BRIAN ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHY NEW YORK & ALASKA

Meg Mackey .Com

2012-01-23T21:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Alaska's own singer-songwriter Meg Mackey launched her website, www.megmackey.com, which features some of my photos! It looks great, Meg!

HOME

2012-01-19T16:02:00.001-08:00

HOME Poster Show
Snow City Café
February 3 – March 1, 2012
Opening: First Friday, February 3, 5:30pm

Looking forward to this!

The Jack River Kings

2012-01-13T12:54:00.001-08:00

2012 © Brian Adams

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of photographing The Jack River Kings for the second time. I met with the band at a coffee shop about an hour before the shoot. We knew we wanted to photograph outside in the amazing snow we were having that day, but, other than that, we didn't know where to begin. After talking about it over a cup of coffee, I found myself thinking about one of the Frozen Ground film locations, the Campbell Airstrip. While we were filming the moving, it had surprised me that such a location was in the middle of Anchorage; it's essentially an airstrip that hasn't been used since the 60's but one that makes for a great Alaskan backdrop in the middle of Alaska's largest city. During the filming of the movie, the gates to the airstrip were open and we were able to drive in with all the gear and crew. Now the gates are closed (we didn't know this driving there) and The Jack River Kings and I had a half-mile walk in the snow to the location. I really felt for the band's drummer' Patrick, who was wearing Chucks and trudging through the deep snow. Based off of the photos above, however, I think it was all worth it!

This was the third band shoot I have had in the past month, and I love it. I love photographing Anchorage's wonderful music scene, and I love the friendships that have come with it. Rock on, A-town. Rock on!

Best of 2011

2012-01-10T19:19:00.000-08:00

Prospect Park. Brooklyn, NY.
Manhattan.
Prospect Park. Brooklyn, NY.
Coney Island Sundays.
Coney Island Sundays.
Coney Island Sundays.
Coney Island Sundays.
The Polar Bear Plunge. Coney Island Sundays.
Ground Zero the day after Bin Laden's death.
Skateboarder Preston Pollard in Manhattan.
Elise Vatsvaag photographed at Coney Island.
Author Liz Murray in her home in Manhattan.
Park City, Utah during the Sundance Film Festival.
Anchorage, Alaska.
The Bad Lands, South Dakota.
Ryan Walker in The Bad Lands, South Dakota.
Anchorage musician Jared Woods.
Bethel, Alaska.
Meyers Farm in Bethel, Alaska.
Tim Meyers of Meyers Farm in Bethel, Alaska.
Anchorage, Alaska.
Meg Mackey and band.
Ash Adams! (7 months pregnant!)

All Photos © 2011 Brian Adams

2011 was a year to remember. Ash and I lived in Brooklyn, NY, for half the year while she was pursuing her graduate degree, and after we had made the decision to move back to AK for the year (and only 2 weeks before the move) we found out we were pregnant. Now, Ash and I are back in AK, working and preparing for Elliott's arrival in early March!

Above is a tight edit (23 photos) of some of my favorite and memorable photos of 2011. It still amazes me where photography will bring us sometimes. The photos above were taken in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Florida, Anchorage, Utah, the Bad Lands, Bethel, and Coney Island. Happy 2012, everyone!

Anchorage Press + Lecture

2012-01-06T11:21:00.001-08:00

Top Photo. © 2011 Brian Adams
Bottom Photo. © 2011 Ash Adams

Check out this week's Anchorage Press, which features a story on how I began my career in photography and my current projects.

Also, thanks to everyone that made it out to my lecture at the Anchorage Museum last night. I know we had a rough start due to technical difficulties, but in the end, I was happy. Thanks to Dawn Biddison and her wonderful crew at the museum for supporting Alaskan artists!

Florida Film

2011-12-30T12:59:00.001-08:00

2011 © Brian Adams

Ash getting a meter reading on the veranda before going out for dinner. Check out more photos from Florida on flickr.

Contour Photos

2011-12-22T09:58:00.001-08:00

Last week, Contour Photos launched their beautiful, fully redesigned website. Some of the updates I enjoy the most are the larger photos, the Featured Photographers section, and the brand new blog powered by Tumblr. Go Check it out here!

Meg Mackey

2011-12-16T21:08:00.001-08:00

© 2011 Brian Adams

Ash and I photographed one of Anchorage's newest musicans, Meg Mackey! See and read more about it on Brian & Ash!

BOOK

2011-12-06T22:40:00.000-08:00

2011 © Brian Adams

I am thrilled to announce that early last week I received my signed and completed contract with the University of Alaska Press for my first full-length photography book project. I am honored to have this opportunity, and I cannot thank Greg Kimura, the Alaska Humanities Forum, and the press enough for taking a chance on me and supporting my work. The book, which will explore Alaska through portraits of its people, will be released and distributed nationally in the fall of 2013. Keep an eye up for updates! Ash and I will be traveling all over Alaska over the next year photographing and updating the blog as much as possible!

More soon!

My Babies.

2011-12-06T22:16:00.001-08:00

The Forum

2011-11-26T12:27:00.000-08:00

2010 © Brian Adams

During the winter, Ash and I often make trips down to Anchorage's port; it's one of our favorite things to do to watch the fast-moving water and ice floes. We're not the only ones; on several of our trips, we've been fortunate to find a few portraits of other port-goers, like the couple of women above, who were featured on the cover of this month's The Forum, the publication of the Alaska Humanities Forum. I'm very honored to have the opportunity to work with the Alaska Humanities Forum, and I'll have some more exciting updates about future collaborations soon!

Complete.

2011-11-21T22:09:00.000-08:00

© 2011 Brian Adams

After five weeks of filming and photographing, on Friday the 18th, we finished production (the filming portion, anyways) for The Frozen Ground. I am honored to have been a part of such a fine camera crew, including Patrick Murguia, Jacques Jouffret, John T. Connor, Michael Svitak, Steven L. Rychetnik, Steve Wolfe, Garret Curtis, April Frame, and Cody Lawhorn. I can't wait to see the film and I'm excited to see how my photographs are used in promotions!

It was five weeks of very long days, but I'm glad; I was able to learn a lot, and my appreciation for filmmaking has deepened greatly.

That being said, I am happy to be home with my lovely wife, Ash. The photograph above is from a wintry sub-zero walk through the woods the day after the film wrapped. Complete.

