brian & ash

New Hasselblad

2011-12-31T15:24:00.001-08:00

Last Christmas, things were lean for the Adams' (I was in grad school, we were living in NYC, etc), and so we were budgeted to a $30 maximum for gifts. (I bought Brian a sweater from Urban Outfitters that he loves and still uses, he bought me several moleskins that I'm still using and loving.) So this year, without letting each other know that we were doing so, we both went big. (It has, after all, been a very big year for us as a couple!) In my opinion, Brian won the spend-off. He bought me one of the most amazing gifts I've ever received: my very own Hasselblad.

It should be noted that before I met Brian, I had about 10 years of photography experience under my belt, including classes throughout high school and college and participation in a couple of shows here and there. But as far as medium format was concerned, I had only ever worked with my Holga (a present from my sister in 2006). So for the past several years during our relationship, I've ventured away from my 35mm ways and have been seeing square images everywhere. In these moments, if I was feeling desperate enough, I'd grab Brian's Hasselblad and take the frame. (If you know Brian, you know that he always carries his Hasselblad, so to steal it even for a second usually gave me pause.) And so, a show I've been working on has been creeping toward completion. So. Slowly.

I say this to reiterate how perfect Brian's gift to me is: to me, it is a an act of supportive encouragement and a gift of freedom. I am now free to shoot as much as I like, whenever I like. And I have been. Oh, I have!

My apologies for the many many photos in this post; Brian and I have just returned from a vacationing week in Florida, so I had plenty of time to shoot it up! Happy holidays, everyone! More Hasselblad photos to come!

Merry Christmas, from Alaska to Florida and Back Again!

2011-12-24T08:09:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas from the Southeast, everyone! This week has been a fun one with my family in St. Petersburg, FL, where we've been enjoying loved ones, the sun, and each other. From beaches to sunset walks to late nights with cousins and siblings, it's been a truly memorable and enjoyable experience for both of us. Alaska is a long way from my family, so spending so much time with them over the holidays has been nothing short of amazing, grounding, and reaffirming, especially now that we are counting down the days before our family expands even more. (I consider this to be Elliott's first Christmas, too!)

After our celebrations today and tomorrow here, we will return to our tree in Alaska late tomorrow night/early Monday morning where the festivities will continue in Anchorage with Brian's wonderful family. It's so great to have such a long Christmas holiday! It just keeps going!

Meg Mackey

2011-12-16T20:36:00.001-08:00

© 2011 Brian Adams
Brian and I are big fans of Anchorage's music scene, which is more or less a tightly-knit (but loosely-wound) group of really fun, talented people. That said, it's always refreshing when someone new comes on the set, and especially when they join forces with the other musicians we already know and love.

Last weekend, we were pleased to photograph a Ms. Meg Mackey in preparation for the release of her first album next spring, which, if the demos are any indication, is pretty rad. If you like smoky female vocals and heart-throb lyrics, you will swoon for this lady.

Accompanying her are a few local musicians that we already love: James Dommek Jr. of The Whipsaws, Martin Severin of the Jack River Kings, and guitarist and sound-extraordinaire James Glaves.

Rock on, cool cats, and welcome to town, Meg!

On the Road Again, Part I: Bethel, AK

2011-12-13T18:12:00.001-08:00

All Photos © Brian and Ash Adams

After making the drive back to Alaska, Brian and I traveled a little bit within the state--to Homer, Fairbanks, and other drivable places--but between pregnancy, working on the film, holidays, other work, and life, we haven't gotten on a plane together since we arrived in August. So we were thrilled to fly to Bethel, Alaska this week to work on an assignment for Stern and photograph for the book. We both love rural Alaska; there's no light or cold quite like it. (And good places and people always equals good work, so stay tuned for Brian's beautiful images!)

AIGA's Newest Board Member Is...

2011-12-02T14:08:00.001-08:00

© 2007 Brian Adams

Ash and I wanted to say congratulations to my brother, Roland Adams, for becoming the newest board member of AIGA's Alaska Chapter! Roland is an amazing designer who loves Alaska from the bottom of his heart, so I know he is going to continue to do great things for Anchorage's art and design community. Congrats brother, brother-in-law, and soon-to-be uncle!

Preston Pollard in AK

2011-11-29T11:20:00.000-08:00

© 2011 Brian Adams

A couple of weeks ago, Ash and I braved the sub-zero temperatures with skateboarder Preston Pollard to photograph a trick he recently filmed with a camera crew for a documentary about his life and growing up in Alaska. As you can see above, skateboarding in Alaska can be very difficult in the winter; this shot alone took a couple of hours from start to finish. First, Preston had to set up wood on the ground to roll up to the pipe, which he had to adjust several times, and then he had to take meticulous care to keep his shoes and grip tape snow-free and dry as he worked to perfect his landing and as Ash and I worked to create the best shot (good lighting, Ash). As always it was a pleasure photographing Preston; you can view our last shoot with him in NYC here.

Tonia & Justin

2011-10-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

Today is a very special day for two very special friends of ours. Today, Tonia and Justin are getting married in Tulum, Mexico, and if a hurricane hadn't swept through the Yucatan this week, we would be there by their side (1 preggo + 1 loving husband of said preggo= no risks, no way). We just wanted to give them both a shout out for being two inspiring people with an amazing capacity for love and send some positive energy their way, hurricane or no hurricane. Congrats, you two! We love you!

The Great Bambino Adventure, the Road Trip, and LIFE Updates

2011-10-15T11:34:00.001-07:00

Clearly, this post is very, very overdue, for which Brian and I both apologize. Life (with a capital L) has been a wild ride for these past few years, but wild doesn't even describe our past few months. And it should be noted that Brian and I like living a little bit on the wild side of things, so wild does not mean bad so much as it does fast, busy, and beautiful.

To begin: in July, Brian and I were already planning a cross-country move to Alaska where we were needed by family, and so we were busily packing, selling furniture, buying a car, finding sublettors for our apartment, and really just sweeping up as we prepared to drive from New York to Alaska. And then: after having a conversation with a friend about how crazy it is that so many of our friends were having babies lately, it hit me: I think I'm pregnant. Several over-the-counter pregnancy tests and a doctor's visit confirmed it: Brian and I would be parents in early March 2012.

Needless to say, we were overwhelmed--happy, excited, in love as ever--but overwhelmed. The first-trimester morning sickness, nausea, and crazy emotional swings hit a few days before we hit the road, but we were off and we were together. And no matter how many Subway veggie delights we had to find (for some reason, pickle and mustard sandwiches from Subway were all I could keep down for a solid month) or how many hours we spent cuddling the nausea away, we were together and driving through some of the most beautiful places in the country.

After Ohio, we headed on to Madison, Wisconsin, where we visited with our dear friends Ryan and Lauren Walker for an evening before heading onwards to the Badlands in South Dakota. Ryan needed a lift to Colorado to pick up a car he'd left with family, so he came along for the ride to the breath-taking Badlands where we spent some time hiking, itching (never have I seen such mosquitos!), and talking in the dark in our tiny tent about everything--skateboarding, family, babies, love, and life. After an amazing breakfast at a lodge near our campsite, the three of us (after a brief pause in Rapid City where we purchased a new tire after one of ours blew out on the highway) headed through Wyoming and down to Fort Collins, where we stayed the night, skated Fossil Creek skatepark, and said farewell before Brian and I drove northward towards Montana. Ryan Walker has been such a good friend to us--he even married us--and we talked about how much we love him for at least an hour after we left him in Colorado.

Brian and I arrived at our campsite in Glacier National Park, Montana sometime around 4 am the next morning. We didn't even bother setting up a tent at that point, but just spooned in the car and slept for 4 or 5 hours before waking in one of the most majestic places either of us has ever seen. The next two days were the most magical of our trip; we swam in cold, clear lakes (in the deep areas, it was so cold that I couldn't breathe!), hiked through tall trees, and even skated some of the paved roads. We spent our evenings by our campfire in the woods, making s'mores with vanilla wafers and just enjoying one another. Somehow, we are together all day long, everyday, but we never run out of conversation and we never want to be away from each other. As we packed up to head into Canada, we knew that this trip was exactly what we'd wanted it to be. Even with the morning sickness and the limited menu, we were building something awesome and loving each other beneath the stars.

Canada was a breeze; after camping outside of Banff, everything seemed to just fly by. We saw 11 bears, a mountain lion, a group of wild horses, and cliffs and forests and rivers and cold, towering mountains. We drove long--usually about 16 hours a day--but we enjoyed the long expanses of wilderness, our music, and stopping to take photos along the way. When we finally crossed over the border into Alaska, we were just so excited to be beneath the northern sky we'd missed while surrounded by skyscrapers, that we pushed on and drove into the early morning hours until making it to our new home with Roland, Brian's brother. What a drive!

