Tucson Citizen.com
Artistic Tucson - The Voice of Tucson Arts

FEATURED ARTIST: Photographer, Karen A. Dombrowski-Sobel

by on Nov. 06, 2009, under arts, Tucson Art

From the moment she saw a print developing in a tray years ago she was entranced with the magic of photography. She learned early on to handle a negative in the darkroom and make it speak from her soul.  Ever since that moment, she has followed her passion with her camera.

Karen’s award winning work certainly speaks for itself. Her vision seems to always come from somewhere inside herself as each of her subjects speak through her, revealing some meaning of itself and herself in the finished photograph.

She says the process of selecting the precise second to expose the film comes through a meditative process where her intuition takes over and light, form and feeling are transposed through her camera and herself. Her spiritual insight has given her an eye for the unusual from the ordinary.  By viewing the images below you will SEE the unique professionalism she has achieved.

Slide 1 of 20.
First Day at Nursery School
Source: Karen Dombrowski-Sobel Photo

For more examples of her photography visit her web site at: http://www.kadsphoto.com and view the many subjects she has captured. Everyday she is creating something new following her passion. The sensitive Portraits, unusual Textured Photographs and her Nude photos on her web page clearly demonstrate her uniqueness and sensitivity to her subjects.

Karen is presently focused on photographing trees and plants for an upcoming book titled: Visualizing a Greener Planet. She senses the urgency to show how important and beautiful trees are to our existence.  She feels man’s effort to fulfill the desire for bigger homes and buildings, has been obliterating our natural growth. She hopes this new work will help create an intimate relationship with nature that the viewer can feel.

The photographer and her husband moved to Tucson from their former home in New York City a few years ago. The life changing 9/11 tragedies had a major effect on their lives since her husband was working on Wall Street as a stock trader a short distance from the World Trade Center collapse. He experienced first hand the horror of something that most of us can only imagine. In a few short minutes both their lives were changed forever.

It is obvious to anyone viewing Karen’s work the sensitivity coming through her images and the abundant love she has for her subjects. The Flux Gallery (2960 N. Swan Road, Suite 136) at Plaza Palomino and Arts Marketplace (40 W Broadway Blvd) are presently exhibiting her work.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 5:48 pm and is filed under arts, Tucson Art. Tags for this post: , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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  • Eneida Colon

    I love her style of photograph.

  • William Boynton

    Wow, this stuff is great. I love her pictures of trees especially. She is clearly an artist as well as a photographer. Even with the small photos on a computer, one gets the sense of being right there next to the scene. We are fortunate to have her in Tucson.

  • Suzanne Dombrowski-Martin

    Great collection and what a talented, gifted photographer!  Oh, I’m not saying that just because I am lucky enough to be Karen’s sister.  But have to say, I’m very proud of her creative abilities and how she is able to capture the emotion of her subjects.

  • Tracey

    Beautiful photos, I love the tree pictures and the little girls looking like angels. I especially love the textured tree, it is unlike anything else I have seen.

  • Irwin Evans

    “World’s Greatest Photographer”
    Woodmere Daily Times

  • http://www.muttbutt.com Carolyn Anderson

    Great Article!

  • Donna Stover

    I love Karen’s photography!  Beautiful moods and settings, especially the Hummingbird and Beech trees.

  • http://www.lynneyamaguchi.com Lynne Yamaguchi

    I especially love “First Day at Nursery School.” You’re a talented artist.

  • http://michellefridkinartist@gmail.cim Michelle Fridkin

    Karen’s photography shows a rare talent attributable not only to her
    her superb technical knowledge, but also to her skill and sensitivity as
    a fine artist.  Her compositions and creativity, with even the most
    common of subjects, are truly remarkable. 

  • http://michellefridkinartist@gmail.cim Michelle Fridkin

    Karen’s photography shows a rare talent attributable not only to her superb technical knowledge, but also to her skill and sensitivity as a fine artist.  Her compositions and creativity, with even the most common of subjects, are truly remarkable. 

  • Robin Behrmann

    I have know Karen for over 30 years and have enjoyed watching her talent grow.  She is one of the best photographers/artists I know.  I am excited for her success.  She deserves all the attention and acknowledgement possible!!!!

  • http://kadsphoto.com karen dombrowski-sobel

    Oh my! I am really touched by the beautiful things that have been said, first by Charlie in the article, and then by all of you who have responded. Thank you so much!!

  • Jeff Rutzky

    I’ve known Karen for nearly a decade. She is not only inspiring as a photographer, but as a teacher, too. She encouraged me to show my photography here in New York when she was a gallery director, and has been a grand influence. Take a look at the wide variety of subjects that catch her eye; you’ll see something that inspires you as well.

  • susan denis

    gorgeous work!  i especially love the hummingbird on its precious little nest.  thank you for publishing this artist!

  • Wendy Phaff

    I was very lucky to have been able to display Karen’s beautiful work on my walls for years! She has a unique and very spiritual perspective of beauty in many forms.

  • http://www.quetzally.webs.com Quetzally Hernandez Coronado

    The delicacy of the work of Karen moves, catches the eye, but mostly the millimeter second where  captures the liquid   essence of  the souls, touch you with her magic personages.
    All my respect for the great artist

  • http://www.globalairtoground.com Julian Olivas

    I have had the very good fortune of meeting Karen in New York City a few years ago – a friendship sparked and maintained by our passion for telling stories with pictures.  What impresses me about her art is her range and point of view. Broad in breadth, delicate sensitivity of eye, compassion for our planet.  I can’t wait to see her upcoming book Visualizing a Greener Planet. A great artist, and a very fine being, prolific as ever.

