slovenian photographer, Borut Peterlin. He, in turn, is an photographer inspired by the wet plate collodion work of Sally Mann. Sharing the same interest as Peterlin, I read Mann's memoir, Hold Still and was swept away by the romanticism of her 8x10 view camera work and alternative process of making photographs. This is evident in my work today, as I have the privilege of owning and using an 8x10 view camera. I photograph mostly on black and white film, but I have dipped my toe into alternative process and love it's handmade, mindful, and spiritual quality.

While I currently make silver gelatin prints in my makeshift home darkroom and have made contact prints using the salted paper printing process with daylight exposure, I also employ a method of high resolution scanning in my home studio where the majority of my photographic negatives have the potential to be digitally printed up to 80x100 inches. With the resources available to me at my current place of employment, Photoworks SF, I have had the opportunity to make a digital enlargement at a scale of 40x56 inches from a 5x7 inch negative in 2022.

My current work largely rests in my ongoing project called "365 Challenge" where I have been taking at least one photograph with my view camera every day starting in 2024. As of this writing I have made over 200 consecutive photographs. A selection of these are in the portfolio, but the full collection can be seen on my website. The majority of my photographs are motivated by capturing slice of life scenarios that are, conceptually, slightly larger than life. Some colleagues I have shared them with have noted them to be "inspirational," "ethereal," and "painterly."

I am especially looking forward to meeting and working with Joel Leivick. The insight, depth, and complexity in his photographs, is truly an inspiration on my current work. I could feel my eye wandering around every photograph- The relationship between the ever changing landscape and mankind's direct influence upon it was an interesting and compelling perspective that drew me into the dynamics of every picture. His musical quality, present in nearly all of his photographs, reminded me of the most prestigious photographers, namely Ansel Adams, who shared a love of music and had a melodic flow to organizing composition.

Stanford University is the ideal place for me to continue my academic study of not only photography, but art as a whole because of its rich and eclectic history of individual independent study. I believe that freedom of expression is an essential element in the making of the complete potential of an individual. I trust that with the knowledge and guidance of Joel Leivick and the supportive, enriching environment that Stanford University provides, I can reach for whatever mark that I aim for.

Moreover, Upon acceptance to Stanford University, I hope to delve deeply and explore the fundamental processes of mid to late 18th century photographic processes. It is my passion to not only practice these techniques, but to also preserve these traditional methods of art and history. Through teaching it to future generations of photographers and artists. In my future I see myself becoming a centerpiece for the photographic alternative arts community. I will not only have extensive knowledge on topics such as alternative processes and large format photography, but I will make an influence and inspire people of the upcoming generation by making coursework, teach at University, and lead people into expressing their world through a unique and interesting way.