Since our road trip, we've been busily working, hosting dinner parties with friends we hadn't seen in a year, kayaking in Homer and Eklutna, hiking, biking, and just loving Alaska. Our baby is continuing to grow--we're now at the half-way point in our pregnancy--and we're growing into the idea, too. The second trimester has been much better than the first--no more sickness, no more nausea, no more mood swings--and feeling my baby kick and turn makes me laugh every time. What a crazy thing, that we are made this way!

There will be many more updates to come; Brian is the still photographer on a film starring John Cusack and Nicholas Cage, we'll be in Mexico for a week at the end of the month and then spending Thanksgiving with Brian's family and Christmas in Florida with mine, and then, before any of us knows it, we'll meet our child for the very first time.

What a wild, beautiful, ride. More soon!

Institute of The North Goes to Talkeetna!

2011-09-25T10:06:00.001-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

Last weekend, Ash and I were in the beatiful town of Talkeetna, Alaska covering Institute of the North's 2011 Alaska Dialogue. The dialogue started Friday evening and ended Sunday afternoon, and each of the days was full of thought-provoking lectures and discussions about Alaska's past and ways to secure and further its future. We were so privileged to be able to participate in this year's conference (last year, Ash and I were invited to the Emerging Leaders Dialogue held in Sitka, Alaska, which we blogged about here). We look forward to the next dialogue!

The Road Trip, Part 1: Ohio

2011-08-01T15:08:00.000-07:00

It's true: this week, we left our home in Brooklyn for the last time and are now on our way across the country, headed to Alaska, our home. The circumstances surrounding the move have been emotional, and the time frame for planning was short, but here we are, on our way at last.

Our first trek after we left the city (after 2 hours of NYC traffic) was to Cleveland, Ohio, my birthplace. Cleveland has not been my physical home for almost a decade, and it was never really home in my heart, but whenever I find myself on its highways and back roads again, I'm always astounded by how well I will always know it. And the things that excite me are not the things I'd ever thought would have stuck: the Cuyahoga Valley towpath, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, the back country roads whose speed limits are all somehow faster than they should be, sitting by Lake Erie at the edge of the city.

When I had told Brian about Ohio before this trip, I talked about the shows, the parties, the dancing, but those things all were magical because of the people I did them with, not the place we were in. And magical because of my age at the time; what I remember about Cleveland was that teenage revelry, that feeling everything for the first time. I'm not old, but I'm not fresh and new; I'm not sneaking beer, lying about my age, feeling adulthood like a thrill.

Now, Cleveland seems quieter, like a beloved book I've read so many times that I know all of the words. It's not home but something I take with me, words I say to myself.

NOW: on to Madison, WI!

Preston Pollard Ad

2011-07-12T10:04:00.001-07:00

© 2011 Brian Adams

Check out the August/September issue of Skateboarder magazine featuring an ad for Airspeed Footwear with my photo of LA-based skateboarder and friend Preston Pollard!

Roland Adams

2011-06-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

2011 © Ash Adams

What can I say about my brother Roland? I don't know where I would be today without him, professionally or otherwise. He's been there for it all; I've never known the world without him. He's the one of the nicest, most creative guys you will ever meet, and he often hears (and not just from me!) that he's the best designer in the largest state in the U.S. But you won't catch him tooting his own horn, because not only is he talented, he is humble.

If it weren't for Roland, I don't know if I would be a photographer today. When I was 18 (and spending my days being a skate rat on the couch or at the park), Roland lovingly threw the classifieds at me and told me to find a job before leaving for work. My first reaction was then what it still would probably be today: Who finds anything in the classifieds? But, I swallowed my pride, picked up the paper, and the first thing I saw was a job ad for a "Photographer's Assistant" and a phone number. The number turned out to be that of Clark James Mishler of Clark James Mishler Photography, who has become one of the most influential mentors in my career. I went to the interview and was hired on the spot. I worked for Clark for two years before veturing out on my own and starting my own photography business (Clark and I are still very good friends today.).

After working for Clark, Roland acutally referred me for my first commercial photography assigment for Kaladi Brothers Coffee. After that, he encouraged me to push my portfolio to the various ad agencies in Alaska, from which effort I landed my first large ad campaign, an Annual Report for the largest hospital chain in Alaska. At 20 years old and without a college degree, I couldn't have done any of this without Ro.

And these are just the things I can tell you on a blog. There is so much more--so many road trips, ski trips, hikes, porch talks, long afternoons and evenings at home, family dinners, and so many firsts we shared together.

The photos above (by Ash) were taken last week while Roland was in town visiting for a much-needed vacation. We did a lot of sightseeing in the city, but some of my favorite times were those in which we were all just hanging at the house and catching up on this long year. After he left, we felt his absence all over again, and we can't wait to be under the same roof with Ro at the end of this summer.

We miss you brother, and we will see you soon!

Tonia & Justin, continued

2011-06-16T08:47:00.001-07:00

Photos © Brian Adams

Above are a few more photos from Brian's shoot with Tonia and Justin last week! Isn't film wonderful?

Tonia & Justin

2011-06-11T07:33:00.001-07:00

It is so heartening to meet two people whose love for one another and the world around them is undeniable, radiant. There is no feeling as sure as a good love; we know it in ourselves and those around us like we know pain, true as taste. Love has nothing to prove; it just is.

This week, Brian was able to photograph two dear Alaskan friends of ours visiting New York City after a month of European travels, Tonia and Justin, who are engaged to be married this year, and the photos speak for themselves: these are two people who are generous with their happiness and their love. Their genuine and effortless enthusiasm for all things beautiful and alive is no question, even on film. We are blessed to know them, and their friendship is something we deeply cherish. Tonia and Justin: you are an example to us all, and we love you.

A Year Ago Today

2011-06-06T11:45:00.001-07:00

Photo © Brian Adams, 2010

A year ago today, Brian proposed to me in our favorite restaurant in New York City, Prune, and I, of course, said yes. Brian knew I'd say yes, and I knew he was going to ask (it was the only way to explain our trip to New York that week), but it didn't make it any less magical. And it didn't make either one of us any less nervous; I remember so clearly the subway ride to the restaurant, where I knew he'd propose, and the shaky anticipation that trembled almost visibly between us. The moment we were seated (at our table), Brian couldn't hold it in for a second longer. He grabbed my hand, got down on one knee, and blurted out that he loved me, would always love me, wanted to spend the rest of his life loving me, and would I marry him. We both laughed and cried and dreamed out loud about everything we would do together in the coming years. The staff at Prune hurried out with complementary flutes of champagne and marinated veal heart ("Heart for a proposal makes sense," said one of our favorite waiters), and the whole restaurant seemed to celebrate with us. It was one of the most fun, most exciting nights of my life, next to our wedding and everyday Brian and I spend together.

To read the original post, check out the post we wrote last June here.

Tyler Allen Adams

2011-05-26T06:50:00.001-07:00

It has been a little while since our last post (sorry!), but this week has been a tough one on our family, and when things get as crazy as they've been, this blog is usually the first thing to take a hit. Our 1 1/2-year-old nephew, Tyler, has been in the ICU for the past week and a half after experiencing a serious head trauma, and although he is pulling through, he will still remain in the hospital for the next several weeks. The doctors and his parents are optimistic that he'll have a full recovery, so we are all just hoping and praying for the best.

GO TEAM TYLER!!!

Preston Pollard, Round Two

2011-05-16T07:29:00.001-07:00

This weekend, Brian had the pleasure of photographing Preston Pollard, who is now living in LA and pursing a career in acting while also sponsored as a skateboarder by Airspeed Footwear. 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 while 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.

This weekend was Preston's second 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 we were able to set up shoots for the past two weekends. This weekend, we met at Grand Central station, then headed to the World's Fair in Queens for a few skateboarding photos and then to Central Park for some headshots and some delicious New York Pizza.

It was wonderful hanging out with a familiar face from back home these past two Saturdays and seeing him doing so well. If you would like to see more images from our day, go here. Preston leaves for LA this week, but we're hoping he'll be back soon!

United Nations Exhibition

2011-05-09T13:12:00.001-07:00

© 2010 Brian Adams

We are happy to announce that a week from today, the photo above from our trip to Shishmaref, Alaska will be on display at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The exhibition is focused on water and it's importance to indigenous peoples' way
of life. The Indigenous Photographers Exhibition is in conjunction with the Tenth Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The exhibition will be on display in the main lobby of the UN Secretariat building from May 16 - June 2011. If you live in or are around NYC during this time check it out!