The Big Screen

2011-11-06T15:12:00.001-08:00

2011 © Brian Adams

If you haven't seen me around town these days (or even online), it's because for the last three weeks I have been working as the official still photographer for The Frozen Ground, a film staring John Cusack, Nicolas Cage, 50 Cent, and Vanessa Hudgens. The movie is based on the true story of Robert Hansen (played by Cusack), an Alaskan serial killer who was arrested in 1983. We have two weeks left of filming, but as much as I have enjoyed working on this film (Mon-Fri, 11-12 hours/day), I am looking forward to being able to spend some quality time with Ash again. (If you haven't seen Ash around these days, it's because she, too, keeps busy during the weekdays, and then the two of us just savor every morning, late-night, and weekend day we have together. Yep, that's us.)

The photo above is of a sound blimp--a neccessity for any cinematic still photographer. In the photo, it holds my Canon 5D and a 70-200mm lens. The sound blimp is pretty field-specific; it works as a silencer for the camera, allowing me to shoot while the cameras and sound are rolling without interjecting my camera noises into the audio. Cool, right?

October Covers

2011-10-30T19:04:00.000-07:00

This month has been a busy, lovely month in Alaska. In addition to working on an exciting film (details later), celebrating my wife's birthday, and seeing our growing son on an ultrasound this week, I've been fortunate to have three cover photographs of three great people.

First of all, the cd release of my longtime subject and friend, Marian Call was this month, and in addition to the front and back covers of Something Fierce, my photographs are featured throughout the lovely jacket. I'm so proud of Marian and honored to be a part of her creative ventures.

This month's issue of Contemporary Verse 2, a contemporary poetry magazine, features a photograph I actually took over the summer of poet and author Rachel Zolf, an inspiring and engaging individual that I'm glad to have met while in the Big Apple. Zolf has published four books thus far and won both awards and notoriety for her work. A native Canadian, I'm sure we'll cross paths with her again, either up North or out East.

And lastly--but not leastly!--my photograph of the 2011 Iditarod champion, John Baker, was this month's cover of First Alaskans magazine. When John Baker won the Iditarod this year, it was something that all of Alaska celebrated, and especially those of us from Alaska Native communities and families. I am proud that I was able to photograph John, and I can't wait to see him race again! (To see a few more photos of John from the same shoot, visit this post written earlier this year during the Iditarod hubub.)

The Great Bambino Adventure, The Road Trip, and LIFE

2011-10-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

AT LONG LAST: The Great Bambino Adventure, The Road Trip, and LIFE: On Brian & Ash.

Pumpkin Drop

2011-10-01T13:13:00.001-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

This was a fun and interesting week of shooting. There's nothing like Alaska in the fall.

Culture Night Celebration

2011-09-29T17:41:00.001-07:00

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

2011-09-15T12:49:00.001-07:00

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

2011-09-11T15:09:00.000-07:00

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

HealthLeaders

2011-08-12T12:38:00.001-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

This month, HealthLeaders is featuring photographs from two portrait sessions I conducted in Manhatten and Middletown, NY in July. Above are two photos I like from the shoots.

The Road Trip, Part 1: Ohio

2011-08-03T06:45:00.000-07:00

Diane Arbus

2011-07-26T12:17:00.001-07:00

Forty years ago today Diane Arbus committed suicide.

When I was nineteen and first introduced to Diane Arbus's work, I hated it and didn't understand it. Her work was breaking every rule of photography I had learned in my few years as a student and assistant. But that same year something compelled me to buy Diane Arbus's biography by Patricia Bosworth at a used book store. I read the biography three times within two years.

After reading more about her life, I had a better understanding of why she photographed the people she did and why she photographed them the way she did; I better understood the way she saw the world.

Afterwards, I had to get my hands on every Diane Arbus book I could find. To this day, Diane Arbus is one of my main sources of inspiration, and I will always wish I could have met her.

For more info check out the links below.

Diane Arbus Obituary, The Village Voice

Diane Arbus, Masters of Photography Video, 1972

Middletown, New York

2011-07-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

On Friday, Getty sent me up to Middletown, New York to photograph a doctor for a health magazine. Middletown is 75 miles north of Brooklyn and about three hours away by train. I left my house around noon, and after three train rides and a two mile walk, I arrived at 4pm just in time for the shoot. The shoot went well, and we finished by 5pm. At 6pm, the doctor I had been photographing was kind enough to give me a ride to the nearest Starbucks, which was 1 1/2 miles to the train station. I worked there until 8pm and then started my trek to the station, which isn't that far and on a normal day I wouldn't complain. But it was 104 degrees outside, and I was carrying a lot of photo gear, so if there had been someone there to complain to, well. Well.

Some things that surprised me about Middletown was the lack of sidewalks and street signs. I was walking around, relying on my iphone to guide me, and there were no street signs posted at ANY of the intersections. I ended up walking an extra mile that day because I was lost half of the time.

My train back into the city came at 10pm, which put me at my door around 1am. In total I spent about 12 hours of traveling for one hour of work. It was fun getting to see some of upstate New York from the train and getting away from the city for a day, but it was LONG and HOT. I will post some photos from the shoot as soon as they run in the magazine!

Preston Pollard Ad

2011-07-12T10:19:00.001-07:00

Six Flags

2011-07-04T07:40:00.001-07:00

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Here are few flags!

Marian Call - East Coast

2011-06-30T08:35:00.001-07:00

© 2009 Brian Adams

This morning, Ash and I had the pleasure of kicking it with Marian Call for a couple hours in our Brooklyn apartment. Marian is touring the east coast this week and stopping in NY to play a few shows, so if you're free on Saturday, stop by the Way Station in Prospect Heights (683 Washington Ave., Brooklyn, NY) for a fun, melodic, intellectual experience. Good music comes from good people, so have a little of both!

Happy Fathers Day

2011-06-19T08:32:00.001-07:00

Happy Fathers Day, Pops!

Anchorage, Alaska

2011-06-16T06:04:00.000-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

Yesterday, I picked up the last roll of film from my trip to Alaska last month. Above are a couple of shots taken in downtown Anchorage, AK. The top photo was taken at Elderberry Park, and the bottom photo was taken in the rose garden on the park strip where Ash and I got married!

Print For Sale

2011-06-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

2010 © Brian Adams

The showing of pieces from this year's premier photography competition, Rarefied Light (judged by Keith Carter this year) has come to an end. The exhibition toured Alaska stopping at many of Alaska's finest museums and galleries. The photo above of Ardith Weyiouanna received an honorable mention in the competition. The photo was taken in Shishmaref, Alaska while Ash and I were working on our book project on Shishmaref's Native Alaskan foods, and good news---IT'S FOR SALE!

