Culture Night Celebration

2011 © Brian Adams

Earlier this week, I photographed the Alaska Native Health Board's Culture Night Celebration, hosted by the Alaska Native Heritage Center. I always enjoy working at the Heritage Center; it's run by a lot of good people with a wealth of knowledge and culture to share. And the celebration itself couldn't have happened on a better fall day in Alaska; the air was crisp and the sun was low. Participants enjoyed one another's company over delicious traditional food prepared by local chef-extraordinaire, Rob Kinneen, and the atmosphere was pleasant and conversational. Tribal members from all over the U.S. flew in to Anchorage to participate in the festivities.

Thanks to Carolyn Kinneen of Snow Globe and the Alaska Native Heritage Center for inviting me to share in this event!

Jared Woods

© 2011 Brian Adams

Last week, I had the pleasure of photographing the extremely talented Anchorage-based musician Jared Woods. Jared and I have been talking about doing a photo- shoot together for a couple years, so we were finally able to pull it together with a little push from music producer Erik Braund. Erik is producing Jared's next album, and I can't wait to see how the images are used! With Jared and Erik working together on this album, I am sure no one will be disappointed.

9/11 Anniversary

© 2011 Brian Adams

I can't believe it has been ten years. In my generation, we all remember where we were the day the World Trade Center was hit the way our parents remember where they were when JFK was shot. It's become a way that we date ourselves.

I think that because of this, we often forget how much loss has occured on both sides of this battle that still continues today. While I am grateful and proud to be an American, my ultimate hope is not one of vengeance and revenge, which are both short-sighted and petty, but for peace and understanding. The level of intolerance and blood-thirst that has festered in this country since the 9/11 attacks is not productive; we have become afraid of one another and the world. Today, let's remember those we've lost in the attacks and this war, and think of all of the innocent families abroad that have lost their lives as well. Let's communicate hope, not fear, not anger.

The photos above were taken at Ground Zero the day after Osama Bin Laden was killed by US forces earlier this year.

Text by Ash Adams