(I am so proud of you, Brian! My love!) ((It's me, Ash!))

Pearl!

2011-05-06T06:30:00.001-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

Pearl wins!

Osama Bin Laden Dead

2011-05-02T14:54:00.000-07:00

Brian and I have been getting up with the sun lately (usually around five or six), so by ten o'clock last night, we were ready to turn into bed for some cuddle time and a movie. Around eleven, my sister, Beth, sent us a text: "You guys hear the news?" Two texts later, we found out that Osama Bin Laden had been found and killed by U.S. forces, which we soon verified, lying in bed, browsing the internet anxiously for more news. Our first feelings weren't ones of celebration or even relief; the first thing I said, in fact, was, "What a sad thing." Of course, I meant what a sad thing all of it has been: the World Trade Center's collapse, President Bush's crusade against the Middle East, the hate (and greed) fueling both sides of a bloody, sad war.

I understand why people are celebrating--relief in the prospect of security (really, does killing Bin Laden make us secure?), that something (anything) has happened in this war, that the loved ones lost in 9/11 and the years following may actually (in some universe) be avenged.

I understand why they claim they are celebrating, but to me--to us--a man's death is not something to be celebrated. Bin Laden was a man who did (who chose to do ) horrible things, as have many in our own country. But I refuse to believe that he--or anyone--is evil. Maybe I'm just too far away from the Middle East, maybe I didn't live in Manhattan on 9/11, or maybe I just don't see the world in terms of this or that. Maybe I want to believe that people do what they feel that they need to do in this life, and that judgement can never truly be ours. Maybe I'm not a good patriot, maybe I'm a sap, and maybe I haven't tasted enough blood in my life. What I know is that I didn't recognize New York City last night at all.

Adam From 3C

2011-04-19T09:12:00.001-07:00

2011 © Brian Adams

New Yorkers aren't known for their friendliness, so when Brian and I first moved to Brooklyn, we were worried that we'd be the odd couple on the stoop smoking and smiling at our neighbors who pass by rolling their eyes or staring vacantly ahead. While that is sometimes the case, we have been blessed to live near some very artistic, friendly people, especially those in our building. While we live here, Brian and I intend to photograph all of our friends and neighbors to dispel to some extent the cold, hard New Yorker stereotype that is, for the most part, a gross exaggeration.

This week, Brian photographed one of our favorite people, Adam, who lives one floor below us with his girlfriend. He and his girlfriend both finished law school last year and now work as lawyers in Manhattan.

Carry On: Rollei 35

2011-04-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

I take a lot of long walks during the day, everyday, as anyone who knows me well can tell you. On an average day, I cover anywhere from 5 to 12 miles, while thinking out whatever piece of writing that's consuming me that day. There always comes a moment when I know that if I don't close the computer and leave, I'll ruin the entire piece. So out I go into the parks, through the city streets, across the bridge, giving myself space from the creative task at hand and figuring things out. I don't think that it's an exaggeration to say that if I can't walk, I can't write.

Photography is another sort of inspiration to my writing, and the two art forms are in many ways similar; both insist on putting a frame around an idea, through which I make sense of the world. So it follows that often while I walk and muse about pieces of writing, I also like to tote around a camera just in case. I would love to say that I carry a Hassleblad like my stylish husband, but in all honesty, it's just too much weight on my shoulder. After carrying around a Hassleblad on a 5-6 mile walk, my back is sore from the heft and my side (or chest, depending upon how I'm wearing it) is sore from the knocks and bumps it takes from the 'Blad.

Before I met Brian, I wore a Canon AE-1 and then a Holga to meet my needs for size and quality, but then for my birthday two years ago, Brian gave me the Rollei 35. I have difficulty believing I'll find a camera that suits me more as a person and photographer. Small (pocketable, if you really wanted it to be) and light, the Rollei 35 blows any point-and-shoot out of the water. With a 40mm F-3.5 Zeiss lens, this German-crafted beauty makes evenly toned images similar to those I've shot with a Leica, but like a Holga, the lens does not "focus"; instead, numbers on the lens indicate the distance between you and your focal point.

Basically, if you're considering buying a point-and-shoot: don't. Just use your phone. If you want something that's easier to carry around and will make decent images, roll with the Rollei 35.

Carry on, carry on.

Prospect Park

2011-04-02T09:03:00.001-07:00

When Brian and I talk about what we will miss when we leave New York City, it isn't at all what we thought or what we craved when we came here--the tall buildings, the shows, the city. Don't get me wrong: we love the buildings, the shows, the city, but a day or two in Manhattan usually satisfies and stimulates us for the rest of the week. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that most of all, we will miss our proximity to Prospect Park and all the time we spend walking along the trails, meandering through the woods, and standing at the lake's edge with a pipe in hand. It's a quiet space in a loud one, it's a place where we are reminded that all we really need is each other, some nature, and enough money for a cup of coffee and a smoke.

Brian & Ash on Sekonic's Blog

2011-03-22T08:52:00.001-07:00

Today, Brian and I were pleased to have our photographs and blog featured on Sekonic's Blog. Brian is never without his Sekonic L-308s light meter; it's always in his pocket wherever he goes, be it on a walk through the park, at a restaurant or bar, on a plane, in the tundra, or on an island, and it's never wrong. It's a beautiful thing to witness, the measuring of light.

Coney Island Sundays

2011-03-17T08:27:00.001-07:00

This past Sunday on Coney Island was a cold one; the wind was fierce and the rain relentless, and we could barely stay out on the beach for an hour before jumping back on the F train. What surprised us the most, however, was that we weren't alone; treasure hunters still patiently surveyed the coast for jewelry, couples still clutched each other along the boardwalk, and several persons simply stood at the water's edge and looked out to the horizon.

On the warm days, it's easy to see why groups are clustered on the pier or playing in the sand, but on a rainy day like last Sunday, we realized that Coney Island is really for people like us, searching for the landscapes and nature in one of the most bustling metropolises in the world. In Manhattan, there is a standard of living, a price to be paid for the city's beauty, the shows, the art. But if you have $2.25 to ride the train down to Coney Island, you can ride to a place where there is open land, sky, and sea. You can make your footprint in the sand and stare out at water that belongs to no one.

Text by Ash Adams

A New York Birthday

2011-03-11T15:22:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was my birthday--I am now 26 years old! Just thinking about the past year and the people that made it special chokes me up. Thinking about the amount of friends and family that have been there for Ash and I this year is humbling and an eye opener to how blessed we are. On August 21, Ash and I were married in a rose garden among friends, and a week later we moved to New York, and none of it could have been done without the help and love of our friends and family. Since the move, Ash and I have been busy establishing roots in Brooklyn, while writing and photographing everything this wonderful city has to offer. I think it's safe to say that there's never a dull moment for the two of us, and I am so excited to see what 26 and all the years to come have in store for us! Thanks to all of our friends and family, and loves!

Oh, an if you want the recipes to Ash's cake, here they are:

Dairy-Free Yellow Cake

Dark Chocolate Ganache (for filling the layers)

Vegan Chocolate Frosting

Coney Island Sundays

2011-03-04T08:19:00.001-08:00

Photos 1-4 © Brian Adams

Photos 5-6 © Ash Adams

Last Sunday was the first Sunday of this year that felt like spring on Coney Island; topless middle-aged men listened to Zeppelin on the boardwalk in the sun, young parents chased their toddlers in the sand, teenaged couples embraced on the beach, and New Yorkers stood outside of Nathan's enjoying hot dogs. Spring is on its way, and, at least in Brooklyn, you can feel the warm weather excitement breezing back into the city.

Carry On: Beleir Shoulder Bag and Hasselblad 500cm

2011-02-23T15:54:00.001-08:00

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

Six Months

2011-02-22T13:15:00.000-08:00

Photo © Ash Adams

Yesterday was our six month wedding anniversary! We are so stoked to be married to each other, so we thought we'd share a recent photo of Brian looking out our apartment window. (If you know us, you know our sense of logic.) He looks serious, but so handsome!

101 Recipes on Tastespotting

2011-02-12T13:25:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't already know this, I love to cook. Cooking and baking are arts to me like anything else, and so I am constantly striving to perfect my dishes and recipes with the same artistic compulsion that compels my written and photographic work. About a year or so ago, I began uploading my favorite food photographs with links to my recipes to Tastespotting.com, a site dedicated to the art of food photography, and this week my 101st photo was accepted on the site. Brian and I thought it would be appropriate to showcase a few of our favorite meals over the past year, so enjoy!

On a side note: I am allergic to dairy, so all of the recipes are dairy-free, but just ask Brian--you won't miss the milk!

