Granada Grad Seeking Funds Via Kickstarter for Photo Project

 

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Photographer John E. Adams, who grew up in Livermore where he graduated from Granada High School, has turned to the Internet to raise funds for his lagallery.adamsviews.net/artofsteel2015/ project, An American Brushstroke - The Trawlers of Texas, a photography study of the Shrimp Trawlers of the South along the Texas coastline.

In a press release he points out that funding, as the first major obstacle to getting any project off the ground, current economic conditions don't make the job any easier. Artists have to become more innovative in their fund-raising tactics, and many Photographers have embraced sites like Kickstarter.com.

This is his second project with Kickstarter, the first one was funded and a success in 2013.

In line with Kickstarter.com guidelines, artists have a set number of days to raise all the funds, or the project receives nothing. Adams’ project has a 33-day fund-raising window, from start to finish and if the allotted budget is not raised before February 20, all pledges are cancelled and the project will not be funded.

When asked about why Kickstarter was appealing, Adams noted, "The ability to spread the word quickly online to a lot of people, and keep them updated on the status of the project is invaluable." An added advantage for artists is Kickstarter's merchant partner Stripe, which enables each project the convenience of receiving funds from anywhere in the world.

Adams Project, An American Brushstroke - The Trawlers of Texas, consists of a photographic study, future exhibits and book featuring as many of the remaining Working Shrimping Trawlers that have been such a big part of the industry’s history and the Wood Hulled Boats that have been disappearing at an alarming rate. Adams, who now lives in Northeast Florida, says that the areas used to have some of the largest Trawler building ports in the Southeast for many years, now those skills have long passed. The only reminders remaining of this amazing heritage are a small scattering of rapidly declining vessels spread throughout the Southern Shrimping regions and ports.

Today there is another amazing layer of commercial working craft in the Shrimping industry built on experience, necessity and with just as much pride, but the industry is still fiscally challenged and many of these vessels are also falling into serious disrepair.

The plans for this project include traveling over 2,900 miles along the Gulf Coast of Texas to try and capture and preserve images of as many of the remaining Working Trawlers as possible this summer. Adams believes that by continually drawing interest and attention to the industry it creates an increased awareness that helps support and revive not only a passing American Treasure, but the livelihood of thousands of families and communities. He expects to complete the project and have the final prints and book before the end of the August. To learn more about the project, readers can visit the project's pitch page online at:  www.kickstarter.com/projects/thepres/an-american-brushstroke-the-trawlers-of-texas

Adams uses a technique called High Dynamic Range (HDR) to produce his photos. HDR allows the viewer to see a greater range of colors and detail in both highlights and shadows. With HDR several exposures are blended together, bringing out striking detail and dazzling color.