A lively restaurant interior with dim lighting, hanging pendant lights, and patrons dining at tables, with a bar area and large windows in the background. Automatic Seafood and Oysters in Birmingham, Alabama.
Automatic Seafood and Oyster Logo
Michelin guide logo

Caleb’s relationship with Chef Adam Evans began before Automatic Seafood & Oysters ever opened its doors.

After photographing Adam & Suzanne’s wedding, a friendship formed that evolved into creative collaboration when Automatic opened in 2019. Since then, Caleb has worked with the team monthly, documenting new menu items and capturing the rhythm of the restaurant’s life.

Through this ongoing partnership, Automatic has built a growing visual library that reflects its history, evolution, and identity. The imagery supports editorial features, promotions, and social storytelling while preserving the essence of what makes Automatic remarkable.

Chef Adam Evans n a white shirt and navy apron, smiling, inside a restaurant with dim lighting. Automatic Seafood and Oysters in Birmingham, Alabama.
Neon sign on brick building corner reading 'Seafood & Oysters' against cloudy sky
Exterior of a restaurant named 'Automatic' with black and white striped awnings, outdoor seating, and greenery in the foreground under a partly cloudy sky.
Yellow sign with a stylized pelican logo advertising 'Automatic Seafood and Oysters' on a speckled light-colored wall.
Close-up of the red tail of a fish on a black textured surface.
A smiling woman and man, the man dressed as a chef, standing together in a restaurant with black walls and hanging lights.
A restaurant interior with a wooden table holding a large glass vase filled with yellow flowering branches, surrounded by black chairs. The background shows a kitchen area with chefs and pendant lights hanging from the ceiling.
A painting of lush green tropical leaves, including banana and palm leaves.
A small glass bowl filled with black caviar on a bed of crushed ice.
Interior of a restaurant with round tables set with glasses and utensils, black chairs, large windows, a woman standing near the window, and decorative hanging lights.
A person wearing black gloves shucking an oyster with a specialized oyster knife.
A man with a beard and curly hair, wearing a white chef's coat and black apron, looking down thoughtfully in a kitchen setting.
A red octopus with curled tentacles on a black surface.
A white plate with a dish of raw fish topped with yellow and green vegetables, herbs, and small round garnishes, with a metal tray of ingredients including cheese, avocados, lime slices, and herbs in the background.
A small black cast iron skillet filled with cooked okra, garnished with fresh green herbs, placed on a blue wooden surface.
Grilled stuffed oysters on a bed of coarse salt in a cast iron skillet with a white napkin underneath.
View of a professional restaurant kitchen with chefs preparing food, shelves with kitchenware, and stainless steel appliances.
Close-up of cooked chicken with herbs and spices, garnished with green onions and served on a white plate.
A person preparing fish fillets on a cutting board in a kitchen, with fish head and slices of fish visible.
A variety of foods on a dinner table, including salads, fried food, dessert, bread, and drinks, with a person reaching for some of the dishes.
Baked sweet potato with garnished herbs, served on a white plate with a smear of mashed sweet potato underneath.
Close-up of seared scallops with a brown sauce, garnished with a colorful vegetable medley including yellow peppers, red chili slices, and chopped herbs.
Close-up of a colorful tomato salad with yellow and red heirloom tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, fresh basil leaves, and black pepper.
A man wearing black gloves, a white shirt, and a blue apron is preparing a fish on a cutting board in a professional kitchen.
A red fish lying on a dark surface with a black background.
A hand holding metal tongs selecting a yellow bell pepper slice from a bowl of salad with greens and other vegetables.
A bartender preparing a cocktail behind a bar, with a glass of red drink and a frothy, lemon-garnished cocktail in front.
A glass of red-colored cocktail garnished with a lemon slice and a sprig of dill, placed on a dark wooden surface.
A glass of yellow-orange citrus drink with ice and an orange slice garnish, placed on a large green palm leaf.
A hand holding a skewer with an olive above a frosted cocktail glass on a bar counter.
A hand with a ring is resting on a table as someone pours a drink into a wine glass.
A tall glass of orange-colored cocktail garnished with lemon peel and ice, on a dark surface.
A bartender prepares a cocktail behind a bar, with several empty glasses lined up and a glass filled with crushed ice and a striped straw.
A cocktail garnished with fresh mint and cucumber slices, served over crushed ice in a tall glass.
A Bloody Mary cocktail garnished with celery, green olives, a pickle, and a slice of lime, with a dark background.
A smiling chef wearing gloves, a white shirt, and a black apron preparing food at a black-tiled counter in a modern restaurant kitchen with a large window in the background.
A person shucking oysters on ice with lemon wedges and sauce, with a side of grilled vegetables on a plate, candle on wooden table.