As many of you know, Ash and I will be driving to Alaska from NYC in a few months, so we're looking to bolster up our savings for the trip back home. And what better way to do this than by selling our artwork? :)

The print is a type C print, sized at 10"x10" in a 14"x14" frame, and I am asking $350.00, but I am open to suggested prices. If you are interested in learning more about the print or would like to purchase it, please email me at brian@baphotos.com.

Carry On: My Wife

2011-06-01T14:19:00.001-07:00

Matt and Agnes Hage, an amazing Alaskan photography team.
© 2011 Brian Adams

First of all, I am sorry that I wasn't able post a Carry On last week. It was a crazy week, and there are a lot of changes ahead of us. More on that soon!

This Carry On is special to me because it's about my wife, Ash Adams. The love of my life, my jam, my rock, and my photographic partner. From day one, Ash and I have been working on projects together. (Many of them can be found here.) Everytime Ash accompanies me on a shoot, I feel more confident. Not only is Ash a writer, but she has a pretty extensive educational background in photography, so when I need extra help photographing or getting the light just right on a subject, she knows what to do. The photos above were lit by Ash; we have worked together so many times that she always knows where and when I want my light. We often find ourselves in situations where we can't set up a light stand, and having her there to adjust the flash's power and angle makes my life so much easier. What's more, Ash has the amazing ability to calm a nervous subject. She never looses her cool and is great at making conversation. Any photographer reading this knows there is nothing worse than a portrait session with awkward silence, so although you can't have my Ash, find someone like Ash and carry her on.

Elise Vatsvaag on Youtube

2011-05-29T08:55:00.000-07:00

Elise Vatsvaag just posted a video with a couple clips from our shoot!

To see images from the shoot go here.

Alaska

2011-05-27T07:22:00.001-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

Above are a few photos from my trip to Alaska last week. I am waiting on one more roll of film from the trip, so stay tuned!

For more info on my trip to Alaska check out Brian & Ash.

Carry On: Burton Zoom Bag

2011-05-17T08:43:00.001-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

Yes, I love bags. And not only good shoulder bags, but also backpacks. I have always laughed when talking about my Burton Zoom Bag because I think that it's funny that a snowboard company makes the best camera backpack there is. It's practically perfect in every way.

When I was in high school, my parents bought me my first Burton Zoom Bag as a gift for Christmas one year. I loved it so much that they bought me the one in the photograph above for Christmas the following year, which says something about the bag's durability (I still use it today). At the time, one bag was dedicated to video equipment (back in the days when I filmed skateboarding) and the other (above) was purposed for still equipment.

What makes this backpack surpass the rest is not just one but many things. For one, the Zoom Bag is physically longer than any other backpack I have used, so the weight of the camera gear is spread more evenly across my back, unlike other backpacks that I have used that were too short and put all of the weight on my lower back. At the end of a day of a long location shoot after wearing one of those shorter packs, my back would be killing me.

In addition to its size, the Zoom Bag is superior in design than other packs, especially for photographers like me that have no idea what conditions they'll find themselves in. The main compartment of the pack is accessed from the face of the bag that rests on your back, so when you have to lay it down in some dirt or snow, you're not laying it down where your back will be, which is an important aid in keeping your clothes dry and clean while shooting outdoors.

Although I typically like to keep things simple, sometimes there are just a lot of things I have to pack for a shoot, especially for those bigger assignments that take several days or weeks. The Zoom Bag was made for these assignments as well as for everyday use; it's the Mary Poppins bag for photographers. There are many pockets and straps, and I have often loaded it with camera gear, a laptop (sometimes two!), clothes (even Ash's shoes), and snacks with room to spare. And for how much this bag can carry, it is incredibly light. Other backpacks that I've picked up in camera stores are filled with so much unnecessary padding and even roll bars that they feel like they have a full camera setup already in them, almost like a suitcase instead of a pack.

And, for you outdoorsy photogs, the Burton Zoom Bag carries not only camera gear, but it is made to have a snowboard attached to it for backcountry skiing! If you don't ski or snowboard I am sure you will find some other use for this feature. The Burton Zoom bag is one bag I know I will always carry on and on--in fact I'm carrying it on a plane today!

To view the latest Zoom bag check it out on Burton's website here.

Elise Vatsvaag

2011-05-17T07:37:00.000-07:00

© 2011 Brian Adams

Early last week, my friend, music producer Erik Braund, emailed me a short but sweet message. "Hey," he wrote, "I want to hire you to shoot a Norwegian girl. Hasseblad, the Adams touch." Erik had me at Hasselblad. The "Norwegian girl" was singer/songwriter Elise Vatsvaag. Elise recently moved to NYC from Norway to work on her debut album with Erik. Elise is here on a 70,000 NOK grant she recieved from the Kjetil Wold Memory Fund in 2010.

The morning of the photo shoot, Elise and I met on Surf Avenue at Coney Island, and from there we photographed on the beach, the board walk, and under the peir. From Coney Island, we hopped on the F train to Manhattan and continued the shoot while the train was above ground. We got off the F train at 23rd and worked our way over to the Flatiron District, where we finished the session. Elise was wonderful to photograph and I can't thank Erik enough for setting it up!

Preston Pollard, Round Two

2011-05-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

Carry On: Hasselblad CF 50mm Distagon F4 Lens

2011-05-09T10:21:00.001-07:00

© 2011 Brian Adams

Hasselblad and Zeiss--what else do I need to say. You can't go wrong when you're toting the finest Swedish-made cameras with the best German-made optics.

The Hasselblad CF 50mm Distagon F4 lens was introduced in 1982, replacing the C lens line. At F4, the CF 50mm is not the fastest lens out there, but because I normally use it for portraits, F4 is fine. The 50mm on a medium-format camera is equivalent to a 28mm lens on a 35mm camera. One of my favorite things about the lens is that it can focus as close as 19 in. At 1 lb 12 oz, it gets a little heavy after a full day of photographing, but the images produced with it make it worth the extra weight. My CF 50mm was made in 1984, (A year before I was born!), which makes it 27 years old. I am hoping to be carrying it on for at least another 30!

If you're interested in seeing the newer version of the CF 50mm Distagon F4, check it out here.

