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September 7, 2016 by Anya Elise

Assemblé Dancewear || Photojournalism

I have always had this notion, deep in my core, that perhaps I should have been a dancer. Or a drummer, but that’s another story. I have fairly long legs and noodle arms, and what could be more fitting than to use these physical attributes for ballet? Despite this feeling, I never did in fact take a ballet lesson. I did participate in Irish step dancing for seven years in my youth, but that, too, is another story.

Recently I photographed Assemblé Dancewear in Castle Rock, Colo. Noel Amend has been fitting dancers with pointe shoes for over 30 years. Folks travel from all around the region to have him outfit their feet in the shoes needed to plié, arabesque and generally float about the stage with the utmost of grace. While on assignment for the Denver Post local section, I made my way to Noel’s store and watched as he helped a couple different dancers of varying experience get equipped.

Assemblé Dancewear

Assemblé Dancewear

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Posted in editorial · Tagged assemble dancewear, Denver Post, photojournalism, YourHub · Leave a Reply ·

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July 3, 2016 by Anya Elise

We’re moving! Well, sort of.

For weeks and weeks, perhaps even months, I have been alluding to some upcoming changes. Has this vagueness annoyed you? Do you forget me dropping these hints? Is this the first you’re hearing of my allusions? Did you navigate to this site accidentally and you have no idea who I am?

In that case: Welcome! It’s so nice to have you here. Have a cup of coffee and introduce yourself.

For those of you who know who I am and what you’re doing here, today at last I’m ready to announce the changes. Officially. There may even be a ribbon cutting. (But it’s desk-sized, so don’t get too excited.)

I have been writing of my photographic exploits, life experiences, and other adventures here on anyaelisephotography.com for going on six years. Six years in August, to be precise. I started this site just as my photography career was kicking off. Dan and I were photographing weddings and I was freelancing here and there. I was still spending most of my working hours at a desk in the Denver Post newsroom with my editorial assistant hat perched at a jaunty angle upon my head, fielding phone calls from subscribers and providing general aid to the reporters and editors around me. (There wasn’t really a hat, but maybe there should have been. I’ll have my people talk to some other people and see if we can retroactively get that going.) I was grateful to be in a newsroom, but longed to have a creative outlet of my own. So I started a blog. And then I launched this site. And over the past six years I have crammed photo-related thoughts into blog posts, as well as a lot of silliness and moments of thoughtful reflection. My photo life, my personal life, I shared it all right on these pages.

Then, three-and-a-half years ago, I left my position as an EA, and ventured into the world as a full-time photojournalist. I started shooting 8-12 photo assignments every week, thus fulfilling that earlier desire to have an outlet for my creations. I climbed slowly up the very steep learning curve that was full-time photojournalism, and eventually settled at a comfortable, though rather hectic, status quo. I continued to share photos from work on these pages, and also (mostly) kept up with the more personal looks at life. Tales of travel, stories about my new role as a wife, narratives concerning my siblings and our beloved Colorado.

But, over the past year or so, as work at the Post has continued alongside a ramping up of our A&D Photography business, I have begun to feel that this site needs a refocusing. And that my dynamic, developing creative outlet needs to be widened. So, today, after this very long preamble which I swear does in fact have a point, I am excited to announce that I have started a second blog.

signed anya elise

Signed, anya elise will package up all those personal, not-photography-specific writings that I have previously included here, and give them a new home with lots of breathing space to really grow and play and take on a life of their own. I have often felt constricted here when my posts haven’t centered on photography, and at times questioned whether I should even write about topics that didn’t concern photos in some form. And though we are barreling right along and growing ever more in our photography business, I knew that there was more in me and more about life that I wanted to also devote some attention.

Therefore, moving forward, if you want to keep up with the photographic work I’m producing at the Denver Post and with A&D Photography, behind-the-scenes looks at shoots, philosophical thoughts about prime versus zoom lenses, et cetera and then some, then this is your place.

But! If you’re looking for that more personal touch — galleries of photos and silly videos from world travels, essays on all manners of topics, writings on my favorite books, haikus devoted to my love of coffee…you get the idea — then please click on through and take a look around signedanyaelise.com. You’ll find there a few posts I migrated over from these parts, posts that I felt were more appropriate for signed, anya elise, so don’t be alarmed if you get an intense sense of déjà vu while exploring around. You aren’t in the Matrix.