  • phaedra savas

    Karen is a wonderful photographer no matter who or what she has in her sights!
    p. savas
    Nov. 8, 2009, 12:30 a.m.
     

  • http://www/artsmarketplace.org Therese Perreault

    What a gift Karen shares with us in her work.  I am inspired and encouraged by her honesty.

  • Louise Serkey

    Beautiful photographs, great sensitivity. I especially felt captured in the moment of the child violinist.

  • Jan Schoemaker

    Karen has an extraordinary facility in  revealing her subjects with naturalness,sensitivity and complete lack of artifice. Her perspective is broad,family , community, even  universally  oriented, informed by love and a bedrock respect  for her subject matter. As an aside, Karen is unfailingly generous in offering time and support to her fellow artists and the Tucson arts community. We are blessed to have her…..
     
    sensitivity and complete lack of artifice. She has a broad perspective, informed by
    ,

  • John Reid

    This work is at once intimate and universal. In the environmental pictures, there is a clear message, but the viewer is not bludgeoned.  The artist presents a beauty that combines strength and fragility — like the trees about which she cares so much.

  • steven wilensky

    What i like is Karen’s ability to find the humanity in us all ,and the beauty that is all around us . If more people could see the world through her eyes , there would be peace worldwide.  Please , show us more work !!

  • steven wilensky

    If the world could see more of Karen’s beautiful work , this would be a happier planet .

  • Brigitte Werder

    Karen’s photography is enlighteningly beautiful . It makes the viewer be still and really  SEE  the objects she is presenting.
    Karen deeply cares about humanity and our planet, her love and concern  is so evident when she photographs trees and other living creatures. The humming bird picture shows incredible  artistic sensitivity…..Karen is my daughter.

  • Susan Araujo

    The beautiful photograph on Karen’s business card sent me to her website to see more of her work.  I enjoyed the time I spent there amazed at her ability to capture some of nature’s grandeur.
    What captured me today, however, was the slide of Julia Osinchuk that accompanies this article.  My immediate response was one of shock.  Shock that the essence of a person could be immortalized on film…but that’s exactly what Karen did.
     
     
     

  • Carol Schaffer

    I have known Karen for just one year, but have been privileged to watch her at work with her camera.  Whether casually walking down the street to dinner, or strolling through a garden, it is fascinating to see what her eye sees.  The artist’s eye picks up images most of us would never notice!
    I am thrilled that Karen is getting more recognition!

  • Marva Harvey

    It is nice to have such a talented friend.  I feel privileged to enjoy hikes with Karen & her camera.  She has an amazing eye to pick up on the ordinary and turn it into something breathtakingly beautiful.  Her work takes you right to the soul of the subject.  I am so glad that her talent is being recognized here in the southwest and more people will be able to enjoy her work.

  • Susan Block

    I think it is wonderful that the Tucson Citizen showcases our local artists.  Thank you Charles for choosing to write about Karen A. Dombrowski Sobel and share her special photography.  Also, thank you for including the names of the two local galleries where her work is exhibited.  Additionally, I think everyone reading this article should treat themselves to more of Karen’s talent by perusing through her website, which I just did. It’s amazing.  In other words, the slide show presented here is just the frosting on the cake! http://www.kadsphoto.com

  • Ursula Schleen

    Karen’s photographs transport me back to the warmth and majesty of the southwest.  It takes patience and talent to capture the essence of the land. I love her photos with the changing  light and sky over the landscape.  The desert is a precious place, and like Karen I  hope it will be protected.  Wishing Karen success with her new book.

  • http://www.BeautifulCalligraphy.com Lianda Ludwig

    Karen’s talent is very special.  She has a way of seeing to the heart of her subject, and can bring that vision out with her technical skills.  Together it achieves a work of art that is enduring and unparalleled.  I have been honored to have her worked with her.

  • Juliana Osinchuk

    I was at the Flux Gallery, and there are so many beautiful photo-images.  Congratulations Karen!!

  • Nora McNally

    It was over many years, through Karen’s work, that I realized a camera could do so much more than simply duplicate an image on paper. 
    Eventually it occurred to me, that with the artistic gifts of the right photographer, it could capture a split second of essence, spirit and beauty; that elusive “living in the moment” thing we spend our lives trying to sustain.
    I’m so proud of you Karen.    

  • stacey wilensky

    i know karen many years.  she is a beautiful person inside and out.  her artwork reflects her feelings, her relationship with space and light. living in tuscon gives her art a new dimension. congrats karen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Bobbi Amico

    Karen and I were room mates in the late 70s. Her talent has followed her to Tucson and so did I. We didn’t know it at the time but we ended up in the same magical city by chance (great to reconnect after the lost years).  Karen embraces the beauty around her, whether it be Tucson, Boulder or Long Island. She has an eye for style, design and portrays this in her photographs. Her technical knowledge never surprises me. She is constantly learning and creating on a daily basis. Congratulations Karen!

  • Donna Pugh

    I’m so glad Karen shared some of her pictures for all of us to enjoy.  I feel like I’m present right when and where the pictures were taken.  Thanks so much for bringing the ‘flat screen’ to life with your wonderful art.
    Donna Pugh

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