peering through a fence. “I loved the pattern the shadow of the fence created.” When asked what he thinks is the most important thing as a photographer, the man ponders for a minute, walking from photograph to photograph. “I think you always must have perfect timing and take several shots,” he specified. “Because you never knowwhat will happen. I also think it’s your subconscious that’s taking the picture.” A short walk to his basement reveals some more photographs, some even winning awards. “This one got voted the best,” said Hammer. “But it was simply in a photography club, so it doesn’t really count.” The white hairedman is very humble. As he showcases his photographs, he walks up to what appears to be a workbench.
It would be cheaper to build it than to buy it. It truly was an adventure. You can overcome any problem you face, as long as you work hard and have the parts you need.” The Cornwall resident has also embraced the new age, ordering much of his parts by Internet. “I sometimes go to Value Village where I will buy old cassette players or audio equipment I can use for parts,” he admitted. “But I also get most of my parts from themail, though Internet. This one time I ordered a part fromChina and it was on my doorstep in less than a week. That’s unbelievable!” The man climbs the stairs leading to the house’s main floor. In a space adjacent to his living room is one of his most treasured creations. “This is my main sound system,” indicating two small speakers and a wooden
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Adrian Hammer has been many things, a tourist, an electronic technologist, a photographer and a handyman. Here he stands next to some of the photographs he has taken over the years. photo Francis Racine
A lover of music and everything audio “This is where the magic happens. I tear down, rebuild and repair audio equipment as a hobby. I don’t have any fancy tools. I just do it for fun.” Hammer specializes in speakers, but also builds and repairs amplifiers, record players and the likes. “I knew a guy who played guitar, so I built him a custom amplifier. He loved it.” But the love of audio equipment didn’t gradually hit Hammer. “When I was young, my mother brought home a Mickey Mouse AM radio and set it on our table,” he recalled. “I remember trying to figure out how the sound came out of this littlemachine. At the time, I concluded that it had to be magic!” As a teenager, he also discovered his love of music. “I wanted to listen to all the best music, but I simply couldn’t afford the fancy equipment.”That’s when he discovered that he could do wonders with his hands. “So I decided to build my own machine.
cabinet, containing a subwoofer. The equipment was built from scratch. Even the cabinets were custom-made from plywood he purchased at Home Depot. To showcase his creation, Hammer puts a classical music compact disc and before long, piano echoes throughout the house, as he grins proudly. The sound quality is magical, as if the piano is in the same room.Theman estimates that the speakers cost him around $125 to build. “When we go to electronic stores, the salesmen are always trying to sell himaudio equipment,” said his wife, Geneviève. “But he always tells them that the one he has at home is better.” Walking back to the living room, Hammer sits on his couch, the classical music still echoing. He points to a black and white picture on a nearby wall. “Classical music is like black and white photography,” he said. “It makes your mind travel and can be enjoyed for many years to come.”
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The Journal Cornwall
11
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
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