photography | photography by elisa sherman

Yosemite Redux

Visited Yosemite again…last(and first) visit was in 2009. This time more water, and a little more time stopping to take some photos.

The light is always gorgeous up in the valley…this time was no exception. And the gradeur of the the glacier cut valley, even from the main road is breathtaking. And there was still water…where the falls just wept in August of 2009…they flowed freely this May. I want to go again and see some of the stuff that is slightly further than what you might catch on a day trip;) As is, we caught Bridalveil, Ribbon and Yosemite Falls; and of course Half Dome. All lovely.

Here’s a few of my faves along with a slide show of the full set…until next time…

~gallery slideshow~

Yosemite 5/9/2014 – Images by Elisa Sherman

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February 8, 2014 by elisa sherman

Victory, a moment of Loudness, and how I found my way back to the Seahawks…

The Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII… …Wait, what? Yep, that’s right, we won. We won big. Huge. Jealous? LOL:) And shockingly(or not) I went out to spend a few hours in freezing temps among 700ish thousand(some say a million) fellow Seattlites, to celebrate and to click the joy of the fans, the team, and just soak it in…and scream – it was law, after all, at 12:12. For context, this was an interesting journey for me. I haven’t seriously watched football for oh, 14+ years, and if we’re being honest seriously since the 80’s. I had realized, as we waited 2 weeks for the Super Bowl, that I hadn’t followed the team at all or been familar with any player names since at least the 90’s…I hadn’t consciously given up on them. More, it was something I used to watch with my dad growing up. It was around 1980-82, when rather than go into the other room or playing somewhere else, I actually sat through an entire game and asked my dad questions about it…what was a 1st down, how did they score, etc. Otherwise it just looked like a bunch of big guys running into each other (right?)… When my dad passed in 2000, that touch point of sitting in the living room watching the games together, just wasn’t there anymore. I watched baseball, or went to concerts, or just did and watched other things. I hadn’t realized, until I thought about for a minute, why I had stopped watching. The current excitment, made me think back and wonder why, and the timing was inescapable. My sister captured our fond memories perfectly here –

“So, growing up in my house, every Sunday during football season, you’d be sure to find my dad sitting in his spot at the end of our rust-colored, sectional-recliner couch, yelling at the TV with a Lowenbrau or a Mountain Dew in his hand (or one, then the other) and a bag of nacho-flavored Doritos not too far away. Despite superstars like Steve Largent and Curt Warner, more often than not, things were not going well for the Seahawks. But still, he watched/yelled, and so we watched. This is one of my most enduring and cherished memories, trite as it may be. It’s why I’m so excited for today’s game. Go Seahawks!! — with Stella Sherman and Elisa Sherman.” ~Monique

Oddly, even our first unsuccessful run at the Super Bowl, didn’t penetrate, for me. I didn’t care, and barely paid attention. But something changed this year. It was some sort of odd unrecognizable energy in the air here in Seattle. Some will say it was the 12th man. Others, the Legion of Boom. I don’t know. I only know, that I started seeing these card board cut outs around the office of this guys head. I had to presume it was a Seahawk – with dreds, and sign saying Richard Sherman. Odd. Funny that a player basically had my dad’s name. Eventually, my curiousity and the news of the winning made me start turning on the games as filler while I would sit working on other things on Sundays. Then watching it seriously as the season, and the playoffs were becoming a reality. Ulitimately, caring if we had won enough to get the desired home field advantage. Clearly I was firmly back on the #bandwagon. With each playoff game, we believed. The NFC championship was almost unbelievable. To that final tip, I didn’t know what would happen, but it was like we couldn’t lose – and then, we didn’t. And it was the Super Bowl. Gathered around with friends and party food…we sat down to watch, the pregame, listen to all the commentators say how good the Seahawks were, but hey, Peyton would probably carry the Broncos to victory. Eye rolls all around. Then the game. And O.M.G. Now I know for those not Seahawks fans, it was probably the worse game ever; either boring or heartbreaking. But for Seattle – it was simple. It was euphoric. Screaming at every score, every interception, every run, every catch. It was both stunning yet completely unsurprising at some level, for those fans, the now famous 12th man, that had believed from the beginning. So, with the excitement not abating even after watching endless coverage post game, and basking in the afterglow for a few days, I donned my warmest layers, and worked my way to a good viewing spot just north of Westlake, north of the corner at 4th Ave and Stewart – and waited. Waited for an extra hour as the victory parade got a late start. Waited as my toes started screaming, and my fingertips icy. And then they were there, Mr. Skittles leading the charge, the party. And I clicked. Love you Seattle, Love you Seahawks. Love you Dad – this ones for you.

