Shawn Adams Photography

S

2012-02-08T16:36:00.001-08:00

money is the anthem

2012-01-30T00:52:00.000-08:00

it looked better in my head

2012-01-28T19:47:00.000-08:00

sometimes I just absolutely want to put my camera down and never take pictures again. Something's been missing in me lately. I'd like to blame it on my photography class. When you mix something you love with something you hate, hate overrules it. I can't pick up my camera right now. There's too much to worry about. I love photography, but lately I find myself completely lacking passion towards it. I feel like I'm starting to repeat myself, and I'm starting to give up. If I'm not great, what's the point of being at all? That's how I see a lot of things. I know I can recognize the best things. I have an eye for beauty, but when my own talent doesn't produce the best, I realize it, and it hurts. I feel like those people who wish to become artists, but say "It looks so much better in my head."

I don't even want to think about photography
because it reminds me of the assignments I still have to finish for my agonizing photography class.

Maybe I'm just trying to find something to blame.
But maybe that's the only way to deal with it.

I hope I can rediscover my love soon.
Cause without it, I'm less than I ever was before.

x

M

2012-01-18T21:15:00.000-08:00

maia

2011-12-29T21:16:00.000-08:00

Shannon Murphy

2011-12-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

Young Sun

2011-12-12T21:34:00.000-08:00

untitled

2011-11-29T17:11:00.001-08:00

you've lost your sense of humor,

became too mature for it I guess &

you've lost your sense of pride.

you've lost your true intelligence,

buried it for the sake of others &

you've gone completely blind.

what was once a beautiful friendship

is now unrequited and replaced,

what was once a perfect arrangement,

has gone lost without a trace.

my rhymes are rare

Magic Kingdom

2011-11-21T18:32:00.001-08:00

I went to Magic Kingdom the other day. It felt amazing to forget about all the things I have to do.

Tye Dye

2011-11-21T17:31:00.001-08:00

rabies‹3

2011-11-11T21:15:00.001-08:00

These raccoons were so cute. Even though one tried to bite me, they have now become my favorite animal. Today was nice. I made scrambled eggs at a friends house and went thrifting afterwards. My iPhone has really helped me photograph things that happen as they're happening. (all the photos in this post & the one before this were taken on my phone)

•Tumblr•Facebook•Flickr•

good day

2011-11-06T13:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a good day.

I got to see some of my work put up in an exhibit, adventured around Hollywood with some friends, took a nap, volunteered at an international longboard competition, went to a get together, played in the rain, walked around Miami Beach for Sleepless Nights, saw some people I haven't seen in a whie, had a really good dinner, and some other stuff. This year, which is likely to be my last in Miami for a while, is turning out to be a good one. ♥

weekends

2011-10-18T19:35:00.000-07:00

Lucia Kittay-Pierson

2011-10-02T15:06:00.000-07:00

Colorado/Update

2011-09-17T00:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't been posting lately here- mainly because I started school, but also because I've been stressing about so many other things. I finally bought a domain and set up my own website using 4ormat (www.ShawnAdamsPhoto.com). I started my senior year of high school. So far, it's been alright. I'm having some trouble adjusting, still, but I'm sure it'll be okay. I'm taking my first official photography class. I like it so far, but I'm sure I'm going to dislike it at some point if the assignments are too specific, but I know it's probably for the best. (I'm only writing that because I think my photography teacher might read this?!) I want to travel more. I found a nice college in England that I'm thinking about going to. (I'd need to make some money/find a scholarship though, since I'm basically poor right now.) After my last post, I went to Colorado College to take an AP psychology class, and visited my friend Kassia afterwards. During my time at CC, I learned a lot. I made some friends and had a pretty good time. Below are some photos of my time there;

Questions? Ask me something here!

Summertime

2011-07-12T16:59:00.000-07:00

Spain has a culture-rich environment, and diverse landscapes throughout. Whether you're interested in history, art, the history of art, or something more fun- like partying, make sure to visit Spain sometime in your life. (preferably while you're still young and free).

