Karen Safer: Capturing the Soul of the World in Fine Art Photography

Aug 23

Playa del Rey, California, USA

In the vast landscape of fine art photography, there are artists who don’t just capture images; they capture the soul of the world. One such artist is Karen Safer, the Overall Winner of the Fine Art Photography Online Exhibition. A native Angelino and a true citizen of the world, Safer has traveled to more than 230 countries and territories, each journey adding new dimensions to her visual and poetic voice.

A self-described “romantic old soul with intellectual cravings,” Safer has been immersed in art since childhood, inheriting a love of black-and-white photography from her father and a passion for curiosity and discovery from her mother. With over 14 solo shows, 600+ exhibitions, and more than 570 international awards—including the Julia Cameron Award, PISPA, TIFA, and reFocus, her work has graced galleries and publications across the globe, from Los Angeles to Tokyo, Paris to São Paulo.

| “Wherever I am is my favorite place on the planet.” – Karen Safer

Through her lens, Karen Safer bridges the timeless and the contemporary. Her photography reflects both the majesty of the natural and built world and the intimate details of life, evoking emotion through form, light, and composition. To her, “breathing is photographing,” and art is both a calling and a way of life.

Today, we step into Karen’s world—one where art is not only a lifelong passion but also a universal language of truth, beauty, and human connection.

Let’s start from the beginning... can you share a bit about your creative journey and what led you to the work you’re doing today?

I’ve always been an artist. I am a self-described "romantic old soul" with intellectual cravings now navigating a digital world while remaining deeply connected to art’s timeless essence. My passion for art began early in life. Influenced by my father’s black-and-white photography and my mother’s insatiable curiosity for knowledge and travel, my inspirations come from everywhere - history, philosophy, music, art, architecture, literature, nature - the entire universe. I am a perpetual student -- a universal soul! I embrace color but venerate black and white, both the natural world and man-made –- both realistic and abstract. I seek images as I go shooting – breathing for me is photographing. "A photographer has the whole world big or small to capture." kjs “Wherever I am is my favorite place on the planet.” kjs

What inspired you to pursue fine art photography, and how has your artistic journey evolved over time?

I have been an artist and photographer most of my life; and, I have been a traveler since I was a pre-teen. I started taking pictures of family and friends in my youth and then in college focused on the built environment, architecture and the abstract. Everything I take is personal and reflects my visual preferences and personal path through life. Some of my work is pure documentation of the places I have traveled while other images are more composed fine art. I am my images in all ways. I have evolved by taking thousands of images and letting my eye become increasingly more reactive to the world. I value the planet both natural and man-made and seek to capture all its majesty in all forms.

Can you describe the message or emotion you aim to convey through your photography?

I am attracted to “something” or “anything” that catches my eye, beckons me to snap my shutter. I do not focus on one particular idea or singular situation. Emotion can come from color, shape, line, or a gesture or facial expression, etc. I have no limits on what I shoot. My message is usually the formal arrangement of the composition, and the viewer provides their own emotional response. I just want people to enjoy the image without prejudice or limitations on their own initial reaction.

What challenges have you faced as a fine art photographer, and how have they shaped your work?

I was fortunate enough to grow up with parents who instilled in me curiosity and a desire to acquire knowledge and attain personal growth. I always expected to be an artist. I was told I could accomplish any goal I desired. The challenges I faced were mostly about time and resources to practice my art. Costs for supplies could be expensive and the time and space to develop images was sometimes a challenge. But, having a camera and the freedom to go out was limitless. I did not have preconceived ideas before shooting. I let the path unfold before me.

What advice would you give to emerging photographers looking to find their unique voice in the world of fine art?

Just keep doing what you are passionate about in life and follow your heart. Remember that art saves lives and will get you through in this world. Follow your passion and develop your own vision, voice and skills through trial and error and continuously practicing your art. “Doing” is what is important. Experience is what forges you onto greater and greater achievement as an artist both personally and potentially professionally. There is always a way to produce your art. The focus should be on the art and not status. Art is how civilizations are remembered.

Anything else you want our audience to know about you?

I am a native Angelino, an internationally exhibited and award-winning photographic artist and poet. My art passion began when given camera and crayons at three and immersed in California’s visual language. A lifelong traveler, I have explored 230+ countries/territories, embracing both the exotic and unexpected. My inspirations range from ancient Assyria to the works of Cindy Sherman. I began as a painter before embracing photography in college, earning a master’s degree in art and a career in design/architecture. With 14 solo and 600+ exhibits, I have received 570+ awards, including a Julia Cameron Award, PISPA, TIFA, reFocus, and Exposure One, etc. My work has been featured in 180+ publications, such as LENS, Dodho, ArtTalk, ArtTour, Docu, One Eyeland, The Holy Art, Spotlight, Visual Poetry Journal, Domio, etc. I have and continue to exhibit worldwide, including London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Venice, Florence, Barcelona, Budapest, Dubai, São Paulo, Seoul, Sydney, Tokyo, Zurich, New York, and Los Angeles and is held in numerous collections. I am a member of many organizations including LAAA-825 Gallery LACP, IAA-USA, APA-LA, etc. A self-described "romantic old soul" with intellectual cravings, I navigate the digital world while connected to art’s timeless essence. I embrace color but venerates black & white – realistic & abstract.

Karen Safer’s journey reminds us that fine art photography is more than an act of documentation, it is an act of devotion. Her images invite us to see the extraordinary in the everyday, to pause, and to let our own emotions guide the experience.

Her advice to emerging photographers is simple yet profound: “Follow your heart. Doing is what matters. Art saves lives.” It is this belief, coupled with her insatiable curiosity and relentless pursuit of beauty, that has shaped her into an artist whose work transcends boundaries, cultures, and time.

As the Overall Winner of the Fine Art Photography Online Exhibition, Karen Safer exemplifies what it means to live and breathe one’s art. Her story is not only an inspiration to artists everywhere but also a reminder of how creativity, when pursued with passion—becomes a legacy that outlives us all.