– and the full set of images –

Seahawks Super Bowl Victory Parade 2-5-2014 – Images by Elisa Sherman

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February 6, 2014 by elisa sherman

New York state of mind…

This last month, I took a quick trip to New York to attend the record release for Ryan Star’s new CD: Angels & Animals – alas, I did not photograph it, I simply experienced it:) (but I have, photographed Ryan, in 2010 and a few from BCE 2011 ) I did however take lot’s of pix of New York…

New York City 2014 – Images by Elisa Sherman

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December 31, 2013 by elisa sherman

2013 Year in Review: the odd year out, pics & prose

2013, an interesting year. Perhaps most defined with it’s odd year ’13, the number most often skipped, avoided, pondered by superstition… For me, photographically, it was a year, where, more than anything, photography was, surely, just a hobby. If anything, I was as much an iPhonographer, as anything else. Whether it be #selfies or random snaps along the way to work, or mass of live instagrammed vacation pics, my phone was certainly the image capturer of choice this year. My big camera probably has the lowest shutter clicks on the year since I purchased it in 2010. In fact, for the cost, my phone probably made me the easiest money earlier this year when I instagrammed a couple #TRB pics and won a chunk of change to spend on the cruise – hello #onboardcredit! Really snaps posted to my instagram became the easy interaction with various artists and locales. The snapshot and publish of choice. Also embracing taking photos like a normal person, is a bit freeing and liberating, less stressful, and brings me back to the enjoyment of it all. And I printed bunches of them, as good if not better than any of the instamatic pics we have in family albums from my youth… That said, I will not abandon my big camera, I love it for what it is…I just need to find a couple projects to focus, no pun, on… And, for what little there was captured by the big sensor, there was much that was the same…For the sixth time since 2008, I photographed both the Noise for the Needy Festival, and the Pride Parade…quite a collection I have of these images. I love both these events, and plan on putting something special together related to the collections in coming years. And there were a few outings or travels that hit the sensor with some repeated shutters – Oahu trip to celebrate my 40th ~ I figured if I had to turn 40, it would be with a Mai Tai(or better) on the beach:) As well, a girls trip to see the Tulips and San Juan Island…both travels offered the chance to stretch the landscape muscles. I am really loving shooting these with the 15mm Fisheye, almost exclusively, while I shoot the event type of stuff split with the fish and the 70-200, and really just a side of a mid range 35(or 50 if I ever get it fixed – sigh)… The extremes appeal…If I ever go on a grand adventure, I think I would love to shoot it with the fish, and maybe a tilt shift exclusively. Making normal perspective images, seems to boring these days, unless it’s a snap with my phone. Enjoy some of my fave big camera images from 2013 – here’s to a fabulous ’14!

2013 Best of – Images by Elisa Sherman

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September 29, 2013 by elisa sherman

Summer passed by…

As I sit here on a raining Sunday afternoon, about a week into Fall, I reminisce back on our summer here in Seattle. It was warm, sunny, and generally a good summer. I started the summer, photographically, shooting my 6th Noise for the Needy Festival, and Pride Parade, respectively. These events, year after year, consistently yeild some of my favorite images. And as so often the case, my phone is always with me to capture whenever the mood strikes. Follow me on instagram at @elisasherman to keep up:) Here’s just a few…

Over the balance of the summer, life distracted. But over the last few weeks of the summer, a few fun images captured… First, I had the most fabulous date idea to go up on the Seattle Great Wheel – awesome, considering I am massively afraid of heights. Clearly, my head was in the clouds, lol… Luckily, even at ground level, our new massive ferris wheel yeilds cool images, expecially shot though the 15mm fish:)

And the last full weekend of summer, we got lucky with a rainless if overcast Saturday, and I got to visit Snoqualmie Falls on it’s lower platform & trail re-opening day. It was busy, food trucks abound up top, and I was feeling a little under the weather, as it were…but luckily, we walked down the trail, took some pics, and caught the shuttle from the bottom back to the parking (which was back towards town – they shuttled everyone in this day).

And later the same day, I got to visit the Renton airport, and found some fun images unexpectedly. Images unexpected, are always fun.

The summer in review ~

Summer 2013 – Images by Elisa Sherman And with that, hello fall, what cornucopia do you bring?

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July 12, 2013 by elisa sherman

Pride 2013 ~ Love Shines

This year – Seattle’s Pride Parade, like so many in years past, was full of color, fun, joy, energy, politics, love… Perhaps by season, or perhaps by fate, the Pride of 2013 had the bright light of the sun shown on it, almost as a spotlight, of history made. Just this last November after all, Washington joined leading states passing marriage equality. Just the week previous, the SCOTUS struck down a major portion of DOMA, and finally laid California’s Prop 8 to rest. So the sun rose, rays shining brightly on our parade of rainbows, this year… Always, love. And I can hardly believe, this is my 6th year raising my lens to capture the energy that is Pride – it’s almost a compulsion at this point, and I won’t miss it, though in all honesty, I did lower my lens before the last steps… Anywho, for images from the last 5 years, reminisce…2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 Now for my faves – depsite my early finish, still masses I filtered through…enjoy the love. And oh yeah, uhm, #holypinkoutfitbatman 😉

Full archive slideshow –

Seatle Pride 2013 – Images by Elisa Sherman Until next year for more Pride images…Next…Some different and exciting things coming in the photography realm…

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July 2, 2013 by elisa sherman