Here are a few photos from my trip around spain: (all photos are clickable)

Summer's days pass like nothing I've ever seen before. I think too deeply sometimes, it makes me have feelings that seem unreal. My beautiful friend Kassia visited me for a couple of weeks. We spent them making deliciously smooth peanut-butter & banana smoothies. (don't criticize until you've tried them!) We went out nearly every night until around 4am, going to either Denny's or Steve's Pizza. Her visit was relaxing in a way. We never felt bored, but at the same time, we never felt rushed or bothered. Now, I'm packing my bags for my next trip, which will be to Colorado. I'm getting there tomorrow and starting my class on Thursday. This class seems a lot harder than any of the others I've taken, so wish me luck! I'll also be visiting Kassia in Colorado, and going to a concert while I'm there. After four weeks, I'll return to Miami and get to "work". I have a lot of photos to take, and I'm planning to finally open my online vintage clothing store which will be hosted on Etsy. Before school begins, I plan to take a bus over to Gainesville to visit Sarah, a dear friend of mine. I met her a long time ago in LA.

Here are some photos from my summer (since being back in Miami) so far:

Carolina & Natalie

soft-serve ice cream with Leilani

Leilani & Natalie walking around South Beach

me, laughing (?) on the bus.

me and Kassia

Strangeness and charm

2011-07-06T00:06:00.000-07:00

she

2011-06-26T22:15:00.000-07:00

another paula

2011-06-26T21:41:00.001-07:00

a few photos of my friend, Paula. She lives in Léon. I noticed her interesting look towards the start of the school year, and took these photos towards the end. She was my last model in Léon.

Magonia

2011-05-24T14:01:00.000-07:00

After winter break I bought this dress cause I knew I'd want to take photos of someone in it someday. Also, it was only 6 euros. I noticed this unique girl during the first month that I arrived to Spain (September). She's got interesting features which stood out to me. We only had 30 minutes to take photos. I was so happy to see the roses finally grew back! I'll probably take more of another person with the roses before I leave. They are so beautiful.

Only 2 weeks until I leave Léon! I'll probably taking photos of many more people before I leave.

Leave me some feedback on these photos, I know I can do better, but I need some critiques! Also, don't forget to 'like' 'love' or 'dislike' this post below :)

3 weeks

2011-05-13T16:06:00.000-07:00

I saw this captivating beauty when I was walking around León a couple weeks ago. I didn't go up to her, and later regretted it. A couple of days ago, however, she added me on Tuenti. (The Spanish version of Facebook). Right away, I messaged her. I asked if I could take some photos of her, and she quickly responded. I got a cold on Thursday, but that was the day we had planned the shoot. So, I went anyways. We took a few photos. I will surely be taking more photos of this girl, as soon as I feel better. What do you guys think?

Only 3 more weeks till I end school here! I honestly can't wait to travel. I'll also miss some things and people. I've recently gotten a lot closer with my host family, and my friends here.

As far as my personal goals before I get home:

I want to take a ton of photos that I am proud of, and maybe make a collection of them all when I get back. "La belleza de España" haha...
I need to loose a little bit of weight to get back to my normal state. I eat so much more here, and I like myself looking a bit smaller than what I am at right now.
By the time that I get home, I want to be at a reasonable self confidence level, and I know I'm the only person who can get myself there. We'll see what happens.

four weeks

2011-05-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

I've decided that I need to be taking as many photos as I can. I need to practice, and prove to myself that I'm good enough to continue. These are some girls I met at my school here in Spain. I gave them my clothes to wear, and we took some photos. Comments, criticism, likes, etc. appreciated. The more feedback I get, the more I'll post! You all are the reason I post anything online. All photos are clickable (they lead to the flickr page of each photo)

fact: all clothing & shoes in these images are mine.

5 weeks

2011-05-02T15:10:00.000-07:00

Just 5 more short weeks here in León, Spain. I'll be traveling (and photographing) from June 7th-21st. Then, I'll be on my way back to Miami. I want to take as many photos as I can, have as much fun as I can, and finish my online classes completely before traveling out of León. Here is a self portrait I took a while ago.

