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Adam has
an extraordinary ability to see the world in a unique way and then convey those
images to us. His camera is his brush and life and nature his subjects. And
in order to truly appreciate his photographs one must try to get a sense of
what his mind really sees. Adam
was born and raised in New York City with very little exposure to either
nature, except for tar beach, or for that matter, to photography. In fact,
his background and training were entirely scientific, driven by a childhood
dream of becoming a scientist. He attended a specialized science high school
in the Bronx where his experience of nature was limited to what he saw during
a four-hour round-trip commute on the subway between his home in Queens and
school in the Bronx. Continuing on this academic path, he obtained a
bachelor's degree in biochemistry followed by a medical degree and then a
Ph.D. in neuroscience. He recently completed a neurology residency at the
University of Pennsylvania and is currently engaged in memory research at UC
Berkeley as well as seeing patients with memory disorders at UCSF. It is this
background that perhaps establishes Adam's distinctive conceptual framework
of the world, which he then paints onto his photographer's canvas. Adam's
first exposure to photography was during his doctorate training when he
learned how to use photomicroscopy to capture images of brain cells on film.
But his involvement with photography of nature truly began when he was
introduced to the book Mountain Light by photographer Galen Rowell. Adam was
deeply moved by the inspiring natural beauty that Galen depicted, as well as
by the detailed descriptions of photographic technique and the outdoor
experience. Recognizing Adam's growing fascination with nature photography,
his uncle gave him an old Nikkormat to encourage this newly found passion.
The rest is photography history. Perhaps
the most profound changing point in Adam's life occurred during his first
photography trip, a six-week backpacking journey to New Zealand and Fiji in
the winter of 1998. It was there that he discovered the joy of experiencing
nature by totally immersing himself within it and in doing so learned how to
capture his personal vision of the world. His life was never the same. It
is likely that Adam's extensive scientific background now provides the colors
for his nature photography palate. He was initially surprised at the passion
he felt for photography given his commitment to science. It wasn't until
years later that he realized that the two were never truly separate, that
they were all one and the same. He feels that "both are an exploration of
nature, be it the discovery of the organization, complexity or beauty of the
brain, a neuron, a waterfall or a sunset; it's all about the art of
perception." Thus the focus of Adam's philosophy emerges and is
portrayed in his book, Wanderings. This is a true Zen photography experience
that shows us that the ability of anyone to experience the beauty of nature
around them can be achieved by actively exploring their surroundings and
attending to the moment, while at the same time allowing their focus to
wander and their mind to remain open. Adam
is currently living in San Francisco, where his enthusiasm continues for the
pursuit of an active life in neurology, neuroscience and photography. We can
recognize that all of these elements in his life are what makes his vision
unique and strengthens the impact of his message. A message which is
constantly evolving. A message that we are all lucky to have shared with us. L.A.
Farber |