Coney Island Sundays: The Polar Bear Plunge

2011-02-08T13:53:00.001-08:00

Every Sunday during 2011, Brian and I have been and will be going to Coney Island on a project we're calling Coney Island Sundays, an undertaking inspired mostly by a love for the coast and partly by a curiosity of the island's kitchy dark underbelly and social misfits not unlike ourselves. Every week, we set out on the F train, ride it until the end, and then emerge onto the sand and boardwalks to photograph, interview, and just revel in the freedom of the water's edge.

Last week, we were lucky to witness the Polar Bear Plunge, a weekly ritual where groups of New Yorkers wade into the freezing water and stay in until they can't anymore. Men and women of all ages running pink and shivered from the water was beautiful and hit a sweet spot for Brian and I. These people are cold, but we've seen the Polar Bear Plunge in Alaska. Sorry, NY, AK wins this one.

Book

2011-01-20T09:24:00.001-08:00

Today, Brian and I were excited to receive his new hardcover portfolio that we designed together last week. Flipping through the book's 72 photographs, we could only marvel at how much a person (or couple) can accomplish in just a few years; we can't wait to see what both of our portfolios look like in a few decades!

Coney Island Sundays

2011-01-08T11:44:00.001-08:00

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

2010-12-27T11:34:00.001-08:00

Photos © 2010 Brian Adams

Yesterday, snow began to fall in Brooklyn, steadily dusting the streets, sidewalks, and trees with white lace. Brian and I walked several miles through Prospect Park to our favorite lakeside bench and returned bearded and coated in snow, but we had no idea that by the afternoon, all of New York City would be frozen in a weather-driven panic. The streets in our neighborhood piled with snowfall, cars crawled with their hazards flashing, cyclones of wind and flakes obscured our view of the building across the street; we even heard several neighbors say that it felt like the end of the world.

Perhaps the most astounding thing is this: The New York Times wasn't even delivered--not to the corner stores nor any of our neighbors.

This morning, however, despite the wash of white that buried cars and stoops, the feeling was much different; families walked in the middle of the streets together, pulling children in sleds, and strangers smiled and said hello to us everywhere we went. Everyone seemed cheerful in spite of the cold and inconveniences, as if the entire community was united by a shared powerlessness in the face of the winter elements. It was as if Brooklyn was given a snow day--allowed to break the rules, close up shop, and walk in the street.

An Adams Family Christmas

2010-12-26T13:11:00.001-08:00

This Christmas was our first as a married couple and our first in New York, but it still felt like us. As with most holidays, we celebrated in our own way, which is to say leisurely and simply.

Our meal wasn't traditional (dairy-free quiche with ham, vegan cheese, and broccoli, cranberry sauce, French bread and vegan cheeses, pumpkin pie, and Piraat), and neither was our day, but we enjoyed every minute of it. After a Brooklyn morning of crosswording (Will Shortz, you devil, you) and coffee, we tried to do something touristy by going downtown to see the tree at Rockefeller Center with the intention of possibly ice skating. The wait for skating, unfortunately, was almost 2 hours long, and as we pushed through the Manhattan crowds, we missed the cozy, friendly streets of Brooklyn. So we headed back to Park Slope for another lovely stroll and about 2 hours of phone time with family and friends, and then we sat back, clinked glasses, enjoyed a meal and each other.

It might not have been a traditional yuletide celebration, but it was a very merry Christmas all the same. Happy Holidays, everyone!

Haircut

2010-12-03T11:42:00.001-08:00

Growing up with a hairstylist as a mother, haircuts have always been something special and particularly emotional. Some of my favorite memories of my mother are those in her salon, with my head over the cold, porcelian ledge as she washes my hair with her hands. Like feeding a baby bird or washing a diciple's dirty soles, it is an act that is so humble and neccessary--to maintain the body of someone you love. To this day, everytime I have my hair cut, even just a trim, I cry.

This week, Brian needed a haircut, and because he didn't want anything more than a buzz and we didn't want to spend over fifty dollars in a Manhattan salon, we took matters into our own hands. We bought clippers from the drugstore, set up the chair in the living room, turned on music, and that was that. You can judge my success for yourself, but we like the results.

Photos and Text by Ash Adams

Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

2010-11-28T13:39:00.000-08:00

Although Thanksgiving leftovers are still in the fridge, Brian and I took a walk down 9th street this weekend to pick up our first New York City Christmas tree and decorations to spruce up our apartment for the season. Christmas means something different to each of us who recognize the holiday, but for Brian and I, it's a time to do what we do best--celebrate the good, simple things in life. It's a time to string up lights to pull us through the dark days and remember how very lucky we are to be alive, in love, and together.

Text by Ash Adams

An Adams Family Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T14:52:00.000-08:00

Cranberry Rasberry Sauce Photo and Table Shot © 2010 Ash Adams
All Other Photos © 2010 Brian Adams

Today, Brian and I celebrated our first Thanksgiving as a married couple in New York, and the easiest way to describe it is to say that it was distinctly us, from our early morning trek into Manhattan to watch the Macy's Day parade to the simple meal we prepared together in our junior one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. After a day in the rainy city, it was heartening to return to our home and prepare a comforting repast of maple-dijon glazed cornish game hens stuffed with root vegetables and stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes with pepper gravy, cranberry raspberry sauce and vegan pumpkin pie. And, of course, we washed it all down with our favorite beer, Piraat, while doing the day's New York Times crossword. Will Shortz, welcome to our holiday.

Our first solo Thanksgiving as the Adams was lovely, and although we missed all of our friends and family, we are thankful to have so many wonderful people to miss. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Text by Ash Adams

Three-Month Anniversary, Two Photo Publications

2010-11-21T14:27:00.000-08:00

Illustration © 2010 Hieronymus

Today, Brian and I have been celebrating our three-month anniversary (we will write a post detailing our celebration tomorrow; yes, we are newlyweds) but also two exciting things: today's New York Times Magazine ran one of Brian's photographs on the cover, and another photograph appeared in today's edition of The New York Times. The first is from a shoot with Sarah Palin from 2009, and the other was produced this week with our friends Chris Thomas and his wife, Julia Zimmerman Thomas, an amazing illustrator and graphic designer, respectively.

In all, it's been a crazy, wonderful week and an awesome three months.

Photos © 2010 Brian Adams
Text © 2010 Ash Adams

The Last Stop: Coney Island

2010-11-16T11:37:00.001-08:00

It's the last stop. The waking place if you fall asleep on the F train. A boardwalk of honky-tonk and kitch, Coney Island has been an iconic destination in New York City for the past century, but as discussed recently in The New York Times, the landscape is about to change.

Yesterday was the final day for 8 of the current 11 merchants to vacate the premises as mandated by the boardwalk's new landlord, so Brian and I decided to get away from work and our lives a little early and head down to the boardwalk for one last glimpse.

A nerdy, gear-head note: Brian recently purchased an adapter for his Canon EOS 5D, which allows him to use his Hasselblad Zeiss lenses on the digital body, so the above is just a little taste of more photographic masterpieces to come.

GOOD

2010-11-02T14:33:00.001-07:00

The Eskimo Cookbook, a small cookbook written by students of the Shishmaref Day School in 1951, exists as a testament to the changing world. Detailing traditional recipes of the Inupiaq village just 20 miles south of the Arctic Circle, the cookbook offers instructions on preparing the plants and wildlife indigenous to North Western Alaska, from stinkweed to polar bear and whale.

My partner and I traveled to Shishmaref in March this year to interview surviving contributors of the original cookbook as well as to work with the younger generations on writing recipes for a new cookbook. Families have been preparing these recipes for generations, but like the landscape itself, Shishmaref's foods are changing.

This week, Brian and I were happy to have our story on food in Shishmaref, Alaska featured in GOOD. We both love GOOD, and we are happy to be a part of it!

In OUR Backyard: Matt Eich

2010-10-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

Last week, Brian and I were so happy to be able to spend some time with our friend, photographer Matt Eich. Matt was visiting for work, but we were able to grab dinner and drinks one evening and have a lovely bagel picnic and portrait in Prospect Park the day before he left.

I first met Matt while he was studying photography at Ohio University, but until last week, it had been almost four years since we'd seen each other. I, for one, am glad; we've both done a lot in four years. In four years, we were both married, Matt and his wife had a daughter who is now three years-old, we've both lived in several cities and states, and we have both been paving professional paths that have taken us to various parts of the world. It is encouraging to meet other young professional artists who are busy and loving it.

In addition to his personal work and long list of awards and honors, Matt is a founding member of Luceo Images, an up-and-coming photography collective with an established client list of national and international publications. On Luceo's website, Matt recently posted a blog about his NYC trip.