Spring Break

2011-04-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

Spring break is almost over. I've been having milkshakes everyday, they're so sweet and filling. Lately my self esteem hasn't been amazing. I constantly tell myself to finish my work, take more photos, and just organize my life. But, no matter what I tell myself, I always end up procrastinating. It's not the worst kind of procrastination, I mean it's not completely pointless. I'm usually looking up new photographers and trying to get inspiration, but I'm not shooting enough. I bought a little notebook to write ideas in, and I have so many, but I lack the motivation. Online school seems so easy when you think about it, but for me it would be like trying to teach school on TV. You'd always want to change the channel, knowing nobody would know. I have my online school opened in one tab, and Tumblr (or some other site) opened in another. I go back and forth until I give up, and stay on the entertaining tab. I also bought a small journal to jot down my thoughts and experiences here in Spain. I don't want to forget anything. Some anonymous person on Tumblr recently asked me if I wanted to go home. The truth is, I miss a lot about living in Miami. But I'm not sure if it's living in Miami that I miss, or having the freedom to live. Here I'm given a strict curfew, a set of rules, and I'm judged in a different way. People tend to use me for my camera. Sometimes people will say "Hey Shawn, let's go hang out! ..Don't forget to bring the camera ;)" It makes me feel worthless, and although I always try to understand other peoples point of view, I still can't deny the awkwardness of that sentence. Right now I should be in Paris with my friends Mafalda and Gregoire. The organization wouldn't let me go. I've already gotten over it, but knowing that right now I could have been in Paris and the only reason I'm not is because of the program, really irritates me. On a more positive note, I took a couple photos of a girl with amazing blue-rimmed eyes a couple days ago. I've been shooting a lot on my little film camera, and I only have a month left in this city, before I go to travel around Spain starting June seventh. Yesterday was one of my closest friends' birthday and I hate myself for not planning something, or secretly setting something up for her. I really love giving people gifts. I bought her something, but it won't get to her for a while.

P.S. I entered a photography contest, wish me luck!

carry on

2011-04-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

Paula

2011-03-24T15:55:00.000-07:00

I first spotted Paula on a bus. We became friends, and because of her forest eyes and amazing bone structure- I decided to take photos of her. Her personality is fairly different from the other people who live her. She doesn't care what people think, and she is not embarrased to be who she is. I find that quality something honorable, more people should think that way. (including myself). We went to her town, about a ten minute bus ride from León, and I took some photos. Here are some from the shoot:

Two Thirds / look

2011-03-20T05:51:00.000-07:00

Friday marked the two-thirds point of my time here in Spain. I went to a market and found an old cheap camera. I'm tired of buying disposables (which don't even have flash) so I bought it & some film. I'm going to use it soon :) I hope the photos look alright. I painted the camera black with gold glitter. I watched Mysterious Skin the other day. It's really intense. I suggest it. On the other hand, I do not suggest 'Kaboom'. It was awful.

I'm looking forward to so much when I get back! Smoothies & doughnuts, my room, my dog, taking photos, making money, speaking English, freedom, haha.

New look on lookbook.nu;

gym class?

2011-03-06T12:42:00.000-08:00

just some photos

2011-02-11T08:59:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos I took the other day at school. I took them on a disposable camera, because I am tired of people asking me to delete their photos because they don't like them. Also, if you happen to like these photos, it should teach you that the camera doesn't make the photographer. hahah, that would be my biggest reason to shoot on film, no deleted photos! What do you think?

Half way through

2011-01-27T08:38:00.000-08:00

I'm turning seventeen (!!!) in about one month. I'm not nearly as excited as I thought I'd be. When I was younger, all I ever wanted- was to be older & more mature. I thought it would give me more opportunities in life. Now however, I've come to realize that I've wasted my past few years completely. I should have been focusing on my photography more than anything else. I should have been more productive, and now I feel like I've missed out on a lot of possible improvement time.

This weekend marks the half-way point of my time here in Spain. Unlike the rest of the students, I was never homesick at the beginning. Now, however, I've started to miss certain things about my home in Miami. I can't explain how much I miss my dog. I think about him every day. I miss being able to play music in my room out loud, and not having to worry about waking someone up. (In Miami, my room is on the opposite side of the house so nobody can hear my music.) I miss taking photos of people. I miss having fast internet. haha.