Preston Pollard in NYC

2011-05-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

© 2011 Brian Adams

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of photographing my old friend from AK, Preston Pollard, who is now living in LA and pursing a career in acting. Preston has been skateboarding for 14 years and has been featured in various publications, commercials, and music videos for his talents. And he's true-blue through and through; at the age of 19, he started speaking at schools in Anchorage about how to avoid the negative influences that drag most adolescents down and how to follow one's dreams and ambitions, and he did so incorporating skateboarding demonstrations into his speeches. And, even with his busy schedule, he's coached at the world-famous Windelles Camp and toured the country with Boarders for Christ. At the young age of 22, Preston knows who he is and what he stands for, and he's always been an inspiration to me.

This weekend was Preston's first time in NYC since he was 18. He is currently working in Connecticut as an assistant to one of the lead actors in a new film by Steven Spielberg, Super 8, so this was our first opportunity to get together for a shoot in a long time. We walked all of lower Manhatten in the morning and finished our day at Times Square. It was fun to show someone the city who was as excited as Preston to see and appreciate it; it was his first time seeing Times Square, the Brooklyn Banks, the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, and Battery Park. "It's amazing how much you can do in a day here," Preston said to me around five o'clock.

It was wonderful hanging out with a familiar face from back home and seeing him doing so well. If you would like to see more images from our day, go here.

And, to see two of the published pieces we did together check out the In Print section on baphotos.com.

From Ground Zero

2011-05-06T08:47:00.001-07:00

Carry On: Westcott Reflector

2011-05-04T06:58:00.001-07:00

Photo by Marian Call

In life, we often forget the imporance of little things, but in photography, it's usually the little things that help get us through the day. When I bought my Westcott reflector, I bought it because I thought it was something that portrait photographers are required to have. I had no idea how much I would use it over the years or how much I would love using it.

Pictured above is my Westcott Illuminator Gold/White Reflector. The reflector is a modest 20x20 inches, but it is perfect for a single portrait. Not only do I use my reflector to create fill light for portraits, but I use it for white balancing my camera and controlling the sunlight on my subject. The photograph above is an example of this; my assistant (one of Sarah Palin's right-hand men) held the reflector in the path of the sunlight so that I could control the light that was falling on her face. A lot of photographers I know bring black foamboard on shoots to block out the sunlight, but I like to have something that can be packed and set up easily. At a reasonable price of $25.45, it's worth the investment. Carry on folks!

Osama Bin Laden Dead

2011-05-02T15:21:00.001-07:00

Osama Bin Laden was found and killed by U.S. forces yesterday. After President Obama announced his death to the country, celebrations city-wide ensued. More on Brian & Ash

Carry On: Sunpak 120J

2011-04-27T07:49:00.000-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

The Sunpak 120J is another wonderful, albeit discontinued, flash I own. When I bought my 120J in 2006, the price was reasonable ($160), but these days I can't believe how much people are willing to pay for them (usually over $300). The 120J is an amazing flash, but at this point if I wanted another and couldn't find a good deal, I would save up for a Qflash.

When I was first getting into lighting and developed a respectable reserve of Vivitar 283 flashes and accessories, I found myself wanting more, but I didn't want to buy studio strobes--they're to heavy for the type of photography I do. So I started looking at photography lighting books, and in one book I found a portrait of a girl lit with every type of light source. My two favorite portraits of the girl were lit with a soft box (I had one of those already) and a bare bulb flash. I was shocked to see that the girl's skin tones were nearly perfect, and from a bare bulb no less. I began researching bare bulb flashes and found the Sunpak 120J.

The 120J is capable of firing up to 100 feet at 100 ISO and recycles in 1.5 seconds, so for my intents and purposes, it's perfect. Sunpak originally sold the flash with a battery pack that outputs at least 150 full power bursts, for which I use four AA batteries. Someday I intend to pick up a Quantum Turbo battery for the 120J and Vivitar 283, but for now I am satisfied with the AA set-up.

Chimera and Quantum both offer great accessories for the 120J. A few years ago, I picked up a Chimera speed ring that attaches to the front of the flash, making is easy to attach any Chimera soft box quickly. There is no hot shoe on the flash, which means that you have to plug in to the camera with a household PC cord, but the nice thing about not having a hot shoe is that you can mount the flash to any light stand or tripod.

As you can see in the photo above, my Sunpak 120J has been through it, or so to speak. It has never let me down, which is why I carry it on. And on. And on.

To see what some other photogs are doing with the 120J, check out my 120J Flickr group.

Morning

2011-04-26T06:07:00.001-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

Summer is on its way to Brooklyn.

From The Archives

2011-04-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

2005 © Brian Adams

The photo above of Barbara Wesley was taken at my Grandmother's funeral in September 2005 in Kivalina, Alaska.

Carry On: Billingham 225 Shoulder Bag

2011-04-20T12:59:00.001-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

Before Louis Vuitton and after Domke, there was Billingham. If you see me with this bag, I am working. The Billingham 225 Shoulder Bag is my go-to bag for editorial assigments and weekend trips to Coney Island. I love my Domke bags, but in 2007, after using them for many years, I felt it was time to move on and try something new, so I bought the 225. The 225 has the perfect amount of storage space and all the durability and style you could wish for in a good camera bag. One of the many problems I come accross in most shoulder bags is that they're over-padded and over-designed. I will always prefer a shoulder bag that's simple, stylish and light as opposed to one that's complicated and bulky.

The photo above of Ash was taken during our first week of dating. She'd always wanted to shoot with a Hasselblad (the only medium-format work she'd done previously was with her Holga), so I set her up with the Billingham, Hasselblad 500cm, 50mm lens, film, and a light meter, and she was off! That's a big load for a little lady like Ash, but with the Billingham's great balance and forgiving material, Ash was able to tote that bag around all weekend with no problem. That's why I (we) carry on the Billingham 225.

Carry on, carry on.

Adam From 3C

2011-04-19T15:40:00.000-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

A day with the neighbor. More photos and info on Brian & Ash.

Carry On: Chimera Softbox

2011-04-14T07:13:00.001-07:00

© Brian Adams

When you're first starting out as a photographer, finding a good softbox is harder than you think. When I assisted photographers, I was sometimes amazed with their sad choices in lighting equipment. To me, it's not only about having a good softbox, it's about having a softbox that can be assembled in less than a minute and taken down just as fast to move on to the next set. It's about having a system that is easy to control, high-quality, versatile, light, and smart. I understand a lot of photographers reading this may think that "it's not about the equipment," but then think about how many photos you may have missed because you were too busy trying to get your light right.