Matt is truly an inspiring individual as well as an incredibly gifted and talented photographer. He is intuitive, compassionate, and genuine, and his ambitions and optimism are sincere and encouraging. It was so great to see him, and we can't wait to see what he does next.

Right on, Matt.

To see more of Matt's work and bio, check out his website.

PDN Photo of the Day

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

When I was first introduced to The Eskimo Cookbook, I knew that I was in possession of something precious and perhaps even sacred. The paper-and-staple cookbook written by students of the Shishmaref Day School in 1951 details traditional Native Alaskan recipes for everything from Polar Bear to Whale in the simplistic language of children; the instructions are often without measurements, cooking temperatures, or times and include hand-drawn illustrations of local plants and herbs. Weathered and yellowed from handling and a shelf-life of over sixty years, the book is fragile and feels as though it could fade away at any second, not entirely unlike Shishmaref itself, currently threatened by coastal erosion induced by climate change.

Today, Brian and I were honored to have our story on Shishmaref, Alaska featured as PDN's Photo of the Day. See the full story here. What a great way to celebrate our two-month wedding anniversary, right?

Text by Ash Adams

Staten Island Ferry

2010-10-10T09:49:00.000-07:00

New York City is a place that feels both big and small at the same time. It is, after all, an island surrounded by islands, so although there is always so much to do and see and so many people to meet, Brian and I often find ourselves in the same places, surrounded by the same people.

This week, I was assigned in one of my workshops to take the Staten Island Ferry and draft a poem that explores (or is inspired by) the Manhattan cityscape. It's probably needless to say that Brian and I were both excited to have an excuse to make the short and free trip, especially on one of the sunny, beautiful days we've been enjoying lately.

To see the city from far away, muted and small, feels very much like taking a breath: there is so much in every single breath we take--years of our lives, years and breaths of others', thoughts, stresses, molecules, exchanges--but in this moment, the cityscape is one, single, unified view. Stacked and stacked and stacked in every direction with conversations, history (centuries!), and motion, but in this moment, still.

Photo © 2010 Brian Adams
Text by Ash Adams

SF {Home is Wherever I'm With You}

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

It is a strange feeling to walk the streets of a place you once used to live, like a dream. The buildings, restaurants, and cafes you once considered a part of your life are now occupied by strangers, and those persons you regularly saw but didn’t engage have moved on to somewhere else. They have, in a way, disappeared; there is a good chance you will never see them again.

Last weekend, Brian and I visited San Francisco, my home before Alaska, to photograph the wedding of two of our Alaskan friends, and it was, indeed, strange. When I boarded the plane to Alaska in the San Francisco International Airport, I had no idea that the next time I would visit the city would be with my husband, the love of my life, from our apartment in New York City. I had no idea that there was this person in the world whom I could not live without.

We walked the places that I love the most—from the west coast of the city to the north to the east, wandering through the markets in the Ferry Building, eating at the cafes that were once my “usuals,” and spending a few hours in my favorite place in the city—Ocean Beach—to watch the fog roll in off the west coast. We stayed with a dear beautiful friend of mine, Amanda—the one who drove me to the airport when I left the city “for good.”

It was strange to be in a place I once called home with the person who feels more like home to me than any place ever could. Brian and I looked at one another on the street one night, just as the light was fading behind the hills, and repeated a phrase that although we’ve said over and over again have not exhausted: Home is wherever I’m with you.

Text by Ash Adams
Photos 2010 © Brian Adams

Lightning

2010-09-22T18:32:00.000-07:00

This month is hotter than it's been in New York City since Nixon was president, according to the local news, and so, as the cool fall weather tries to break the summer swelter, there have been some mighty storms in our neighborhood. Tonight, after working a full day, we set up the tripod, turned off the lights, sipped some cold beer, and enjoyed the view.

Photo © 2010 Brian Adams

Park Slope Tornado

2010-09-17T19:22:00.000-07:00

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

Where Were You on 9/11?

2010-09-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marked the 9-year anniversary since the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, so Brian and I decided to spend the day talking with people throughout the city, starting at Ground Zero, to ask them where they were when they learned of the attacks. With an increasingly fragile political and economical climate in the U.S., we often forget how connected we are to one another, but in times of tragedy, we remember. If we could only keep in mind that we are all citizens of this country and citizens of the world even in times of peace, we may be able to better weather our problems and come to solutions that will positively benefit the most people.

"I was in a car with a couple of friends, running late to school. We were listening to the radio when we heard that the first plane had been hit. By the time we got to school, everyone was already crowded around the television sets. It struck me as odd that they said they knew who was responsible for the attacks so quickly, that day."
Michael Rattis, 26, Upstate NY

"I was in class at school in the Bronx. I was working on a project, and the teacher stopped the whole class and said that they'd knocked down the World Trade Center. I didn't believe it at first, but then we were dismissed and I walked outside, and the sky was filled with smoke."
Manny Ayala, 20, the Bronx NY

"I was at home--it was a Tuesday--and I heard it on the TV. At first, I thought that maybe something went wrong with the pilot of the first plane, but when the second one hit, we knew that it was something else."
Gina Staic, 51, Queens, NY

"I was working at a hotel on 34th street in Manhatten, and I was so scared at first. I left work and walked to my home after the second plane hit, and everyone was scared and looking at the sky."
Carmen Castilo, 56, Astoria, NY

"I was at Cafe Au Lait in New Jersey picking up cappuccinos for everyone at the office. Everyone froze in line and behind the counter; no one felt like ordering anything after that."
Jabier Robles, 43, with Janus, Edison, NJ

"I was little. I was at school, PS 64. They took us all to the auditorium and soon after our parents came to pick us up."
Chris Cruz, 17, Manhattan, New York, NY

"I was at the dentist office in Long Island when the first plane hit. I was really lucky that it took longer at the office than they expected--I heard the first plane crash and it was unbelievable that I was there when the second plane hit, as I was supposed to catch a train to the U.N. building in Manhattan."
Dorothy Prunhuber, Long Island, NY

"I was in my home in the Upper West Side, listening to the radio. I couldn't believe it when I heard, so I turned on the TV. I saw the second plane hit, and then saw everyone walking down the street in a big crowd because the trains were out."
Rodney Harrison, 48, Manhattan (Lower East Side), New York, NY

"I was at seminary school studying in Long Island. I was in class and we were told that the World Trade Center was hit, and then we watched the second plane hit the tower on the television. I remember distinctly how safe I felt at the seminary away from the city, and how sad. Soon after, we had a mass and prayed for all of the victims and their families."
Father Gilbert, 34, Brooklyn, NY

Photos © 2010 Brian Adams

New York, It's ON.

2010-09-04T18:02:00.000-07:00

Photos © 2010 Brian Adams
Brian and I have been in Brooklyn, NY now for a full five days, and in that time, we've covered a lot of ground. Earlier in the week, I attended my first graduate classes, all of which were stimulating and exciting; I am doing something I've wanted to do for a while, and it feels good. I could not be more appreciative to have such loving support from such an amazing person--Brian, you are my rock.

In between applying for jobs, setting up appointments for next week, and enjoying time with old friends in our new city, we've tasted the new flavors of our local cafes, explored the beautiful Prospect Park that's just a block from our apartment, perused our local Farmer's market, and tried to stay cool in the very un-Alaskan summer heat. In all, it's been a good week, and although there are stresses and so much to be done, Brian and I know one thing for sure: New York, it's on.

Two Weeks, An Alaskan Wedding, A New York Apartment

2010-09-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

© 2010 Brian Adams
Although we have no photos of the ceremony or reception yet, last week Brian and I were married, in a rose garden with yellow tulips surrounded by friends and family. It was an amazing day, and one that marks the official--legal--beginning to our life as a unit together.

One week after the wedding, we embarked on our first adventure as a married couple: we moved to New York City, where I have already begun my graduate studies in poetry at The New School.

After arriving in the big city after twelve hours of travel with our cat, Pearl, and two days of staying in a hotel while we waited to move into our Park Slope apartment, we are now in our new space, celebrating several successful weeks of big things and all the big things to come.

In one of my literature seminars this week, we discussed Gertrude Stein's innovative work and genius, and one of the things she said was, "If it can be done, why do it?" I like to think that this is how Brian and I always like to live our lives: gulping up the motion, love, and joy of it like there's no tomorrow.

6 Day Cafe in Anchorage, AK

2010-08-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

This week, I was happy to review a new cafe in Anchorage, 6 Day Cafe, but it really wasn't the happiest experience. The food was wonderful, but the wait was long--so long.

Simplicity is often a good thing when it comes to dining. 6 Day Cafe (it's open six days a week and closed on Sundays) is simple in name and other respects. The space is small with only five tables, the kitchen is open, and the only cooks or servers you'll ever see are husband and wife owners Won-Shik and Jae Ham.