Lobster and crayfish on a tiled surface.
A happy man and woman are smiling and laughing together in front of green tropical leaf-patterned curtains and wall.
A busy restaurant with people dining, bar area in the background, and modern industrial decor with hanging lights.
Interior of a hallway with two restrooms doors, one labeled 'Restroom'. There is a black and gold rattan sofa with two coral pillows, a potted plant beside it, and a framed landscape photograph on a dark textured wall. The ceiling has reflective geom
Chefs working in a busy restaurant kitchen preparing dishes.
A busy professional kitchen with chefs preparing food, some focused on cooking and others handling ingredients.
People dining and socializing inside a lively restaurant or bar with modern decor, wooden ceiling, and hanging light fixtures.
Black and white photo of bartenders working behind a bar with glass shelves filled with liquor bottles, and tables with glasses and bottles in the foreground.
A person wearing black gloves filleting a large fish on a counter in a kitchen or seafood shop, with fish fillets on the counter and a windowed background.
A busy bar and restaurant with people sitting and standing, bar staff preparing drinks, bar shelves stocked with bottles, and overhead lighting fixtures.
A wooden table set with a fork, a menu, glasses of water, and drinks in a dimly lit restaurant.
A man in a chef's jacket and a woman with large earrings smiling and posing together in a professional kitchen.
A close-up of a red cocktail in a textured glass, garnished with a lemon twist and a sprig of fresh dill, on a dark wooden surface.
Beer being poured from a tap into a tall, curved glass on a stainless steel bar counter.
Close-up of a person's hand using tweezers to pick up a yellow bell pepper strip from a colorful salad in a white bowl.
Inside a lively restaurant with hanging lights, wooden ceiling, and people dining and working at the bar.
Interior of a busy restaurant with people dining, some seated at tables, some standing and walking, with warm lighting, modern decor, and an open kitchen in the background.
Interior of a lively modern restaurant with diners at tables and a bar area with patrons, warm lighting, dark furniture, and contemporary decor.
Inside a bustling restaurant with dim lighting, people dining at tables, bar area in background, modern decor, and large windows letting in natural light.
A bartender adds a twist of orange peel to a glass of whiskey on the rocks in a bar with bottles of alcohol in the background.
Close-up of a green potted plant inside a modern building with large windows, a yellow and black spray-paint can hanging from the ceiling, and blue walls.
A plate of sliced heirloom tomatoes with green and red coloration on a blue surface.
Person rolling out dough with a pasta cutter on a baking sheet.
Fresh raw fish sashimi garnished with blackberries, green herbs, and drizzled with oil on a white plate
Ice cream sundae with whipped cream, caramel sauce, chopped nuts, and sliced bananas in a glass dish on a white plate.
Unbaked square pasta sheets dusted with flour, arranged on a baking sheet.
Seafood platter with oysters, shrimp, crab legs, and dipping sauces on ice, with a side of fried wontons.
Two young girls at a restaurant table, one with a surprised expression holding a shrimp, and the other smiling, with a seafood platter, drinks, and a coloring sheet with a yellow octopus on the table.
Close-up of a dessert on a white plate with black rim, featuring a biscuit or bread base topped with blackberries, yellow mango slices, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, chopped nuts, and drizzled with honey or syrup.
Burger with lettuce, cheese, bacon, and sauce on a sesame seed bun, served with French fries and a small cup of dipping sauce on a decorative plate on a wooden table.
Two men, one on the ground and the other on the truck bed, working in heavy rain. Both hold trays, with the man on the ground wearing an apron and rain boots. The truck is a white RAM 1500 Sport.
Two men are collecting a large fish from a truck bed during a rainstorm.
Close-up of a person's hand holding a large fish by its gills, with a focus on the fish's head and body.
Close-up of a fresh red fish, focusing on its scales and texture.
Four freshly caught fish with reddish-brown and black markings laid on crinkled white paper.
Two men holding large fish, sitting inside a restaurant or cafe with black tiled walls and large windows.
Man holding a large fish with open mouth in a kitchen or seafood market.
Seared tuna steak with a side of spicy vegetable salad on a white plate.
A piece of romaine lettuce being grilled over an open flame on a barbecue grill.
A chef drizzling sauce over a roasted head of lettuce on a white plate in a kitchen.
A man with tattoos, wearing a baseball cap and glasses, prepares fish on a cutting board in a professional kitchen.
A bowl of cooked rice topped with grilled salmon, sautéed vegetables, and green onion garnishing.
A commercial kitchen with a grill in the foreground and a worker in the background preparing food. The worker is leaning over a plate, wearing a black shirt and blue cap.
Fried chicken bites on a bed of creamy sauce topped with sliced red chili peppers and green herbs, served on a white plate on a wooden table.
