CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: BOB SWIFT © ALLEN STECK; OAK STREET, LAGUNA BEACH © DICK METZ/SHACC; COVER; DEVILS SLIDE © BOB SWIFT; SAN ONOFRE © DICK METZ/SHACC; RENNIE YATER © DICK PERRY
Tom Adler publishes beautiful photography books. I own almost all of them. They are limited edition gems that visually chronicle the culture of surfing through the eyes of a particular photographer like Don James, Jeff Divine, or Ron Church, or though a particular surfer like Miki Dora or Tom Blake. His books are curated like time capsules, and designed to appeal not just to surfers, but anyone who appreciates beautiful books, photography and design.
Tom Adler also designs and publishes beautiful books on climbing. A couple of years ago, I stumbled upon “The Stone Masters”, a gorgeous coffee table book on the California climbing scene in 70’s. I was surprised to see it was a Tom Adler book. Like his surf books, it was distinctive in its design, but I had no idea his passion for the culture, photography and visual history of sport included climbing. This was not his only book I learned on the subject. There was also “Yosemite In The Sixties”, a compilation of magnificent black and white photographs by Glen Denny, capturing the famous climbing scene of Yosemite Valley’s Camp 4 in its heyday. It left me wondering what the connection was for him with these two sports. Read More