If the Hams hadn't told me their restaurant's name was based on their hours of operation, I might have thought it was because it feels as though it takes six days to get your order or read through the menu.

Read the rest of the review that ran in this weekend's Anchorage Daily News.

AYEA Summer Training in Bethel, AK

2010-08-12T21:36:00.001-07:00

Food is a way that we share love and nourishment with one another; to create a meal for another person is to offer an emotional gift and also to create cells in his or her body — we are, after all, what we eat.

But, especially in Alaskan communities where fast food and over-processed foodstuffs are becoming more common and, in
some cases, replacing traditional subsistence foods, at the expense of our health and our environment we, as a people, are
becoming less connected with our food — from what, where and who it comes.

Last week, participants of Alaska Youth for environmental Action convened in Bethel for a week-long training themed “getting Creative About real Food,” where teens from various villages and communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta region learned about the U.S. food system through group discussions, activities, and field trips, and worked with instructors to create art
pieces, poems, and memoirs that addressed their own relationships with food and eating.

I was privileged to be selected as the creative writing/memoir instructor for this year’s training; working with AYeA’s orga-
nizers and participants was rewarding and inspiring, and it reminded me, if nothing else, that perhaps at the heart of our
unhealthy America is this: We’ve abandoned our cultural foods and forgotten the importance in our own stories.

Read more in this week's issue of the Tundra Drums here.

A week in review: Spectacular People, Beautiful Places

2010-08-06T19:58:00.001-07:00

Photos © 2010 Brian Adams
Brian and I have been, in a word, busy, both with work and preparations for our wedding, but we never turn down the opportunity to spend time with spectacular people.

Our week started with dinner and drinks with renowned photographer Keith Carter, a person Brian has admired since he was a teen. Keith was in Anchorage to teach a photography workshop the week before and judge the Rarefied Light photography contest, in which Brian's photograph received one of seven honorable mentions. Before he left, he met with a group of artists and photographers, including the wonderful Beth Skabar, Loren Holmes and, of course, us. We talked into the evening about everything from poetry to photography, and Keith honored us by signing our copy of Ezekiel's Horse, a collection of breathtaking medium format photographs of horses.

Later in the week, Brian and I visited our dear friends Tonia and Justin at a property they recently purchased together in Willow, AK. The place is a large lakeside expanse of land with several buildings, including a former home for delinquent teenage boys, and is currently in need of many renovations and repair. Tonia and Justin were bold enough to see the potential in the land and structures, one of which was Tonia's childhood home. We're so glad they did--spending the night by the lake and two of the prettiest days of summer in tall grass was a gift.

House of Bread

2010-08-05T01:31:00.000-07:00

Before I worked as an editor and writer, I worked as a baker, so I have a deep reverence for the effort that goes into making a perfect loaf. I was excited and privileged to review the new House of Bread in Wasilla several weeks ago for last weekend's edition of the Anchorage Daily News; I was interested to see what a bakery that tries to make pastries and baked goods healthier has to offer the Anchorage community.

Usually when a restaurant tries to sell me on food because of its nutritional value, my eyes glaze over and I stop listening. I like healthy food, but I don't eat because of nutritional and caloric values. Like other foodies, I'm driven by taste above all else.

So it was with mixed feelings that I approached House of Bread in Wasilla. Its website lists nutritional information for its breads, touting them as low-fat and healthier than traditional bakeries. I worried that these would taste healthy, not good.

However my worries were unfounded. House of Bread's healthier food is good -- really good.

Read the article here.

Clare to Clare Fashion Show

2010-07-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

Photos 2009 © Brian Adams
The Clare to Clare Fashion Show had its second annual appearance in Anchorage tonight!

Read all about it here.

42 hours, 3 grizzlies, 2 boat rides, 2 car rides, 1 flight

2010-07-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

Brian and I like feeling that we're ready for anything, at every moment. We might be dreamers and artists, but one of the reasons we both enjoy what we do--recording life through photography and writing--is that it affords us the opportunity to live in a state of awareness, to look at life and then look closer.

Last week, Brian and I were in Wasilla working on a story when we received a call that would take us on an amazing 42-hour voyage to Iliamna. By the time we were home from the assignment in Wasilla, it was already almost four in the afternoon, and we had been informed that we'd be leaving by 10 that night, drive to Homer, board a barge, take a truck, then board another barge to Iliamna. We were detail-poor, without almost all of the specifics, but we decided to just trust that things would work out (they usually do, after all).

The drive to Homer was quiet and enjoyable and, in retrospect, very quick. It was 2am when we arrived, greeted by workers from Iliamna Development Corporation as they busily prepared tanker trucks for the barge ride to Iliamna. We photographed until 5am, and it felt good to be cold, tired and busy as the day fanned out over the horizon, though we had no idea how tired we'd be in 36 hours.

Above photo. 2010 © Ashley Skabar
We rode the barge for the next twelve hours, photographing, wandering around the boat, talking with the crew, and just enjoying the ride. Brian and I climbed through the hatch to the roof of the ship, and it was thrilling to stand up there together, caught in so much wind, without a clue as to where we were. We were at the mercy of the waters, the boat and its crew. It was a rush to feel so small.

After we pulled into Iliamna Bay and docked, things moved very quickly. We slapped on our backpacks, Brian photographed the crew as they prepared and moved the trucks while I searched among the four men on shore for Moose, our contact. I instead met Alex, the captain of the next barge we would take, first, after which Brian and I jumped in a tiny green pick-up to ride ahead of the fuel trucks as they wound their way along the treacherous pass through the hills to Pile Bay. We stopped every few miles so that Brian could document their passage, and so that we could briefly admire the lush grandeur of our surroundings--verdant life enshrouded in fog.

By the time we had loaded onto the next barge, which was infinitely more cramped and lacked luxuries such as bathrooms, it was 9pm. We had already been going for about 24 hours, and we were beat. Brian photographed as much as he could, and then we just enjoyed the ride and our conversatons with the four-man crew.

All photos 2010 © Brian Adams
We arrived in Iliamna at 2:30, to the site of two grizzlies batting at the water just 50 yards from where we docked. The following hours, again, moved very quickly--from the dock, to the car of IDC's Operations Manager, to the fuel tanks where the trucks finally transferred their fuel, to a room across from the Pebble Kitchen where Brian and I passed out for the thickest 3 hours of sleep I've had in a long time.
We awoke, ready for coffee and toast at the kitchen, then met with Lisa, IDC's CEO, for several more hours of shooting. We hadn't intended to stay that day, but we are so glad that we did--the photographs Brian was able to make and the people we had the opportunities to meet were so worth it. Lisa, for one, is incredible; ambitious and intelligent, she sincerely cares about her community and wants more than anything to support her fellow villagers by providing them with jobs, affordable fuel, and cheaper foodstuffs. And, before taking us to the airport for our final leg of traveling, she gave us some of the best homemade dry fish Brian and I have ever tasted.
As we boarded the plane, Brian and I briefly shared a look that said both, "What just happened?" and "Look where we've been!" It was an exciting 42 hours, but when we finally climbed the steps to our porch, we had to admit that it felt so good to be home.

Midnight Sun Brewery and Loft

2010-07-16T13:50:00.001-07:00

Usually restaurants create wine and beer lists to complement their dishes, but what happens when the beer comes first?

Last week, Brian and I had the privilege of working on a review together for the Anchorage Daily News on the Midnight Sun Brewery's Loft, the restaurant that the brewery opened in its new location in Southside Anchorage after 14 years of operating solely as a brewery. I, for one, will go back for the soft pretzel sticks served with beer-infused stoneground mustard alone, especially to accompany a 6-ounce pour of Panty Peeler, my favorite Midnight Sun brew.

Read the full article here.

Fireworks

2010-07-05T01:17:00.001-07:00

Photo © 2010 Brian Adams

Of course, Brian and I couldn't resist scrambling up to our rooftop with a couple of glasses of good champagne and a camera to watch the fireworks. We returned downstairs to find that our cat, Pearl, wasn't scared at all but was happily watching Beethoven on HBO. I love our home, our state, and our country.

Happy Fourth, everyone!

Fourth of July

2010-07-04T19:35:00.000-07:00

Photos 2010 © Ash Skabar

For today, Ash and I decided to switch places. All the photos above were taken by Ash, and I am in charge of text.

