Since the mid-1960s, James Barker empathetically captured the lives of thousands of people on celuloid, from their struggles and triumphs to the mundane beauty of daily life. His most notable work was in documenting the Yup'ik people of western Alaska throughout their annual endeavors. This work is featured in two celebrated ethnographic photo books: Always Getting Ready: Upterrlainarluta and Yupiit Yuraryarait: Yup'ik Ways of Dancing.

James' first notable work was in 1965 when he travelled to Selma, Alabama to march with Dr. Martin Luther King and photograph the now-historic civil rights protest. This exhibit surfaced during the 50th anniversary of the march and has been featured in exhibits and publications around the country.

James also maintained a strong relationship with the arctic scientific community. He travelled to Antarctica twice in the late-1990s sponsored by the National Science Foundation and amassed a body of photographs documenting scientists and crew. He also flew to arctic Ice Station SHEBA, a research ice breaker, to produce a feature for Smithsonian Magazine.

He was honored by the Rasmuson Foundation as Distinguished Artist of 2022. An article and video documentary was created for their annual ceremony.