Anchorage photographer and lifelong resident Adán Hernandez’s favorite aspect of photography is what he describes as “the hunt.”
“It’s a big treasure hunt for me, and there is treasure everywhere,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez finds inspiration in discarded objects. From office chairs to mattresses, bed frames and abandoned cars, Hernandez’s Instagram bio encapsulates Anchorage’s forgotten pieces and scenes from day-to-day life in Fairview, saying simply: “hide yo couch.”
“My inspiration comes from a couple things: a love of discarded objects that can be traced back to childhood playing in abandoned cars in a neighborhood vacant lot,” Hernandez said. “The other being art classes where I learned about balance, perspective and composition.”
His social media handle is Atari Tacos, a nod to the local taco stand he runs with his dad — Oscar’s Taco Grande — which has been in the same spot on Third Avenue for 45 years.
Hernandez’s work has been featured in several local publications as well as gallery shows, most recently the Anchorage Museum’s Nuestra Huella exhibit, where he has five portraits of local Latinx families. He says his work typically does not feature portraits, but took the assignment as an opportunity to diversify his work.
He began developing his own film at home a few years back, and enjoys the process of “[bringing] these captures into the world.”
“I love shooting on any camera I can get my hands on,” Hernandez said. “Digital, analog, like they say, ‘The best camera is the camera you have on you.’”
Hernandez has self-published several photo zines, and is currently hard at work on his next, he says. He has several of his zines available for purchase, including, “Neighbors Make the Difference: The People’s Republik of Fairview” on his website. He uses #ThePeoplesRepublikOfFairview hashtag to document his everyday discoveries.
“[I have been described] as a ‘street photographer,’ and I often use this term as it’s a quick and easy way to explain what I do,” Hernandez said. “But I think of my work as being artistic documentation. There’s often a story or emotion in my photos. Sometimes it’s obvious, sometimes I let the view decide. Usually the photo tells its own story better than I ever could.”
Sam Davenport is a writer residing in Anchorage. She's a leo and a plant-person, and loves spending quality time with her dog, Aspen. She is a Real Housewives fan and has been called a Bravo historian.