Person holding a fish skeleton with a black glove in front of a dark textured wall.
A plated dish with raw fish, microgreens, chopped vegetables, and a poached egg, served on a white plate on a wooden surface.
A gourmet dish with smoked salmon, cucumbers, a poached egg with orange caviar, greens, and a sauce with herbs and oil.
A steak on a grill with a metal lid and handles, flames visible below the grill grates.
A plate of roasted vegetables and greens on a wooden table.
Seared tuna slices with pink interior topped with herbs and red pepper flakes served alongside a colorful mixed salad with greens, radish slices, shredded carrots, mandarin orange segments, and microgreens on a white plate.
A hand sprinkles seasoning or salt onto a seared filet of fish garnished with a sprig of thyme and drizzled with olive oil on a white plate.
A close-up of a layered cake with vanilla and chocolate sponge, topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
A black and white photo of a bar interior with five people sitting at the counter, large windows behind the bar displaying bottles, and pendant lights hanging from the ceiling.
A smiling female bartender pours a cocktail from a shaker into a glass in a bar setting, with various bottles on shelves in the background.
A glass of iced tea garnished with fresh mint leaves and a bay leaf, set on a blue surface with greenery in the background.
A person wearing gloves grating cheese over an oyster bar, with fresh oysters on ice in the foreground.
A plate of six grilled oysters topped with seasoning and herbs on ice, served on a dark wooden table
A plated dish of raw fish garnished with sliced kumquats, green herbs, and orange fish roe.
Lobster roll with a side of French fries, garnished with chopped green onions and herbs, served with dipping sauce.
A pink watermelon smoothie in a tall glass garnished with a slice of watermelon.
A busy restaurant with patrons seated at tables, a server taking an order from an elderly man, and warm lighting fixtures hanging from the ceiling.
Closely packed smoked sausages hanging on a metal rack, with a handwritten label indicating "TUNA CHORIZO 13/1 8069".
Crab dish topped with breadcrumbs and herbs on a bed of ice in a bowl.
Tartare topped with pickled onions, green onions, herbs, and spices, served with crispy chips on a white plate.
A bowl of cooked chickpeas topped with diced vegetables and fresh herbs, with grilled fish fillets garnished with chopped parsley.
Close-up of fried rice topped with a sunny-side-up egg, garnished with herbs and vegetables.
A slice of cake on a white plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream nearby, set against a wooden backdrop.
Chocolate dessert topped with green frosting and garnished with chopped nuts on a white plate.
A kitchen knife with a wooden handle and a metal hook with a handwritten note attached. The note reads 'Welcome FIV TUM 8/12/3'.
Two male chefs wearing white shirts and dark aprons stand outside a restaurant, smiling at the camera. The background includes a wooden door and greenery.
Melting ice cream sundae with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, drizzled with chocolate syrup, on a white plate with a dark background.
Close-up of a cooked fish fillet garnished with fresh herbs on a bed of vegetables in a bowl.
A cup of bread pudding topped with whipped cream, with caramel sauce being poured over it.
Interior of a dimly lit restaurant with wooden ceiling, hanging woven lanterns, and multiple tables, some of which are occupied by patrons.
A man with a blue shirt standing at a bar, with shelves of glassware above him, in a dimly lit setting.
Bar scene with a bartender pouring drinks behind the counter, bottles of alcohol on shelves, and a large orange heater hanging above.
A plate with sliced fish topped with blood orange slices, chopped chives, and a drizzle of olive oil, alongside a glass of water garnished with a green olive and a toothpick.
A plate of cooked lobster with herbs and sauce, garnished with greens, with other dishes and a glass of wine in the background.
A plate of baked dip topped with chopped green onions, served with toasted triangular bread slices, and a glass of water with a straw on a dark speckled table.
A seafood menu featuring various options, with a focus on a section marked "Murder Point medium" and a top part that says "RAW" and "GULF". The menu is partially covered by a white cloth, and there is a green palm leaf and wooden background behind it
A cocktail glass filled with dark red liquid, garnished with a large ice cube and a long cocktail pick, on a wooden bar mat.
Fried soft-shell crab topped with red pepper flakes, served on a white plate with greens, chili peppers, and herbs, beside a glass of water and a palm leaf in bright sunlight.
Black and white photo of striped beach umbrellas with a cloudy sky in the background, taken from below.
Close-up view of a large, round, woven hanging lamp with a warm glow, against a dark wooden ceiling with visible beams and electrical wiring.
Close-up of a wooden furniture piece with a woven rattan panel, and a leather surface in the foreground.
A smiling man with a beard in a white shirt and black apron sitting on a bench against a blue wall.
