North Carolina Then & Now By Kevin Adams, 2007 156 Pages, 125 image pairs 14¼ x 10½ inches hardcover Published by Westcliffe Publishers Retail price: $39.95 Add to Shopping Cart

The most educational and rewarding project of my career, North Carolina Then & Now showcases over 125 before-and-after image pairs from across the state. For over two years I studied tens of thousands of historical photographs and rephotographed the most representative views for the book. The goal was not merely to present a modern portrayal of the scene depicted in the historical image, but rather to put myself in the historical photographer's shoes, to place my camera at the precise location of his or hers and to show the viewer exactly the changes that have occurred. This required painstaking research and a meticulous approach to the rephotography. Making many of the rephotographs required shooting from the middle of busy streets, hanging over the roofs of tall buildings, and trying to keep from hurling my lunch while shooting from small airplanes.

Introduction from North Carolina Then & Now
Sample image pairs from North Carolina Then & Now

North Carolina Waterfalls A Hiking And Photography Guide By Kevin Adams, 2005 590 pages, 13 color & numerous B&W photos 6 x 9 inches, softcover Published by John F. Blair, Publisher Retail price: $19.95 Add to Shopping Cart

From the back cover of North Carolina Waterfalls:  "Since its original publication in 1994, North Carolina Waterfalls has been through six printings, attracting many thousands of readers who valued its clear road and trail directions and its photography tips.  But Author-photographer Kevin Adams hasn't rested on his laurels. For this revised and expanded edition, Adams examined every single USGS topographical map for North Carolina—hundreds of them—and logged more miles by car and on foot than he cares to recall. The result is a guidebook containing three times as much material as the original. North Carolina Waterfalls now describes over 600 waterfalls and showcases them with over 100 color and black-and-white photographs.  If you're visiting the northwestern part of the state, you may know of Linville Falls and Crabtree Falls, but you're less likely familiar with the beautiful Craborchard Falls and Bard Falls. If you're in the southwestern mountains, by all means check out the popular Whitewater Falls and Looking Glass Falls, but don't miss the little-known Skinny Dip Falls and Alarka Falls. And thanks to Adams' research, you'll find some pleasant surprises in the vicinity of eastern towns like Fayetteville and Rocky Mount, too.  From its comprehensive coverage to its helpful beauty ratings to its emphasis on stewardship of our natural resources, North Carolina Waterfalls remains the definitive guide to its subject." The NC waterfalls book makes a perfect companion to the Waterfalls of North Carolina Map. Together, they provide the most comprehensive information available for North Carolina's spectacular waterfalls. Receive a special discount when you purchase the book and the map together! Purchased separately, the price is $31.90, but when purchased together the price is only $30.00. Add them both to the Shopping Cart and the discount will be applied automatically.

Visit the North Carolina Waterfalls page for access updates other waterfall information.

Backroads of North Carolina By Kevin Adams, 2009 160 Pages, 133 color, 14 historical photos 8½ x 11 inches, softcover Published by Voyageur Press Retail price: $21.99 Add to Shopping Cart

From the back cover of Backroads of North Carolina:  The beauty of mountain waterfalls, the charm of rolling vineyards, the tradition of waterfront villages—these and more are explored in Backroads of North Carolina, a colorful guide to nearly 30 scenic drives through the Tarheel State. Taking you to secluded areas and sites steeped in history, the drives vary from 15 to 180 miles in length, ideal for planning a day trip or weekend getaway.  From the wildflower-lined switchbacks of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the barrier islands of the Outer Banks, North Carolina encompasses stunning natural wonders. This essential guidebook reveals its hidden allures—mineral mines, Cherokee mounds, bird-filled refuges—all awaiting to be explored.  Illustrated with beautiful color photography and intriguing historical images, Backroads of North Carolina leads you deep into the soul of the state, beyond the common tourist attractions.

Our North Carolina By Kevin Adams, 2005 128 Pages, 150 color photos 9 x 12 inches, hardcover Published by Voyageur Press Retail price: $19.95 Add to Shopping Cart

The natural splendor, historic cities, and warmhearted people of North Carolina come alive in this collection of color photographs. Our North Carolina emphasizes the natural beauty of the state, presenting breathtaking images of everything from the Great Smoky Mountains to the sandy Atlantic beaches and the Outer Banks; from Civil War battle sites and the vivid hues of autumn foliage along the Blue Ridge Parkway to the cities of Charlotte and Raleigh, farmland, and much more.

