Current Student News
Optometry
General News
It’s challenging enough to excel in one profession, but to be at the top of one’s game in two professions is rare. Not for Charles Baus, OD ‘02, though.
Optometry and photography both rely on the precise manipulation of lenses. Just as the eye focuses light through its lens to form an image on the retina, a camera uses its lens to project onto film or digital media.
For his work in both professions, Dr. Baus is being recognized by the Salus University Alumni Association with the 2025 Special Recognition Award. Presented to an individual or organization for their contribution to the University, a profession and the community, this award has only been given 20 times based on notable recommendations.
“It’s fantastic. I was surprised and humbled when I got the call that I was being presented with this award,” said Dr. Baus.
He has undoubtedly made a name for himself in the world of sports photojournalism. In fact, if you’re a fan of the National Football League or pop culture, you may have seen one of Dr. Baus’ most famous photos: pop icon Taylor Swift embracing and kissing boyfriend Travis Kelce on the field after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25 to 22 in Super Bowl LVII in 2024. The photo was named one of the Top 10 pictures of 2024 by Time Magazine.
Originally from Philadelphia, Dr. Baus’ family left there when he was young and settled in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Dr. Baus completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska, then returned to Philadelphia to enter the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO). He said he loved the training he received at PCO, which he believes gave him a leg up at the time as compared to students in other Doctor of Optometry programs.
“We were ahead of pretty much any other optometry school that was out there, just based on my rotations,” said Dr. Baus. “Especially when it came to disease, we were ahead of everybody else. We had seen stuff that nobody else had seen and were head and shoulders above everybody else. The early clinical exposure we received was important.”
After graduating from PCO, Dr. Baus moved to the Palm Springs, California, area to launch his career. In 2017, he purchased a practice, Advanced Optometry, where he continues to practice.
His interest in photography started when he was invited to sit courtside for a New York Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Garden. He wanted to document the event, so he bought a camera for the game.
“My photos didn’t turn out as good as I wanted and because of that, I wanted to get better,” he said.
A lifelong sports fan, Dr. Baus threw himself into photography when he wasn’t practicing optometry. He eventually got hooked up with a small news wire service and began getting media credentials to photograph college football, golf, tennis and various other sports.
He now shoots photos at football games for USC, UCLA, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams. His photographs have been published in Time, Sports Illustrated, ESPN Magazine, U.S. Weekly, the Wall Street Journal and other media outlets.
The 2024 Super Bowl between the Chiefs and the 49ers was the fourth championship game he had photographed. For that game, he was stationed in the upper level of the stadium with a powerful 600mm zoom lens. The photo, shot downward from Dr. Baus’ seat, shows Swift and Kelce embracing and kissing while surrounded by other media and their cameras.
“Once the game ended, I was focused on Travis and I was looking around for Taylor,” said Dr. Baus. “I was waiting for them to get together on the field.”
He said it’s not a stretch to connect optometry and photography, and admits his training in optometry helped prepare him for understanding how the camera works, how the lens work and how to properly focus the camera.
Dr. Baus was nominated for the Alumni Association Award by PCO classmate, David Friess, OD ‘02.
“Charles has achieved the highest levels of success in professional sports photography while maintaining a full-service optometry practice for more than two decades,” wrote Dr. Friess in his nomination letter. “It’s a remarkable example of PCO alumni achievement.”