Today is the Fourth of July, so Ash and I decided to take it easy, stroll around Anchorage's park strip downtown, and check out the festivals. We walked from our home straight into the heart of Anchorage's carnival scene. Ash and I enjoyed watching people fly kites, beat each other up with padded bows, jump wildly in balloon tents, slide down giant slides, dance to random big band music, eat funnel cakes, and stare in awe at the giant blue king kong in the center of it all. The vibes downtown were nothing but festive; the only hostility we encountered was a lady in a car upset about the parking situation. (We are fortunate to live downtown; parking looked terrible.)

After we walked through the carnival a couple of times, Ash and I decided to go grab a beer at our favorite pub, Darwins, where we ran into a old friend of mine and caught up in the glow of a fourth of July baseball game and the hum of good afternoon bar conversation.

All in all this was a happy fourth and we look forward to the fireworks tonight!

Hatchers Pass

2010-07-03T20:58:00.001-07:00

2010 © ash skabar

2010 © brian adams
Today, Ash and I drove out to Hatcher's Pass. It was her first time out there, and it couldn't have been better. The weather was nice when we first started driving in Anchorage, but the closer we got to the mountain, the more it rained and soon we were surrounded by thick fog. We loved it though; we love fog, and it was the kind of weather we don't usually get to enjoy in Alaska. Every time I find myself in it I feel inspired, as does Ash; when I asked her what it was that she missed most in San Francisco, she said it was the fog.

Going Vegan

2010-07-02T14:30:00.000-07:00

Ask a vegan why he or she is vegan, and you'll get a handful of answers. Ask a vegan how he or she lives as a vegan in Anchorage, and you'll get a million. But one thing you'll hear from every Anchorage vegan: It's hard.

On the front page of the Dining Section in today's Anchorage Daily News is a story that is close to my heart: eating out as a vegan in a non-vegan place. Although I have not been vegan for several years now, I still enjoy eating vegan meals on a regular basis, and I'm always looking out for vegans and those with alternative diets. If everyone ate vegan meals just a couple of times a week, I believe that our citizens and our environment would be healthier. I lived as a vegan for over a decade in a supremely non-vegan place, Ohio, and so I am empathetic to those trying to fight the animal-friendly food fight in Anchorage, where Westernized dishes prepared with dairy, eggs, and meat are king and the vegetarian and vegan pickings are slim.

If you're a vegan living in Anchorage or just looking to try something different, check out my picks for the best vegan restaurants in Anchorage in the full article here.

"The Photographer"

2010-06-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

I love waking and retiring with another artist everyday. Brian is a constant source of inspiration to me in my writing, and I love assisting him in his creative projects. This week, my poem, "The Photographer", a poem inspired by Brian, appeared in the recent issue of The Dirty Napkin Literary Magazine, and although my name is on the byline, I know that I couldn't have written it without him. And it made me think: my last name will soon be Adams, not Skabar!

This week, I was happy to assist Brian in making new photographs for the Alaska Native Heritage Center, both because I love watching the dancing and spending the day at the center, and because it was just another way that Brian and I were able to work together. Keep your eyes peeled for Brian's photos in their new publications!

Hot Dogs in a Cold Place

2010-06-18T12:44:00.001-07:00

A story that Brian and I have been working and dining on for the past few months was published in this weekend's edition of Play in the Anchorage Daily News: an exploration of the mysterious, deceptively complex Alaskan reindeer hotdog.

The task of preparing a good hot dog seems simple, yet some vendors and restaurants do it really well, and others, of course, do not. The hot dog is, in this way, deceiving; it's just a bun, a dog, and some toppings, but if you've ever enjoyed a truly good one, you appreciate that making a truly delicious hot dog is more than an assemblage of good things—it's an art.

When I first moved to Alaska, I was strangely drawn to the concept of the reindeer hot dog, a definitively Alaskan repast that can be found in various cities around the state though nowhere else in my U.S. travels. Something about eating reindeer seemed indulgent in and of itself—a little like stealing Christmas—and eating reindeer in tube form on a soft bun with caramelized onions was downright sinful. Since my arrival, I've talked, tried, and tasted my way through the state, and I've found several dogs worth writing home about.

Read the full article on the ADN's website

New York, a new week, and Newsweek

2010-06-17T22:40:00.000-07:00

newsweek tearsheet
Originally uploaded by brian_adams

While Brian and I were in New York last week, we had the opportunity to meet with Newsweek photo editor Michelle Malloy for lunch at a small Italian cafe on the west side, Ino. It was serendipitous; just before our arrival to Newsweek's offices, Michelle was looking through her files to find the photo above, which was just published in this week's issue.

We can't thank Newsweek's staff enough for spending time with us on our visit; while at the offices, Brian and I were introduced to a great group of people, and lunch with Michelle at the tiny bistro was splendid, complete with great drinks, panini, truffle egg toast, and chicken liver pate (my favorite).

And, of course, Brian and I were both excited to see his beautiful photo in Newsweek after arriving back home in Anchorage. (Great job, Brian; you always make me proud!)

Engaged!

2010-06-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

NOTE: The following post is going to be written by both of us.

Ash: Let me start this by saying that I never thought I'd get married, and after a long cohabiting relationship went sour five years ago, I was content working and living alone. I thought that that was how it was always going to be. I liked my space, liked my home. I loved my friends, my cat, my routines. So, I never thought that I'd fall in love all-in, or so to say, and I definitely never thought I'd be happier with someone else than I was by myself.

But when I first saw Brian and then we first spoke, I knew that that was it. This was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, wanted to work with, wanted to love and grow old with. Since the very first day.

Since the day that we met, Brian and I have lived with each other, worked with each other, and loved each other, and I have loved every single minute of it. He inspires me. He is the best person I've ever met. I love him.

Brian: You never think there is a "one" until you meet the "one." Ash is the "one." From the first moment I saw her and spoke to her, I knew. We are both people that don't make light decisions; we know what we want, and we do it with all of our heart. But when we met there was no decision to make; it was already done. I have never had any second guesses or felt any hesitation with Ash. She keeps me calm, collected, inspired, driven, and wanting more out of this wonderful life. Now, I am happy I don't have to go it alone. In the last 10 months of living, loving, and working together we have seen and done so much that I can't wait to see what we can do in a lifetime. I love her.

2010 © brian adams
Ash: Last night, in New York City at our favorite restaurant, Prune, Brian had reserved "our" table for dinner. Before we ordered a thing, he reached across the table, grabbed my hand, and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes, after which he slipped on the most perfect ring I could ever imagine. He already knew the answer, and I already knew he would ask, but it didn't matter; we were both so nervous and excited that we started to cry, told each other how much we love each other, that we can't believe that we have been lucky enough to find each other. That this is it. That here we go. That life will always be good while we're together. That hell yeah.

The chefs and staff at Prune overwhelmed us with their generosity and enthusiasm, bringing out flutes of champagne and marinated veal heart ("a heart for a proposal makes sense," said one of the waiters) to celebrate with us. We cannot thank them enough for taking part in our special evening and joining us in excitement. And, of course, the food was amazing. (Good food usually comes from really good people, after all.)

Brian and Ash: Hell Yeah.

Out the Window

2010-06-01T23:09:00.000-07:00

2010 © Brian Adams
Children always know the right questions to ask, which, in this world of information and communication, is so much more valuable than we often acknowledge. Poetry, to me, is all about questions; it's about finding the bridges between seemingly dissimilar things, relating internal sentiments with universal truths to make personal expressions accessible to the rest of the world.

This spring, I taught poetry to students of the Home Base After School Program, an educational enrichment program that serves Anchorage-area youth from primarily the Muldoon and Fairview communities by providing lessons and activities on a variety of subjects, from photography and math to poetry. Throughout our courses, I was amazed at the profound sentiments and observations that surfaced in the students' work; they are young--ages 9 to 13--but they are inquisitive, compassionate, intelligent little people with things to say and questions to pose.

As the culmination of our classes together, I worked with the students and Dianne Barske, a local artist, to produce a book of their poems and illustrations to share with their community. The book, Out the Window will be released this Friday at a reading of the students' work at Side Street Espresso in downtown Anchorage at 6:30 pm.

Of course, in this project Brian and I found another opportunity to work together: he made beautiful full-body portraits of the students to accompany their short self-written bios in the book. Brian photographed the children like the budding adults that they are, standing their ground in the street outside of the school in Fairview. (As a bonus, the students were thrilled to have a photographer that's photographed covers of magazines like Time take their portraits.)

"What We Learned" by Ashley Skabar, Narrative Magazine, 2009

New Millennium Writings

2010-05-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

This week, Brian and I were thrilled to find out that I was a finalist in New Millennium Writing's 2010 Short Fiction Writing Competition for my short-short, "Fork You." There were over 1,500 entries, so although my piece only received an honorable mention, I am proud. It will be published in the litmag in December, so we'll keep you posted!