Being here, I've learnt that humans share similar qualities no matter where they are from. When I was little, I used to put the cereal box in front of my brothers face so I didn't have to see him while eating breakfast. (lol) My little host brother did the same exact thing to his older brother, and I just smiled.

I've starting missing things I've never even considered before. I randomly have had the strange urge to build something, just because I can't. I feel like going to Home Depot and buying wood and paint to just building something fun that I could take pictures in/with. It's a weird thought, I know, but I've just been craving it lately.

In late June/early July, I plan to open a little vintage/altered clothing shop hosted on Etsy. I will be advertising it with my photography. I plan on making a Tumblr specifically for the items on sale. I plan on photographing all the clothing on my "models," in hopes to make something that would resemble a real catalog. I would be doing it solely because I can/want to. It would be something to keep me productive in photography, and something to bring in a bit of cash.

Before coming to Spain, I had bad self-esteem. Mainly focusing on my weight and skin. Now, I look back at unedited photos and videos of me from last school year, and I feel completely ashamed. My physical state is at the worst it has ever been.

I've been watching Skins (UK) to keep my English from fading away, and because it's wildly entertaining. I was telling my friend about a bird I saw one day, and I literally said "...it flied away". How horrible is that! I rapidly noticed and corrected myself, but nonetheless it's a shameful mistake. I should at least be able to fluently speak English!

My plans for the near future include; Photo shoots in March, more travel around Spain, Colorado College summer program, California vacation, Florence and the Machine concert, getting a job and setting up my online store.

If you want information about the store, make sure to let me know. I will be creating a list of people to contact when I finally open it.

Once again, I'd like to note that my writing is a documentation of my current thoughts (and that's it.)

Thanks for reading♥♡

Winter Break

2011-01-14T13:49:00.000-08:00

gingerbread

2010-12-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

So, in the holiday spirit, me and my friend (another foreign exchange student) Gabrielle decided to construct a gingerbread house. Sadly, there were no kits or anything, so I went out and bought the ingredients. The grocery store didn't have ginger. I took the bus to a different town, Sariegos. Randomly, Gabrielles host family had ginger in their house, so we were in luck. The house resembled a ghetto shack of some sort. Here are some photos from today;

me and gabrielle waiting at the bus stop.

looking up the recipe. haha.

the ghetto gingerbread house.

words

2010-11-19T11:35:00.000-08:00

I fell back into memories. Bittersweet memories, because instead of seeing small fragments; I saw the whole. I swallowed the fact that those times are gone. Jumping off the dock into the lake. My nostrils stung. Adventure, and never ending curiosity about the world around me. My first kiss, kindergarten. My first mistake. Grabbing the air in front of me, a notion that my parents adapted to. Being small and spoiled and selfish, some things never really change. Surrounded by people, you’d think I would end up okay. But I developed a problem, and it became obvious yesterday, in the classroom.

My brain doesn’t like the word ‘love’. Not now, not yet. I don’t speak it. I don’t say it to my mother at night, followed by a kiss and/or hug. I don’t say it to my friends at the end of the day, I don’t say it to my nonexistent lovers. The teacher asked, “¿y en su idioma?” I paused. My toes curled, as they always do when I am under pressure, embarrassed, or scared. My stomach pulled in, my fingers trembled. shoulders tightened. Dusted off the treasure chest and opened it. Then, spoke the words that haven’t left my heart in as long as I could remember, spoke the words that; even without meaning, broke the eggshell of ability I previously had. Flushed and fluttered, fucked.

Sunday marks 25% of my time here in Spain. 25% complete with my time of great food and painfully obvious people. With exceptions. We are planning on splitting a pizza in four, the foreign exchange students and I. I always ask for cheese, in fear that I won’t like what I get. My mother always ordered the best thing on the menu, titled with the most horrid yet extravagant name I’d ever read. Jealous, I’d peer over and ask for a sliver. Of course she was always right. I accepted this emotionally. But physically, I never revealed honesty. Never show true feelings, people will take advantage of them. You’ve heard it before.

Time here is lighting. You rarely see it, and when you do- you really don’t. The speed of light is just that much faster than the speed of sound. Procrastination turns into a lifestyle. A mass of time, and not completing a single assignment. But not to worry, the last day of the week is packed with uncut wood, and the day after marks a new forest to destroy. But there are only so many forests in the world. When I reach the last one, will I feel accomplished, or wasted? Ready, or cheated.

