Photography Challenges: Fairbanks

Most of Fairbanks is ugly. Part of the problem is the absence of effective zoning. Another part of the problem is the tendency of some locals to leave the exterior of their house wrapped in Tyvek for a few decades. Another part is the seeming sovereign right of Borough residents to have a junk yard.

So when WC was asked to take a flattering photo of downtown Fairbanks, it was a head-scratcher. Very few folks use “attractive” and “downtown Fairbanks” in the same sentence. Unless you take photos from an aircraft at 1,000 feet (and then photoshop out all the blue tarps), downtown Fairbanks is ugly.

Thanks to the hard work of the folks at the  Downtown Association of Fairbanks the area along the south bank of the Chena River, upstream of the Cushman Street bridge, seemed to have some potential. Of course, then it rained most of August, but late last week we had some very nearly sunny days. So WC negotiated some rooftop privileges, with this result:

Downtown Fairbanks © 2011 Frozen Feather Images

Sure it is mostly looking away from downtown Fairbanks, but technically it is a shot of part of the downtown area. Sure, it’s tightly composed to exclude the decrepit pile that is the Polaris Building, and the rusting light poles at First and Cushman, but that’s a photographer’s privilege.

We’ll have to see if the customer likes it.