I normally only photograph one to two people at a time, so for me, the Chimera Super Pro Plus Softbox is the way to go. The Super Pro Plus measures at 24x32 inches, which is perfect for a standard portrait. That being said, I have used it with groups as big as ten and just pulled back and cranked up the flash. I have found with Chimera you can get a speedring for pretty much any strobe/flash out there. Not only that, you can attach the speedring to any type of light stand or tripod you like. Because I mostly shoot on location and the ground is always iffy, I usually attach the softbox/speedring to a tripod for best security against uneven ground and, more importantly, wind! Lastly, one of my favorite details about the Super Pro Plus softbox is the three-inch-deep lip around the front, which makes the light fall-off incredibly easy to control. Remember: photography is all about light (or the absence of)! Carry On, friends!

Lord Provost and Tartan Day Makes the Papers

2011-04-13T11:15:00.001-07:00

This morning, the Glasgow City Council kindly sent me a few tearsheets from the story on the Tartan Day Parade and Lord Porvost in Glasgow's Evening Times and The Herald. It was a sincere pleasure photographing the event, and I was able to work with a lot of truly wonderful people. It's nice to see it all in print!

Lord Provost - Tartan Day Parade

2011-04-10T07:05:00.001-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

Yesterday, I had the privilege of photographing Bob Winter, Lord Provost of Glasgow, Scotland, and the Tartan Day Parade in New York City. Tartan Day is a celebration of Scottish heritage held on April 6, so the parade followed on Saturday this year. April 6 is the date on which the Declaration of Arbroath, a declaration of Scottish independence, was signed in 1320. There are over 6 million people in the United States that claim Scottish heritage, so yesterday was quite the turnout!

Carry On: Rollei 35 By Ash Adams

2011-04-06T13:18:00.000-07:00

2009 © Ash Adams

Check out this week's Carry On by Ash over at Brian & Ash!

Prospect Park

2011-04-02T11:11:00.001-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

Read and view more on Brian & Ash!

Carry On: Polaroid SX-70

2011-03-30T12:45:00.001-07:00

Tough Kids 2005 © Brian Adams

In 2004, when I first started working for photographer Clark James Mishler, one of my first assignments was to scan, tone, and print his SX-70 polaroids for a show he was preparing for later that year. I fell in love with the little square images that he had created and manipulated on location in Mexico. He explained to me that when the SX-70 Polaroids were in temperatures of 80˙ and above, the emulsion was easy to manipulate, which allowed him to create photographs that looked like paintings; the images were slightly distorted with rays of color like brushstrokes. They were beautiful, almost like looking at water.

I bought my first SX-70 camera soon after at a garage sale in Bird Creek, Alaska for $20.00. I felt like I had struck gold, and I didn't even know yet how expensive and hard to find the film was at the time, which it is even more so now.

In 2006, Polaroid discontinued SX-70 film. For a long time, I thought I would never use my SX-70 camera again, but I am happy to say that The Impossible Project has stepped in, and is now manufacturing SX-70 film. I haven't had the chance to try out their film yet (it's on it's way!), but I have enjoyed seeing Luceo's Kendrick Brinson's results, and I'll be sure to share mine. The Polaroid SX-70 is a luxury item but definitely one to Carry On!

Check out Clark's Roids book here!

Carry On: Kodak Portra 400

2011-03-23T10:34:00.001-07:00

All Photos 2011 © Brian Adams

In 2006 when I first started working with Getty Images and was preparing my portfolio for Global Assignments, Jamie Penny, an assignment coordinator and photo editor I truly admire, told me to slow down on the black and white and start shooting more color, primarily because color is just a lot easier to sell to the clients. He was right. I started experimenting with color films both positive and negative, and then in 2007 I found Kodak Portra 400NC. 400NC was fast enough for indoor and outdoor shooting, and the skin tones in my images were consistent indoors and outdoors, unlike some positive films I have used that are great for skin tones outdoors but work poorly indoors without the use of a strobe.

This year, Kodak introduced the New Kodak Portra 400. My initial thoughts were ones of hesitation and fear. (Ohh no, what are they going to discontinue?) Kodak discontinued the 400NC (NC=natural color) and 400VC (VC= vivid color) films, which they replaced with the Ektar (for vivid color) and Portra 400 (portraits/skin). I felt like I was loosing a dear old friend and I was going to have to move on, but after testing out the New Portra 400, I realized I gained more than I lost. The Portra 400 has an even finer grain, and I don't know if it's just me, but the skin tones look even more natural. The photos above were all shot using the new Portra 400. The first portrait of author Liz Murray was my biggest test for the film, but the whites came out white and the skin tones were exactly what I wanted! After that shoot all my skepticism went away. I feel blessed that kodak still makes a wonderful product for my needs and I look forward to many more years of their film. Carry on friends!

Sekonic Blog

2011-03-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

Check out the Sekonic Blog featuring Brian & Ash with the Sekonic L-308s.

More info on Brian & Ash!!

baphotos.com

2011-03-20T10:03:00.001-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

This year has been one of new things; I married my beautiful wife, moved to a new apartment in a new city, and have made many new friends. So, it seems only right that I also should have a new website, which I am happy to say is now live at baphotos.com thanks to my very good life-long friend Kris Swanson. Thanks for all of your hard work, Kris!

The main concept of the site was clean and simple. To view an image on the old site, you had to click on each individual image, but now, all you have to do is click on a image and it will bring you to the next one without having to move your mouse. AND, da-da-da-da!: Bigger images! (The Hasselblad is happy about that.) We also added two new galleries that the old site didn't have: Coney Island Sundays and the Shishmaref collection of the Disapearing Villages series. Enjoy!

Two Poets

2011-03-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

On Monday, I had the pleasure of photographing poet Amanda J. Bradley and her fiance Raymond Hammond, who is also a poet and the editor of the literary magazine The New York Quarterly. We began the shoot in their wonderful Brooklyn apartment and then ventured down to a park a few blocks away. The shoot was relaxed and filled with talk of professions, changes in the print industry, and our mutual love of Brooklyn. Be sure to check out the work on their websites above!

Coney Island Sundays

2011-03-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

Treasure Hunter #2
2011 © Brian Adams

Coney Island Sundays updated! More on Brian & Ash.

Carry On: Sekonic L-308S

2011-03-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

Photos © Brian Adams

The Sekonic L-308S light meter is another wonderful tip handed down to me from my mentor Clark James Mishler. Clark has been photographing professionally in Alaska for 20+ years, so I never take his advice lightly, especially when it comes to choosing the right gear for photographing in Alaska's harsh weather.

