Carry On: Beleir Shoulder Bag and Hasselblad 500cm

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

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

All Photographs © 2011 Ash Adams

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

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.