Carlos Baz had what he thought was a decent life in his native Mexico City. He was an auto salesman, selling Fords.
“I was making good money there,” Baz said. “But it wasn’t my dream.”
Baz, 36, always wanted to be a photographer and a writer, which is what he did in his spare time.
“I always liked to take pictures,” he said. “Before I started taking pictures, I was drawing and writing all the time. I took pictures, drew, wrote about things that were happening to people. I always liked people.”
In 1995, after selling cars for three years, Baz saw an advertisement for a photo contest in California. If he were able to win the contest, he would attend photography school in New York on a scholarship.
“It was always my dream to go to New York,” Baz said. “I saw New York on television and knew I wanted to go there. When I saw this opportunity, I knew I couldn’t miss it.”
Baz submitted a few of the pictures he took in his homeland and it changed his life forever. He earned a scholarship to attend the New York Institute of Photography and learn about becoming a full-time photographer.
“I always knew it was possible,” Baz said. “Back home, I have one brother who is a doctor and another who is an architect. I’m the little brother and I told them that I was going to go to school someday to become a better photographer. When I told them that I was going to New York City to go to school, they were all happy for me. They knew that I love taking pictures and I wanted to make it my career.”
Baz made the most of his opportunity. After completing the two-year photography class, Baz took another class to learn how to print the pictures himself. While he was attending school he moved to North Bergen simply because he couldn’t afford to live in New York.
Baz held a few jobs while attending school, including being a waiter at Two Hudson Place in Hoboken. “I was pretty busy, going to school and working,” Baz said. “I was pretty tired, but I would get up early to go take my pictures. I always carried my camera with me every day, just in case I saw something I wanted to shoot. When I wake up in the morning, I go outside and try to find something.”
Baz said that he likes to feature buildings and settings, as well as interesting people.
“I might shoot homeless people in New York City, because I think there are very interesting,” Baz said. “I’m always looking for interesting people.”
After completing the necessary courses Baz ventured into the world of freelance photography. He worked at a photo studio in Queens for four months but soon started to get advice from a teacher he befriended at the school.
“Jim Wright is a retired freelance photographer and my teacher,” Baz said. “So he gave me a few tips as to where I should go to show my pictures. I brought my pictures and resume to galleries, hoping they would show my pictures. It was hard to get noticed, but I kept trying.”
In 1997, Baz received his first break. His work, showing different architectural settings of New York, was featured at the Agora Gallery in New York. Since that time, Baz has shown his pictures in several galleries, including the Washington Square East Galleries, as well as the Grace Van Vorst Church in Jersey City, the Bayonne Public Library and he participated in the Jersey City Art Tour.
Baz has had his work published in several newspapers and magazines, such as New York Photo World, Skeptical Briefs and Today’s Photographer. The Greater Newark Conservancy, a non-profit organization, has also used his pictures.
Last week, Baz had another achievement in his budding career. His works are prominently featured in his own book, entitled “The Other Side of New York City,” which features the people who live in the city’s streets, such as the homeless, street gangs, acrobats and musicians. The book was published two weeks ago.
Baz had been featured in another book, “Traces of the Past,” which was released in September of 2000. “I have a lot of people who are now interested in my pictures,” said Baz, who still lives in North Bergen. “I sell them to businesses, like restaurants, who want to show them. I have some people who hire me to take certain pictures, but about 80 percent of what I take, I take on my own.”
Why does Baz think he has become so successful, almost overnight?
“I think it’s because I take pictures that are different from any other photographer,” Baz said. “I also have a lot of pictures that I took in Mexico, of towns, churches, buildings and people in Mexico that people like. I’ve been very lucky. Ever since I started, I’ve been very busy.”
Baz said that he’s happy with the way his career took off since the contest entry seven years ago.
“It really has been amazing, but I’m glad it worked out this way,” he said. “And it sure beats selling cars.”
Carlos Baz’s photography can be viewed on the Internet at www.picture.com by entering his name on the site. He can be reached via e-mail at carlos.baz@mexico.com or car214photos@terra.com.