Noise for the Needy 2013 ~ Ballard Style

Well, I can’t believe it had been over a year since I had last shot a music gig…my last outing being last years Noise for the Needy benefit – this years, was just the impetus I needed to go back out – as I have shot it every year since I got my first dSLR in 2008. I felt great, it was challenging, it was a bit back breaking, and it made me itch for it it all a bit, again…

That all said – the reason I go out every year for NFTN, is that it feels good, it’s for a good cause – and great people all get together to make it happen. Simply put, it’s a great thing to be part of. This years like the others supports a local charity – this year it was the Ballard Food Bank, thus all the shows were at Ballard venues – and I volunteered to shoot the weekend shows at the Tractor Tavern. It was going to be dark, I knew, but all considered it was the venue in which I knew I could make it work…

Before I show off this years set, reminisce – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Now, the bands that were covered included Pretty Broken Things, Case Studies, Horse Feathers on Saturday the 22nd, and C-Leb & the Kettle Black, Cracker Factory, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown Sunday the 22rd. By far the most fun to shoot was Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown closing the show on Sunday…but they were all great fun, offering unique looks, and great music.

My faves from the weekend…

Full Archive slideshow –

Noise for the Needy 2013 – Images by Elisa Sherman

To check out all the images captured by the NFTN photographers, check out their FLICKR.

…next, Pride…

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April 25, 2013 by elisa sherman

Spring, Tulips and more…

Spring has sprung, and my girlfriends and I headed up to see the tulips and visit San Juan Island…fun was had. As well, many clicks were clicked. As always, iPhone got a starring role as the snapshot must, but the big 5d2 got a few in as well, fish attached…

For memories of tulips, specifically, of years past – 2011, 2008…

iPhone faves…

And via the fish…a few faves…

Full fish slideshow –

Girls Weekend Tulips and Harbors 4-20 thru 4-21-2013 – Images by Elisa Sherman

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January 28, 2013 by elisa sherman

Like a Blister in the Sun…Oahu 2013

Ok, so not a blister, per se, but a bit of bright sun to burst through the winter blues, with images full of solar flare and whatnot – that was what the ol’ sensor captured on the big 5d2…

But, it wasn’t just the big camera, in fact it was mostly the little iPhone that got the biggest workout – because…yep, it’s the camera with me…

Actually, I made a point not to take the bigger camera with me for most of my vacation – it was a birthday break, turning 40 in the tropics – a time to relax, take in the rays, drinks some tropical beverages, just to relax. Relalxing means, not obsessing over getting all the spectaular shots… Perhaps this sounds counter intuitive – but I can be, a bit obsessive with my clickage. I want to capture all the pretty.

I actually thought about this for a bit – the images that would or would not be captured whilst I was in the tropics. I wanted both, not to be obsessed, but to be able to get some image trophies to bring home…

So, I scheduled a tour – specifically a photography tour. Alex Wilson runs Oahu Photography tours – and has earned the top spot on the activity list on Trip Advisor – I concur(ponders – Alex, do you need to franchise out – the Big Island perhaps?! – only partially kidding, lol).

Given the schedule I had of family and friends meeting me on the island – I felt like I could only spare a half day – so I chose the Sunrise tour – and it was spectacular – I got my photo on, fed the beast as it were, and my trusty iPhone was able to satisfy me for most of the rest of the 9 days. I only cracked out the big cam again on the 2 trips up to North Shore (the wild seas warranted it), and a few shots out at Haunama… I also chose to shoot primarily with my 15mm fisheye – which I think worked out well. I have really fallen in love with it. Playing with the bend, the flare, the wide angle – a great creative lens and creative image partner.

First – with my iphone, instagram was my friend…posting friend & family pics easily to facebook, and pretty seascapey phone pix to my tumblr. Several of the fun phone pix – here –

And, of course, solar flare most often in sharp focus…big cam shots – about eighty percent from the photo tour – thanks again, Alex!

~full gallery archive slideshow~
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Aloha & Mahalo, Hawaii – until next time…

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January 1, 2013 by elisa sherman

2012 Year in Review: Ponderings & Pics

2012, it’s been an interesting year. In previous years, this blog, the year in review, has focused on concert images, but like everything else, we have evolved, changed, and my focus has altered…

For one, my photography has found a role within my life that is decidely less serious. I am a fan of images, first… An image maker, creating what has inspired or crossed my path.

Some music images have continued to make their way to my sensor, through the lenses…along with some gorgeous seascapes, glorious crystalline ice bergs, and a reappreciation for the fact,that it isn’t he camera you have, rather the camera you have with you, be it the 5d2 or my iPhone.

After all, the phone camera, you have, likely, with you all the time, so when an image appears by happenstance, in front of you, snap…the ultimate snapshot device as it were…

I have several this year, around town, on vacation, it is, image making at will, unplanned, and uncontrived – perhaps of quality, perhaps, just pure fun. Digital has made image capturing, the recording of pixels, a matter of course for pretty much everyone. And as a fan of images, I do not pretend to be above that fray…