The Making of "Downtowns"

Karen Fadel has been photographing downtowns since 1984. Her passion has taken her throughout the United States and Europe. "Certain downtowns beg to be photographed," she says. "Postcard images can reflect
the beauty of a city but what they don't show is the city's character. Choosing different subjects, films and printing techniques shows a side of a downtown that isn't main stream. Even if the subject is ordinary, I aim to develop
a classic, beautiful quality and an entirely new look and feel for each image."

Karen travels with two to three 35mm cameras and lenses, each loaded with a different type of film, including black and white print and slide, black and white infrared, color slide and color print film. This enables her to shoot a range of styles and use various techniques to print them.

Currently, she is showing Polaroid transfers and emulsion lifts which are produced with a special Polaroid machine and transferred to various surfaces.

Her subjects are unique. Sometimes a person is subtly
seen in an image or a downtown is photographed from
a different angle, maybe from a rooftop or hotel window. The liveliness of the city is what inspires her. Once she walked for seven hours non-stop with her equipment to achieve shots of San Francisco. "When I know the look
I want, I don't stop until I've tried my best to achieve it," she says.

Karen began working in journalism and fashion photography while earning her bachelor's degree in English Literature from U.C.L.A. She went on to earn a formal photography education from Orange Coast College. Today she continues to photograph downtowns and is currently working on a photography book for a different series.

She can be reached at 949-230-2445 or at fadelphoto@yahoo.com