Tap Root Cafe, Anchorage, AK

2010-05-26T15:25:00.000-07:00

This week, Brian and I visited the Tap Root's new location, currently undergoing drastic renovations, and met with owner Becca Mohlman to discuss the move and her future aspirations for the club.

When I first heard of the Tap Root Cafe, it sounded like the clever name an aspiring bar-owner might have carried around on a napkin in his pocket for years, just waiting to drop the punch line. But the proprietor, who happens to be a woman, actually had no idea she'd start what would become one of the hottest music venues and bars in Anchorage if you'd asked her a decade ago.

Read the full article here in the Anchorage Daily News.

New Work, Pleasant Surprises

2010-05-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

2010 © Ashley Skabar
Last night, Brian and I found ourselves at the Anchorage Museum again shooting as a team for the opening of the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center. For me, it was a nice break from the several articles that will be deadlining for me this week; holding lights for Brian sounds like work, but it isn't, really. I sincerely love watching him make photographs.

We knew that Brian had several 6' panels in the show as well as a few small details, but we were pleasantly surprised to see that one of his photos was printed as a 15' x 13' mural as part of the permanent collection. Good day!

Today, we had another small collaborative piece (his bio photo) in the Anchorage Daily News' new monthly publication 61 ° North, in which two of Brian's photos accompanied leading features. I had assisted Brian on the shoots earlier this spring, and although it wasn't that long ago, we've been so busy that we had almost forgotten that they were going to be published this month. Neither of us had had any idea that the publication would be so nice. Great job, ADN!

Imaginarium Discovery Center, Anchorage, AK

2010-05-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

2010 © Ash Skabar

2010 © Brian Adams
Last night, Brian and I photographed the private opening of the Anchorage Museum's Imaginarium Discovery Center, a new addition complete with a planetarium and other interactive pieces meant to inspire and encourage discovery of the world around us. The event was bubbling with excitement; donors, science writers, artists, museum supporters and children munched on appetizers around tables centerpieced with glass bowls frothing with colored freeze-dried ice before the speakers introduced the new exhibition and opened its gates.

Brian took photos digitally with a radio slave attachment while I held an off-camera flash with a soft box to light speakers and attendees. We weren't standing together, but we were working on the same photograph. It was fun.

Emerging Leaders Dialogue in Sitka, AK

2010-05-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

When times are grim--artistically, economically, politically or otherwise--it is always so encouraging to meet with other progressive, intelligent people working toward solutions. For Brian and I, this weekend's Emerging Leaders Dialogue was refreshing; nearly 100 young leaders convened on the beautiful island of Sitka, Alaska to discuss the ways in which we can work together to better this state that we love.

The conference could not have been more timely; while Alaskans mourn the death of visionary and former governor Wally Hickel, positive ideas from a group of up-and-coming visionaries and leaders at a conference organized by Institute of the North, an organization founded by Hickel, is just what Alaska needs.

Read more here on the Tundra Telegraph.

Pulse Dance Company, Anchorage

2010-05-15T23:21:00.000-07:00

2010 © Brian Adams

A story Brian and I worked on together last week appeared in today's Anchorage Daily News, highlighting a new modern dance company in town, Pulse.

The Company's style is, like their mission, definitively modern: the performance, danced in several movements to a diverse collection of musical pieces, beginning with a hip-hop mash-up and journeying to a classical number, was marked by high-energy bursts pitted between dramatic expression. Dancers freeze while others ghostly swoon between bodies, limbs sharply thrust into the air and then dissolve into relax, the ensemble disperses just after meeting together in one undulating body. It was a performance much in the style of ballets choreographed by William Forsythe or Christopher Wheeldon; there is so much to look at at any given moment, yet to sit back and watch the performance as a whole is the ultimate goal, all of the inflections of diverse motion contributing to one beautiful swell of movement and sound.

Read the full article here.

Sitka, AK, Day 3

2010-05-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

The weight of Alaska's issues, national issues, and global issues can often seem overwhelming to those committed to change them, especially when generational and cultural differences create divides that further distance citizens from one another.

Today, Brian and I were privileged to participate in Institute of the North's Emerging Leaders Dialogue conference, attended by a group of nearly 100 emerging leaders in various fields within Alaska such as economic development, resource conservation, resource development, educational administration and development, community organizing and planning, arts, forestry, and legislation, where we met for and presented lectures regarding new innovative ways to encourage positive growth in Alaska. We focused on ways in which we can often operate as islands, in the sense that we, as Alaskans, are all islanded from the rest of our country, as well as addressing the islands we create within our own communities, and we discussed ways that we can bridge these "islands" to come to resolutions that will work for the greater good while still benefiting independent entities. "Cooperatition" is a term that was thrown out into the crowd by one of the attendees, and it's on point; in a room filled with artists, educators, policy-makers, economic developers, and conservationists along with proponents of Pebble Mine and oil, this is exactly what we, as emerging leaders, need to think about: how can we work together for the greater good while seeking to grow our individual industries?

All photos 2010 © Brian Adams
For our part, Brian and I presented a body of work from our project this spring in Shishmaref, an island in Northwest Alaska currently undergoing climate change-induced global erosion.

To read more about the project, you can read several articles posted on Tundra Telegraph and the Alaska Dispatch:

Finding a Sense of Place in Shishmaref

What We Talk About at the Table

What's For Dinner

Food For Thought

Food, Community, Shishmaref

Sitka, AK

2010-05-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

Humid and swelling with verdant life beneath intermittent showers of rain, Sitka is a breathtaking place in spring. The town is awakening after the long winter, the doors to restaurants and souvenir shops swung open like tiny yawns. The cruise ships can be seen throughout the day coming in after their long stretches; tourists meander through the streets in silly hats and brightly colored coats. The locals eye Brian and I with both the welcome and disdain we understand all too well: This is our home, they seem to say. You may find it beautiful, but you cannot possibly love it as we do. We do not own this place, as no one can own the earth, but we believe in this place enough to live here.

Brian and I are here to speak at and cover Institute of the North's Emerging Leaders Dialogue conference, where more than 100 young leaders in Alaska's communities will be meeting today, tomorrow, and Saturday to discuss various ways in which we can better our state, focusing on the idea that local internal assets bolster the strengths of our communities and the ways in which we, as Alaskans, are all connected by the issues we face.

These are just a few photos from our first two days here, taken traipsing around the town, along the coast, and through the grandeur of the historical Totem park.

Joseph Vang Benefit

2010-05-12T18:26:00.000-07:00

2010 © brian adams

On Friday night, Brian and I attended a dinner benefit for Joseph Vang, a seven-year-old in Muldoon currently battling a brain tumor located at the base of his skull. Although he had an operation that removed most of the aggressive tumor last year, he is currently awaiting a Proton Therapy treatment to remove the rest of the growth, which, if left untreated could spread to his lungs.

At present, there are only two facilities in the country with the ability to perform the six-week-long therapy on children, and one, Houston's MD Anderson Cancer Center, has rejected the family's out-of-state insurance. The Vangs are now awaiting Massachusetts General's response to their request.

Even in the face of struggle, however, the benefit dinner was a celebration of cultural flavors, featuring multicultural dancing as well as foods that honored the Vang family's Hmong heritage, such as a whole roasted pig donated by Active Inspections. It was a beautiful display of cultures and community coming together in a difficult time, and Brian and I were happy to cover the event.

Read the article here on Tundra Telegraph.

roasted caribou bone marrow

2010-05-11T23:32:00.000-07:00

2010 © brian adams

In preparation for a documentary hunting trip Brian and I will be taking this summer to Kotzebue, AK, we have been preparing all sorts of recipes with caribou meat during the past two months, but we had yet to make anything with the bones. Last week, we were thrilled to take home two boxes of caribou bones donated by Indian Valley Meats, and although we had a plethora of ideas, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. Roasted bone marrow is a very special meal to me, and it's one that I was thrilled to share with Brian for the first time on our trip to New York last December at my favorite NYC restaurant, Prune, but I had only ever enjoyed marrow from lamb and cow bones, so I was curious to taste the different flavors from the bones of Alaskan caribou.

In a word, they were amazing, especially with a simple parsley salad, a pile of Hawaiian sea salt, and crusty bread. To read the full article on our roasted caribou bones feat, check out the piece on the Tundra Telegraph.

introductions

2010-05-09T23:27:00.001-07:00

We are two artists who live, work and love together, and although you might think that that would get boring, it doesn't. We have been together since the day we met (I moved in the following day), and we inspire one another to create our individual arts while constantly seeking out projects to undertake as a team. We love life and each other, and we want to see and document as much as we can while we're here. We hope that you will enjoy the read and the ride of our journeys.