North Carolina’s Best Wildflower Hikes: The Mountains By Kevin Adams, 2004 256 pages, 140 color photos 5½ x 8½ inches, softcover Published by Westcliffe Publishers Retail price: $19.95 Add to Shopping Cart

From the back cover of North Carolina’s Best Wildflower Hikes:  TAKE A HIKE—OR A STROLL—TO ENJOY THE MOUNTAIN WILDFLOWERS! Acclaimed photographer and North Carolina native Kevin Adams is your friendly, well-informed guide on this delightful series of scenic trail routes through the Tar Heel State’s high country—near the Blue Ridge Parkway, in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and within other nearby parks, national forests, and wilderness areas—that provide a bounty of flowering plants from march to September. Take your pick from among 50 colorful hikes, often with alternate options, to suit various fitness levels and showcase a variety of peak-bloom times. With stunning closeup and landscape photographs, lively text, detailed maps, and engaging wildflower profiles, this guidebook is sure to enhance and expand your appreciation of North Carolina’s delicate Appalachian landscape.

Inside, you will find:
• 50 day and destination hikes for prime wildflower viewing
• 51 handy maps
• 140 scenic, full-color photographs of plant species and trails
• Scientific and common names for profiled plant species
• Hikes color-coded according to peak bloom times

Waterfalls of Virginia and West Virginia By Kevin Adams, 2002 252 pages, 12 color, numerous B&W photos 6 x 9 inches, softcover Published by Menasha Ridge Press Retail price: $16.95 Add to Shopping Cart

From the back cover of Waterfalls of Virginia and West Virginia:

 Their grandeur takes our breath away. Their gentle sound compliments periods of mediation. Regardless of their size, waterfalls create in the observer a feeling of serenity, a sense of restrained power. To discover a falls is sublime, and now Waterfalls of Virginia and West Virginia is available to guide willing adventurers to easily accessible as well as remote waterfalls in the Old Dominion and the Mountain States.
 This complete and comprehensive guide offers clear directions to over 200 waterfalls open to the public. In addition to a brief description of each falls, at-a-glance information including height, type, size of watershed, and difficulty of access helps readers choose which waterfall to visit and when. Directions on photography, including how to set up the best shot—from time of day to angle and direction—makes this book indispensable to professional and amateur photographers.
 From Shenandoah National Park to New River Gorge National River, from the Monongahela National Forest, to the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, this book has a waterfall to fit any reader's mood or sense of adventure. Waterfalls of Virginia and West Virginia is the only guidebook to the waterfalls of these two states.

Wildflowers of the Southern Appalachians How To Photograph And Identify Them By Kevin Adams and Marty Casstevens 258 pages, 234 color photographs 7.5 x 8.5 inches, softcover Retail price: $26.95 *This book is now out of print.

From the back cover of Wildflowers of the Southern Appalachians:

"Nestled among the majestic vistas of the southern Appalachian Mountains are smaller natural treasures—the region’s stunning array of wildflowers. With over twenty-five hundred plant species, the southern Appalachians have been called the botanical jewel of the eastern United States. From Joe-Pye weed to black-eyed Susan, the area’s wildflowers are one of its most popular natural attractions and a favorite subject of photographers.

Wildflowers of the Southern Appalachians is a comprehensive guide to identifying and photographing over three hundred of the region’s wildflowers. Each listing includes a full-color photograph, a detailed description, and photography techniques. The “Photographing Wildflowers” section will help you create professional-looking wildflower photographs of your own. Other chapters delve into the natural history of the region and the environmental perils confronting the area’s flora.

Whether you are a serious photographer or simply a wildflower lover, Wildflowers of the Southern Appalachians will serve as an invaluable guide to discovering, or rediscovering, one of the southern Appalachians most beautiful assets."

Hiking Great Smoky Mountains National Park* By Kevin Adams, 2003 288 pages, numerous B&W photographs 6 x 9 inches, softcover Falcon Guide, Globe Pequot Press Retail price: $16.95

From the back cover of Hiking Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

Lace up your boots and sample more than eighty hikes in the spectacular Great Smoky Mountains National Park that straddles the North Carolina-Tennessee border. Experience the densely forested trails of America’s most visited national park, with its abundant wildlife, lush foliage, and hundreds of miles of cascading streams. Here you’ll discover old-growth forests, waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, and a wide variety of mosses, lichens, ferns, and wildflowers. Local hiker and outdoor photographer Kevin Adams introduces you to all this and more.

Inside you’ll find:
• Up-to-date trail information
• Detailed maps and elevation profiles
• Clear directions from major access points
• Difficulty and traffic ratings for each hike
• Zero-impact camping tips
• Vacation planning and a hiker’s checklist

Whether you are a day-tripper or long-distance hiker, old hand or novice, you’ll find hiking trails suited to every ability and interest throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

*As of autumn 2008, Hiking Great Smoky Mountains National Park is outdated and I am not offering it for sale. Hopefully, an updated version will be in the works soon.

Carolina Prayer Photography by Kevin Adams and Gene Stafford Text by Brian Faulkner, 2003 7¼ x 7¼ inches, hardcover Retail price: $15.95 *This book is now out of print.
Carolina Prayer is a short prayer written for North Carolinians and illustrated with full-color photography. This small book includes a CD recording of the prayer being read by Faulkner. It makes an ideal gift.