Single raw oyster on a white plate with a black rim, placed on a wooden surface.
Fried fish fillets served on toast with a side of sauce and garnished with fresh herbs on a white plate.
Seared ahi tuna slices with red pepper flakes, served with mixed greens and cherry tomatoes, cucumber, croutons, and fresh herbs.
A person pours sauce onto a plated dish of cooked fish topped with herbs, on a wooden table in a restaurant with large windows.
Close-up of grilled octopus tentacles served on a bed of vegetables and sauce, garnished with herbs.
Group of four restaurant staff discussing dishes placed on a wooden table, with plates of salads and appetizers, in a modern, well-lit restaurant.
Scooped ice cream with peach and vanilla flavors served in a crispy shell on a white plate, garnished with small pieces of peach.
A row of empty wine glasses on a polished wooden bar or table with a blurred person in a blue shirt in the background.
A chef garnishing a plated dish in a professional kitchen with a beard and apron.
Oysters grilling on a barbecue grill with open flames.
A white plate with five grilled oysters topped with herbs, red pepper flakes, and other seasonings, placed on crushed ice on a wooden table.
Close-up of three pieces of fish topped with herbs, crispy onions, and green onions, served with a sauce on a white plate.
Chef in a restaurant kitchen preparing plated dishes with olive oil and garnish.
A bowl of fruit salad with melon balls, strawberries, blueberries, crumbled cheese, and mint leaves.
A plated dish featuring a breaded and fried filet topped with diced tomatoes, leafy greens, and a drizzle of sauce, served on a white and black ceramic plate.
A glass of iced beverage garnished with dried lemon slices, fresh mint leaves, and ice cubes.
Tropical cocktail in a glass garnished with pineapple and a green leaf.
Outdoor seating area with black tables, black chairs, and large black-and-white striped umbrellas outside a cafe or restaurant with glass windows and doors.
Empty upside-down glass on a saucer, three forks and three knives on a napkin, on a dark wooden table.
Close-up of a fish head, showing detailed scales, eye, and mouth, in black and white.
A black and white photo of a man with a beard and short textured hair, wearing a white shirt and an apron, working in a kitchen surrounded by blurred figures and kitchen elements.
A tall glass of pinkish-orange cocktail garnished with a dried citrus slice on the rim, sitting on a wooden surface.
Close-up of a cocktail in a coupe glass with an orange hue, garnished with a small, round, seasoned snack on a cocktail pick.
Close-up of seared tuna topped with chopped green herbs and red spice, served with mashed potatoes and a salad containing greens, onions, and fried garlic slices.
Poached eggs with sauce, garnished with herbs on a white plate, with oil being drizzled over them.
Bowl of creamy dip garnished with herbs, olive oil, and red spices, served with stacked pita bread pieces.
A bowl of spicy barbecue beef, topped with a dollop of sour cream, with a grilled breadstick inserted, and another bowl of similar dish in the background.
Close-up of a dish featuring beef chunks, fried onion strings, a poached egg garnished with chopped green onions, red pepper flakes, and chili powder.
A bowl of Asian-style soup with crab cakes, herbs, and vegetables in a dark broth.
A bowl of rice topped with a fried egg, vegetables, herbs, and fried shallots on a wooden table.
Close-up of a gourmet beef carpaccio garnished with microgreens, crumbled cheese, pine nuts, crispy garlic chips, and drizzled with green oil and creamy sauce.
A plated dish featuring a piece of grilled fish topped with a crunchy seed crust, garnished with herbs and sliced sweet potatoes, served with sauce and greens.
A bartender with shoulder-length curly hair preparing a cocktail behind a bar, with bottles of alcohol on shelves in the background.
A tall glass of iced drink topped with a slice of toasted bread and ice cubes.
A pink cocktail on a small black table outdoors at a patio, with black and blue Adirondack chairs and a white building with an 'Atlantic' sign in the background.
A pink cocktail garnished with fresh mint leaves, placed among greenery and flowering plants.
Close-up of a plate of fried rice topped with a fried egg, garnished with chopped herbs and red pepper flakes.
A fork with a bite of food above a casserole topped with chopped chives and a side of salad with mixed greens and sliced vegetables on a white plate.
Adam Evans stands at a podium, giving a speech at the James Beard Awards in 2022, in Birmingham, Alabama. He is wearing a tuxedo with a bow tie and a sash. There is a green and peach background with hashtag #JBFA in the top right corner and a logo for Capital One at the bottom right. The text on the podium indicates the event and his name, and describes his affiliation with automatic seafood and oysters.
JAMES BEMIS FOUNDATION AWARD logo

Best Chef in the South

In 2022, Adam Evens was awarded Best Chef in the South by the James Beard Foundations.