Ansel
Picture Perfect
There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept. – Ansel Adams
Ansel by Brandon Wolf
If a picture tells a thousand words, American wilderness and landscape photographer Ansel Adams was an encyclopedic biographer of the rich and vast country he loved. His photographs are a resonant reminder of his passion for environmental preservation and as timely now as they ever were – perhaps even more so.
The camera, and the idea of viewing the world through a lens, are compelling backdrops for puzzle as well. There have been a few beautiful camera themed puzzle boxes over the years. American Brandon Wolf now adds his own puzzle to the genre, with his debut. His “Ansel” is an elegant little rectangle of laser cut walnut wood with metallic gold accents. The design is clean and simple, with few details. There is a lens and a closed viewfinder, and the goal is to turn on the camera, so to speak, by opening the viewfinder. The puzzle doesn’t give much away. There is a faint sound of movement as you turn the camera over in your hands, and nothing more. Finding even the first step is a worthy challenge. In fact, the first step is truly unique among puzzles, a brilliant idea that is so well disguised you will miss it for a long time.
Smile!
Brandon, who is a computer programming technical consultant for the merchandising industry, caught the puzzle designing bug about six years ago after experiencing his first “escape room”. He began to design puzzling boxes with external and internal locks to frustrate friends and family. Eventually this led him to the growing presence of mechanical puzzles on social media, and ideas began to form in his head. The idea for Ansel actually started after he received a new puzzle in the mail that had unintentionally “solved itself” in transit. He imagined there might be a way to prevent that from happening, and started sketching and tinkering with the design. Ultimately this veered him away from that original puzzle and became something completely his own. Yet he wasn’t quite satisfied. Brandon and his wife have a glass topped coffee table, where they display vintage cameras, and one day the idea simply materialized for him. He modified the design of his puzzle slightly, changed the “goal”, and Ansel was born.
Just turn it on ...
Brandon is able to source the laser cut components and internals, which he then assembles and hand paints. He was a bit nervous about the reception for his first puzzle design, imagining that the “first step” would be easily spotted. He never imagined he had invented something so novel it would stump the most experienced of puzzlists. Yet that is what he has done. And even after the initial step, and with some understanding of what must be done to accomplish the end goal, the puzzle remains puzzling. With some well thought out internal designs he has created a satisfying and elegant challenge.
You don't take a photograph, you make it. – Ansel Adams
Tequila Sunrise Redux
To toast the Ansel I’m offering something a bit vintage yet modern as well, and referencing nature in a cocktail, although that may be a stretch. This one is what I like to call a cocktail “redux” – a modern “craft” reimagining of an old favorite drink that may not have been very sophisticated in the original form. Taking old favorites and modernizing them is nothing new – in fact there are many classic examples from the pre-prohibition golden age of cocktails, with monikers like “improved”. These reduxes are just new interpretations, that try to stay true to the original while tinkering with balance and fresh ingredients.
Ansel Adams was no stranger to a sunrise, although his photos were of mountains, lakes and deserts. This sunrise is of the tequila variety. The original was an early seventies classic, born in a Sausalito bar and made famous by the Rolling Stones, who were touring at the time and brought it along for the ride everywhere they went that year. Made with tequila, orange juice and grenadine, it was easy to mix and easy to drink. My updated take on the classic stays true to the original but turns it into a highball, with a few secret ingredients to elevate the game. Here’s to seeing the world through a new lens – cheers!
When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence. – Ansel Adams
A photogenic pair
Tequila Sunrise Redux
2 oz blanco tequila
1 oz fresh squeezed orange juice
½ oz homemade grenadine
½ oz sweet vermouth
Barspoon Demerera syrup
4 lime eighths (half a lime cut in 4 wedges)
Tonic
Muddle the limes, syrup and tequila in a mixing tin, then add the juice and shake with ice. Strain into a highball glass and top up with tonic. Carefully pour the vermouth and grenadine down the side to layer at the bottom. Lime wheel garnish.
For more about Brandon Wolf: