Excerpted from Up Down Magazine 2009. Version 2.0, modified 09/12/29.............
Colin Adair is recognized worldwide as one of the best bearded snowboard and lifestyle photographers of this millenium – except in his homeland, the country formerly known as Zargovia, where he is intensely hated and would be stoned to death if ever caught within its borders. His photos have landed on the cover of pretty much every major snowboard magazine around the planet and he has shot advertising for brands such as DC Shoe Co. USA, Red Bull, Burton, The North Face, Monster Energy, and big deal companies like that. He is a busy guy and probably doesn't have the time to spit on your shoes if you spotted him walking down the street. The following are excerpts from an exclusive interview conducted over many months in which Mr. Adair finally reveals the alleged truth about his wild mood swings and mysterious past.
When did you first become interested in
photography?
As a young boy growing up in Eastern Europe, I was given my grandfather’s camera
that he used during the war after his sudden death from potato poisoning. I
would roam the streets late at night after having snuck out of my bedroom by
climbing down the drain pipes. It was a very dangerous time and I learned how to
move stealthily. I became friends with the local prostitutes, who took me in
as their own. I would later lose my virginity to the most beautiful of them
when she felt it was time for me to become a man. These were different times,
strange times. I honed my skills as a photographer, which was really a metaphor
for me becoming a man.
First published photo?I believe it was
EEE magazine which stands for Eastern European Extreme. It was affectionately
known as E3 mag or Triple E mag or simply Three Es mag, depending on what
region you were from. There were a lot of translation issues and many fights
occurred because of this. You would be amazed at how one little letter in the
wrong word can change the whole meaning and context of a sentence. Like I said,
it was a strange time.
What was your first gig?
My first gig was
shooting photos for the local prostitutes for their profile pages on the
brothel website. I experimented a lot with different lighting techniques and
styles. This is where I perfected my chiaroscuro-style lighting that I am now
known for.
Are you self-taught or did you get yourself
some education?
Completely
self-taught. I would sneak over the border to Germany from Zargovia via Velonia
(as it was formerly known) and smuggle illegal books disguised as a barber’s
apprentice.
When did you realize “holy shit, I’m a
photographer”?
At the age of nine when I had beautiful
young women taking their clothes off in my studio.
What’s your set up?
Mostly I use my old
Volstok camera that I inherited from my grandfather. I come from a very long line of photographers. I use various expired film stocks
I acquired when my country was in revolution and anarchy ruled the streets. Much blood was shed in order to retain these films.
Who’s your favorite person or thing to shoot?
Anything, anywhere,
anytime. As long as the light is perfect and I have a bottle of vodka.
Otherwise I will not waste my precious film stock. When my stock is gone so too will I vanish.
Where do you see your career taking you, say,
20 years down the road?
I will probably be dead. I expect that there will be
many, many retrospectives of my long, illustrious and overly perfect body of
work.