The model above is my second Sekonic light meter. The first one I had was the Sekonic L308, which served me well for over five years until it finally just stopped working. By the time my L-308 died, the L-308S was introduced to the market with some nice new features. The L-308S is an incident and reflective light meter, and you can easily switch between incident or reflective with its sliding system without ever having to remove the dome, so you never have to worry about loosing anything. It only weighs 3 ounces, so it doesn't drag your pocket down, and if you're like me, it's always in your pocket. In short, it's a wonderful, simple, light, accurate light meter that I couldn't shoot without.

The photos above are just a few good examples of the benefits of using a handheld light meter. The photo of Ash in the middle was taken using the incident light; it was a nice overcast day, so the exposure was solid on the foreground and background. The second photo is of my friend Marian Call, and on this paricular shoot, I forgot my digital camera, which I usually use when shooting film so that I can double check my exposures for the film. For this photo, I used three flashes, and I adjusted the flashes until the exposure was even on the foreground and Marian. I was proud of this image when the film came back, knowing I used three flashes and no digital camera to back me up. It just goes to show you how important a handheld light meter is when shooting film; the light meter is never wrong.

Carry On, Carry On.

Iditarod - John Baker Takes The Lead

2011-03-13T11:10:00.000-07:00

Photos 2009 © Brian Adams

Kotzebue native John Baker is currently leading the 2011 Iditarod Sled Dog Race! Baker is being trailed by Ramey Smyth of Willow, Alaska, and 4-time Iditarod Champion Lance Mackey is behind in 11th, claiming that "this is somebody else's year." Baker and Smyth have about 200 miles to go until the end of the race, so it is still anyone's race, but we, like Mackey, are rooting for Baker.

Above are some photos I took of John and his wife, Iva, at their home in Kotzebue, Alaska in 2009. They were both very welcoming and charming, and I could really tell how much they love the Iditarod, their dogs. I can't wait to see how this year's race ends! But whatever the end results, I am very proud of John Baker and grateful that I've had the chance to meet him.

March to March

2011-03-12T10:10:00.000-08:00

All Photos © Brian Adams

Yesterday was my birthday! To read more about the festivites check out Brian & Ash!

Above are 25 photos celebrating my 26th year of being alive! All the photos were taken between March 11, 2010 and March 11, 2011. A good year. Here's to more to come!

Carry On: Gitzo G1297

2011-03-07T13:41:00.000-08:00

Tom Yeager of Girdwood, Alaska for Newsweek
2008 © Brian Adams

I hated using tripods until I bought the Gitzo G1297 in 2007. I always thought of tripods as heavy, awkward, and in the way; for the most part, I would use my Slik tripod only out of guilt for having bought it. The Gitzo G1297 changed that; after I bought it, I found myself looking for more ways to use it, and carried it with me to every shoot. The Gitzo G1297 is made of the volcanic rock basalt, which makes it 20% lighter than an aluminum tripod like my old Slik. It's a three-section tripod, standing at 5" when fully extended, so it's actually usually more than what I need with my Hasselblad set-up, and the legs are retracted with the classic Gitzo twist system. (I find with this system it is easier to retract and bring the legs back up with one hand.)

For the tripod head, I use a Bogen ball head (Product 468MGRC2), which is a nice basic head with tension control, which really helps with heavier cameras. Other than that, the Bogen ball head is nothing to scream about, but I'd recommend to anyone especially for a first tripod set-up.

Carry on, carry on.

Coney Island Sundays

2011-03-06T16:15:00.001-08:00

2011 © Brian Adams

Check out more photos from last weeks trip to Coney Island on Brian & Ash!

Carry On: Vivitar 283

2011-03-01T08:38:00.001-08:00

2011 © Brian Adams

This tasty old recipe was handed down to me from my dear friend and mentor Clark James Mishler. Clark once told me a story when he was working at National Geographic in which he and his colleagues gathered all of the top flashes and tested them for recycling time and consistency. The Vivitar 283 came out on top, and he has been shooting with it ever since.

The Vivitar 283 was first introduced in 1970. It was the #1 flash for photographers from 1970 to 1973, in which time Vivitar sold over 3,000,000 of the flashes. Even though the flash is now discontinued, you can still easily find the flash and it's accessories online.

The photograph above is of my modified Vivitar 283's. The flash on the left has had its hot shoe removed and replaced with a Flash Foot One Household PC plug-in, which makes it easy to plug in household PC cords and radio slaves. On both of the flashes, the original Vari Powers were replaced with VP-1 Vari Powers. The VP-1 Vari Power is much easier to control and a lot more accurate when dialing in the amount of power you want.

In short, the Vivitar 283 is a tried and true flash unit, and I look forward to many more years and shoots with it. It's light and easy to carry, so:

Carry on, carry on...

Carry On: Beleir Shoulder Bag and Hasselblad 500cm

2011-02-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

2011 © Brian Adams

I don't consider myself a "gear head" by any means, but I genuinely appreciate smart, light, functional photography equipment that enhances my ability to make photographs in any situation, so I have decided to start a weekly blog post dedicated to sharing what gear I choose to use and why. Ash and I talked about possible names for the project and we came up with Carry On, partly because I insist on always being able to carry on my gear when flying. I want to be ready to shoot always.

For the first post, I want to share my "everyday" bag. Anyone who knows me knows I am very rarely seen without my Louis Vuitton Beleir shoulder bag, which is almost always packed with my Hasselblad 500cm and 80mm CF Lens. When I first saw this bag in a LV store in Hawaii, I knew it was the bag for me. I like to keep my shoulder bags as simple and sleek as possible; I only need a few pockets, and I want the bag to form to my hip when walking. The Beleir bag is much like a Domke bag, featuring one main compartment and two side pockets. (It does not come with dividers, so I transferred the dividers from my old Domke bag to the Beleir bag to better organize my equipment.) Made of canvas, it repels water, keeps clean in dusty situations, and is surprising durable; I've been using mine for 3 years and it still looks good.

And then, there's the Hasselblad 500cm and 80mm CF lens set-up. This camera has been my main camera for over six years. It is my go-to camera, my original set-up; next to Ash, it's the best thing that's ever happened to me. (I love you, Ash.) It's a Hasselblad 500cm, 80mm CF lens and a A12 6x6 with black dot release film back. This camera is the definition of work horse. I have used it in the coldest Alaskan temperatures (the camera doesn't require a battery, which makes it ideal for cold weather shooting), the hottest New York summers, and the sandiest Hawaiian beaches, and it has always worked like a gem. But what's more, when I shoot with this camera, I feel it best interprets what I am trying to say with my photography.