A punch in the chest didn’t conform me, nor will a punch in the eye, or stomach. I hate to give America a worse name than it already has, but falsifying it, would be ill mannered. The same toe-curling sensation. And then, the eggshell was again, broken. When shattered, the eggshell isn’t gone forever. It grows back, just as you forget the negatives in your life. But when the eggshell grows back, it comes back weaker than it was before. Sad yet true, I know and understand that one day the eggshell will break completely. Whether that broken shell marks the end, or beginning, is completely up to me.

The skin above the nail on my thumb hurts. I’ve been nervously picking at it, watching the blood rise through the thin layers of skin. If I lived the life that everyone here thinks I do, I would be the most indecent and under-expressed person in the entire world. I have one person to spill my thoughts to, and that person is here for me; 30 minutes every weekday. Those 30 minutes keep my heart pumping English blood. My blood.

With every good happening, there is a bad aspect, one that I seldom look away from. That’s just me, trying to make something worse than it is. Feeling bad for myself. Selfish. But being quiet around my family has taught me something. People are heartless. Families are merely groups of people living under one roof, trying to love one another, despite obvious faults and flaws. Blood means nothing. Perhaps it’s easier for me, in particular, to recognize this; but I definitely take it as truth.

I’ve never been so obsessed. Watching from the back of the crowd, as she achieves goal after goal, and strengthens her armor. She started her amazing path of success at the age of 16. A year I am so close to finishing, unaccomplished. Thoughts of Spain were something like, “Europe! Chance! Freedom, Love.” in actuality, I am trapped in online classes and lost inside my head.

So now, it’s only clear for me to plan ahead. But where that got me last time, was a sad realization, and the need to consider a million new things. I find myself writing with melancholy tones, but I feel I am more positive in my mentality. The negatives must be written in order to leave my mind, and the positives need to stay, grow and persuade.

I don’t miss Miami’s heat, or the people, or my home. Being honest may make a person seem terrible at times; I only miss my dog, a few people, and my computer. My dog was the one living thing that I could always trust. I could come home and lay with him on the hard tile floor. I’ve never admired chocolate eyes until he came into my life.

I hate writing; I hate the outward and obvious boastfulness of it. I do, however, want to remember these days as realistically as I can. The negatives and positives alike.

I was bored, ok?

Gabrielle

2010-11-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

a few photos and a little text

2010-10-30T15:44:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is halloween, and surprisingly, they celebrate it here. Tonight I went to a club with my friend Gabrielle. She's from Canada. The other people you see in these photos are new friends I've made in Spain. It's a bit hard to communicate with them, but they mean well :) I feel odd writing to nobody, but I guess it's a good practice to remember my current feelings whenever I look back at this.

The club was crowded, we danced for hours, I was really sweaty and gross. I really like it here, I have been taking many classes to make up for my credits in the US, but all that stress was completely lifted off me tonight. Nights like this distract me from the issues I'll have to deal with eventually.

bye for now.

Mafo

2010-10-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

here are a couple photos from this summer of my beautiful friend Mafo. I miss her, and plan on visiting her in Austria some day soon, ♥

Bryan

2010-09-09T13:52:00.000-07:00

Haley Cove

2010-08-28T19:01:00.000-07:00

View more photos on Flickr and Deviant Art

'like' my photography on Facebook

Summer

2010-08-10T18:17:00.000-07:00

Random photos I've taken this summer;

Ola Dabrowska

2010-08-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

I've been in New York for the past 2.5 weeks,
above are a couple photos I took of a friend.

Goodbye K

2010-06-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

Sorry, had to delete this post .__.

Lauren

2010-06-17T14:25:00.000-07:00

Lauren's face is not something you see everyday, it's different and beautiful because of it's infrequency.
model: Lauren Henschel

Adam & Eve

2010-06-17T14:17:00.001-07:00

This couple is the closest thing I could imagine to a modern-day Adam and Eve.
They both have very defined facial structures and are a perfect example of diversity, due to their mixed races and physical differences.

Models: Francheska Martinez & Yates Preston Cartwright