Tyler Allen Adams

© 2010 Brian Adams

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 Brian Adams

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

© 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 © Brian Adams

Pearl wins!

Osama Bin Laden Dead

© Brian Adams 2011

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.