You photogs out there, what film equipment could you not live without?

Carry on, carry on

Update

2011-02-18T08:53:00.001-08:00

From the Archive. Prospect Park 2011 © Brian Adams

First of all, I am sorry for the silence on the blog lately. We have been shooting, but I still need to get all the film to the lab before I can post our adventures, which I will do after this Sunday's trip to Coney Island.

This week was an exciting one; I had the pleasure of meeting with Rolling Stone's senior photo editor, Sacha Lecca, Ash was asked to be a judge for Alaska's annual ADN Poetry Competition for the second year in a row, and we finally worked on our taxes! (This last thing might not seem that exciting to anyone else, but trust me--we're excited.) Never a dull moment! Stay tuned!

Coney Island Sundays

2011-02-08T14:07:00.000-08:00

2011 © Brian Adams

More here!

Author Liz Murray for Grazia

2011-02-01T07:38:00.000-08:00

2011 © Brian Adams

I just received word from Getty Images in London that my portrait of author Liz Murray was published as the feature in this month's issue of Italy's Grazia. Liz Murray is the author of Breaking Night, her memoir detailing her experiences as a homeless teen in the Bronx who eventually became a Harvard graduate.
I am still waiting for my issue to come in the mail, but as soon as it does I will post some tearsheets!

Park City, Utah

2011-01-27T06:57:00.000-08:00

2011 © Brian Adams

Above are a few of my last frames from Park City, Utah. While waiting for my ride to the airport, I spent about three hours walking up and down Main Street, checking out the shops and restaurants. I still need to drop off my film, so stay tuned!

Alaska Magazine

2011-01-26T07:38:00.000-08:00

2010 © Brian Adams

Shishmaref Basketball Hoop, in this month's issue of Alaska Magazine!

Utah Hotel

2011-01-24T18:59:00.000-08:00

2011 © Brian Adams

Waiting is the hardest part.

Book

2011-01-20T09:49:00.000-08:00

Coney Island Sundays

2011-01-08T11:35:00.000-08:00

Ash and I have started a new project that we are lovingly calling Coney Island Sundays. Every Sunday during 2011, Ash and I plan to go to Coney Island to photograph, interview, and write. Above are a few photos from our first Sunday at Coney Island on January 2. A New Year, a new project!

Photos © 2011 Brian Adams

Snow Day

2010-12-26T13:24:00.000-08:00

Favorite Tearsheets of 2010

2010-12-20T12:58:00.000-08:00

Orion Magazine. Relocating Newtok.
F Zine. Skateboarder Ted Kim
The New York Times Magazine. Sarah Palin.
PDN Photo of The Day. The Eskimo Cookbook.
Inked Magazine. Pro Snowmachiner, Paul Thacker.
Newsweek. Palins Church. Wasilla, Alaska.

Above are a few of my favorite tearsheets from 2010. While I was looking through my archives from the past year and enjoying the memories each photo brought to mind, I realized that many of them would not have been possible without the wonderful clients with whom Ash and I have been blessed to work. In addition to our many supportive friends and family, I would like to say thanks to a few wonderfully talented photo editors who helped us out this year with assignments and resales throughout the year: Mimi Brown of Contour Photos, Alison Meyer of Getty Images, Jamie Penny of Getty Images, Michelle Molloy of Newsweek, Amber Terranova of PDN, and Jason Houston of Orion Magazine. Thanks, everyone! You are all in our hearts and minds this holiday season.

Best of 2010

2010-12-19T12:41:00.000-08:00

Shishmaref, AK.
Ardith of Shishmaref, AK.
Kiyutelluk Family of Shishmaref, AK.
Marian Call. Anchorage, AK.
Tyler Allen Adams. Anchorage, AK.
Justin and Tonia. Anchorage, AK.
Justin in Willow, AK.
Matt and Ags in Hawaii.
Matt Eich in Brooklyn, NY.
San Francisco, CA.
Tim Easton in Anchorage, AK.
Ash Adams. Turnagain Arm, AK.
Pearl. Brooklyn, NY.
Park Slope. Brooklyn, NY.
Ash Adams. Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY.

2010 was a big year for the Adams family. Ash and I were married in a lovely rose garden in Anchorage and then moved to New York. My brother's son, Tyler Allen Adams, was brought into the world and the most loving, supportive family. And he's turning into a great little person; I can't wait to see the little guy again.

Ash and I had the pleasure of shooting together in Shishmaref, Alaska, Hawaii, Sitka, San Francisco, and now New York. Above are just a few of my personal favorites from this year--I tried to keep it under ten, but this year was just too amazing!

Also, we couldn't have done all of this without the support of our amazing family and friends from NY to AK. Thanks everyone and let's get ready for 2011!

All Photos 2010 © Brian Adams

Tina Fey Calendar for Autism Education

2010-12-13T10:19:00.000-08:00

On October 21, 2010 at the Night of Too Many Stars in New York City, Tina Fey introduced a swimsuit calendar featuring photographs of her (kind of), the proceeds of which will be used for educating the public on autism. The calendar is great; Tina Fey's head is pasted on a variety of bodies, including my photo of Sarah Palin for Runner's World. Is there a better way to raise money than with comedy? Out of all the resales of the Runner's World photos, this is one of my favorites.

You can view the calendar on this video here!

Orion Article Now Available Online

2010-12-09T10:15:00.000-08:00

Images © Brian Adams

If you haven't been able to pick up a copy, you can now view the full story on Orion Magazine's website here!

Pearl Harbor

2010-12-07T12:18:00.000-08:00

2008 © Brian Adams

It has been 69 years today since the attack on Pearl Harbor, so over 100 survivors are gathering together across the harbor from the USS Arizona to remember those who lost their lives in the attack.

More here on the Huffington Post.

Five Villages in Four Days - New Gallery

2010-12-03T14:45:00.001-08:00

2010 © Brian Adams

In October 2009, I was commissioned to travel to five Alaska Native villages over a four-day period to make photographs of local artists and business owners. From Anchorage, I traveled to Kotzebue and then to Noatak, Kivalina, Noorvik, and Kiana. The job was difficult at times, and it felt a bit jarring; spending less than a day in some of the villages, I had to heighten my sense of seeing to capture both moments and images that conveyed a unique sense of place. Perhaps the most rewarding part of the experience was that I was able to witness the distinct similarities and differences between the villages, from the rough, open sea waters of Kivalina to the quiet river of Noatak, and see why each village chose their location based off of what the land had to offer.

