About the Photographer

When I picked up a DSLR camera for the first time in 2016 as a reporter for the Northeaster newspaper, a lifetime habit of paying attention suddenly had an outlet; creating art seemed within my reach.  

It's a privilege to be able to capture anything the wondrous world presents:  from the glee of a child raking in candy at a parade to the pollen-dusted legs of a bee on a coneflower; from the protesters at a demonstration at the State Capitol to the  thousands of crows that flock each night to roost in Minneapolis in the winter.   

I'm  a retired science teacher who has transitioned to teaching English to immigrants. I'm  also a  freelance journalist and photographer. For most of my professional life I've alternated between teaching and writing/editing jobs, sometimes doing both at the same time. My urban wildlife stories and photos have appeared in the Star Tribune and Northeaster newspapers; I also reported and photographed news and features for the Northeaster. My features and profiles and advertorial work have appeared in MinnPost, Minnesota Medicine, Minnesota Women's Press, Mpls St Paul magazine and other local and regional publications. 

My photos have appeared in juried exhibitions at the Mpls Photo Center, the American Swedish Institute, the Hopkins Center for the Arts, Artistry,  Silverwood Park, the MSP Airport, the Minnesota Zoo, Photo Midwest, and elsewhere. In 2019, my photo Back of the Beach was awarded the Excellence in 2-D honor in Artistry's annual member exhibition.

In November 2025, I moved from Minneapolis to Milwaukee. I look forward to exploring new opportunities to make and share my photos. I'm eager to meet artists in Milwaukee, and at the same time I plan on staying connected with the arts community in the Twin Cities. I'm still a NEMAA member and plan on showing at Art-A-Whirl and other events.  Check back here and on social media for news of locations and displays in both cities.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoy my photography.  

Karen Kraco