The images from my trip are now available for viewing on my Photoshelter gallery here.

Christmas Tree

2010-11-28T14:28:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, Ash and I picked up a Christmas tree! More on Brian & Ash.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T18:45:00.001-08:00

Three-Month Wedding Anniversary + New York Times Magazine Cover

2010-11-21T14:29:00.000-08:00

Old Friend

2010-11-19T11:38:00.000-08:00

2010 © Brian Adams

2010 © Ash Adams

2010 © Ash Adams

2010 © Matt Eich

Selecting the right pipe is like choosing the right camera; you want to make sure that it matches your personality and vision. While Ash and I were on vacation in NY last December, we found the perfect pipe for me-- the stem was steep, the bowl was big, and it fit in my camera bag perfectly.
Sadly, this morning after enjoying a morning smoke, I tamped the pipe out too hard on my boot and broke the stem (an Adams tradition started by my brother, Roland ). Above are a few photos of good times with an old friend.

Night Walk

2010-11-17T18:54:00.000-08:00

Coney Island + Hasselblad Lens to Canon EOS

2010-11-16T12:08:00.000-08:00

Photo 2010 © Brian Adams

Photo 2010 © Ash Adams

Coney Island + Testing out the Hasselblad Lens to Canon EOS converter. More on Brian & Ash!

David Lehman

2010-11-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

Last week, Ash and I had the pleasure of photographing poet David Lehman. David Lehman is the series editor of The Best American Poetry and a professor at The New School, as well as an award-winning poet and the author of seven non-fiction books, including A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs which was just awarded the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers Deems Taylor Award.

We were welcomed into his home with coffee and cake that his wife, Stacey Harwood, prepared that day. After enjoying the treats, we began our photo session in the living room, using Lehman's impressive book collection as the background, and then we headed out to the streets and walked around his nieghborhood while he entertained us with stories of his favorite bars, parks, and restaurants. Lehman is a true New Yorker, and both he and his wife are truly inspiring individuals. I look forward to photographing him again in the future!

Photos 2010 © Brian Adams

GOOD

2010-11-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

GOOD Magazine just posted our project on Shishmaref, AK on their blog!

More info on Brian & Ash!

Photoshelter

2010-11-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

2010-10-31T11:33:00.000-07:00

Irina Gvodz

Poet David Lehman

Above are a couple of photos from yesterday's shoot. More to come when the film is developed!

Photos 2010 © Brian Adams

Matt Eich

2010-10-27T21:09:00.000-07:00

2010-10-26T23:01:00.000-07:00

The Best of American Poetry

2010-10-26T10:18:00.000-07:00

Orion Magazine

2010-10-22T09:42:00.000-07:00

All Photos © Brian Adams

Today, I was happy to see the layout of the November/December issue of Orion magazine, in which seven of my photos of Newtok, Alaska are featured! I am very honored to be part of the magazine, and I can't thank photo editor Jason Houston enough for seeking me out. I can't wait to see it in print!

PDN Photo of The Day

2010-10-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

The story Ash and I did on Shishmaref, AK is "The Photo of The Day" on PDN Online!

More here on Brian & Ash.

Photos 2010 © Brian Adams

Orion Magazine

2010-10-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

Check out Orion Magazine’s website where two of my photographs are headers in rotation for the new issue featuring several of my images from Newtok, Alaska.

Tumblr

2010-10-16T14:59:00.001-07:00

You can now follow Brian Adams Photography on Tumblr!

Marian Call in NY

2010-10-15T11:27:00.001-07:00

2010 © Brian Adams

This morning is the first morning that felt like fall in the city; the crisp wind swept newly brightened leaves across the pavement, and the distinct smell of ice filled our lungs. On this beautiful day, Ash and I were happy to catch up with our good friend Marian Call, a musician who is in town for the next couple of weeks as she continues the last stretch of her tour through the 50 states. After brunch at a favorite local spot, we all went for a lovely autumn walk in Prospect Park while enjoying our coffee and good conversation.

More on Marian Call here.

Staten Island Ferry

2010-10-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

More here.

Inked

2010-09-29T08:21:00.000-07:00

2010 © Brian Adams
Last month, I got a call from photo editor Joshua Clutter at Inked Magazine asking if I would like to photograph professional snowmobiler Paul Thacker. Thacker, based in Anchorage, AK, holds the world record for the longest jump on a snowmobile. Unfortunately, because there is no snow in August, we couldn't get any action shots. The shoot was fun, though, and I enjoyed hearing Thacker talk about his life as a snowmobiler. The tearsheet above is in this month's issue, so go check it out.

On a side note, I would like to thank Brad Dececco for referring me to Joshua. Thanks, Brad!

2010 MacArthur Fellow

2010-09-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

Today, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced the 23 winners of the annual "Genius Award," including Annette Gordon-Reed, a writer and historian based in New York City. Last week, Ash and I had the pleasure of photographing Gordon-Reed in the New York City Public library, a place in which she says she's spent the last twelve years. Gordon-Reed won a Pulitzer Prize in 2009 for her book on Thomas Jefferson's slave family, The Hemingses of Monticello. In addition to her writing, Gordon-Reed teaches history and law at Harvard.

More info here.

Park Slope Tornado Text by Ash Adams

2010-09-17T20:06:00.001-07:00

Since we've moved to New York, we've seen very little rain--it has only rained once, in fact, since we've been here. So yesterday, when a violent storm and tornado swept into the city, we were surprised and unprepared to say the least. Brian was on his way to meet me at 6:00 in Soho where I've recently started working at The Knot, and, although he ducked into a pharmacy to buy an umbrella, he was completely soaked when I met him in the street.

When we arrived safely to our home in Park Slope, where the streets were littered with felled trees, broken sidewalks, and thrashed vehicles, we were thankful for much, but specifically that at least we didn't have a car--and especially a broken one!--to come home to.

More on the storm and clean-up efforts in the Wall Street Journal.

After a crazy, hectic week that ended in a storm and a morning of mellow work, Brian and I spent today enjoying our city and each other. We haven't lived in Brooklyn long, but we already have our routines and special places: we enjoy espressos from Cafe Grumpy, we pick up bagels from La Bagel Delight, and we take long walks in Prospect Park, especially at sunset.

Photos © 2010 Brian Adams
Photo of Brian's silhouette © 2010 Ash Adams