It isn’t all vintage content though. In the past weeks I have written a few new posts as well. So if you want a recap (in photo and video form) of our April trip to San Francisco, or to read about my belief in showing up for each other in light of recent national and world tragedies, or to view a video documenting our recent sibling-only vacation to Disneyland, then zip on over. I’ll meet you there.

Wherever you end up, here or there or elsewhere, know that you all mean the world to me. These past six years have seen a lot of growth and discovery and I’m looking forward to branching out in new directions with this endeavor. You are all very much appreciated. Much love to you.

Posted in personal · Tagged signed anya elise · Leave a Reply ·

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July 1, 2016 by Anya Elise

Globeville Riverfront Arts Center || Photojournalism

One of my favorite settings to photograph is an artist’s studio. The messier the better. Tubes of paint, scraps of material, metals, and flakes of dried up clay on every surface, that is the dream. I love to photograph the textures and the colors and the intensity of an artist in the zone. So when my Denver Post colleague, Joe Vaccarelli, pitched a story featuring an arts center with upward of 50 different creative types packed within its halls, I quickly volunteered to join him on a tour.

Nicholas Emery

Nicholas Emery

Nicholas Emery

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Posted in editorial · Tagged Colorado, Denver, Denver Post, Globeville, Globeville Riverfront Arts Center, photojournalism, YourHub · Leave a Reply ·

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June 10, 2016 by Anya Elise

Disneyland || 10 on 10

At the end of May 2013, I stood at a baggage claim carousel in LaGuardia airport, in the grand city of New York. As we watched the seemingly endless line of black luggage trudge by us on the conveyor belt, my phone pinged with the alert of a new email. The email was from Courtney Z, a photographer based in Portland. She proposed starting a collaborative photographic project she dubbed 10 on 10. Would I be interested in joining her and a few other photographers spread around the country? Well, you all know my answer.

Today marks the three-year anniversary of that inaugural post. It has been a wonderful project through which I have met a great cast of people who are all out there working every day to make their lives and businesses thrive. But, as with all things, even this good endeavor must come to an end. So today, I will be sharing with you my final 10-on-10 post. Goodness, it feels so strange to type that!

Over the past three years this monthly project has served as something of a heartbeat for my ol’ blog here. I must sheepishly admit that for some stretches, my 10 on 10 posts were the only ones to appear around these parts. The exercise of coming up with 10 photos to share with you on the 10th day of every month sometimes proved to be a challenging one, but it often gave me the push I needed to create and write and share.

To my 10-on-10 comrades: It has been a true privilege collaborating with you! You each have such talent and your drive as business owners has greatly inspired me. I am excited to continue to follow along from afar as you keep conquering new heights.

To my dear readers: Though 10 on 10 is ending for me, I’m not going anywhere. My decision to step down from this project is not indicative of a larger decision to stop posting here. There are further changes coming down the pipeline (which I have already vaguely alluded to; please bear with me, the unveiling of said changes will be here soon!), but for now, I hope you’ll keep coming back here for more posts regarding my photographic exploits. More to come, my lovelies.

For today, you know the drill. Visit these kind creatives and then take a look at my recent sibling adventure to Disneyland.

Amy Straka Photography
Button Media
Courtney Z Photography
Satin Sky Photo
Twinty Photography

Airplane over the Rocky Mountains

Palm trees in Southern California

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Posted in 10 on 10 · Tagged 10 on 10, Denver Four, Disneyland, siblings · Leave a Reply ·

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June 2, 2016 by Anya Elise

Cherokee Ranch Arts Afield || Photojournalism

“They will drive us in, then we can walk back out whenever we’re ready.”

I looked down at my light sneakers — Keds to be precise — funky and classic footwear but not really that well-suited for a hike back from a canyon. I should have read the fine print on this assignment.

I was on the Cherokee Ranch & Castle grounds, 3,400 acres of beautiful nature near Sedalia, Colo., (oh and a castle, though we didn’t spend much time there on this particular day) that a group of artists was about to explore with paints and easels in hand. Along with reporter Joe Rubino, I was there to learn about the ranch’s Arts Afield program.

Cherokee Ranch Arts Afield

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Posted in editorial · Tagged Arts Afield, Cherokee Ranch and Castle, Colorado, Sedalia · Leave a Reply ·
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hey, hi & hello

Photographer, writer, over-enthusiastic coffee drinker. Intrepid defender of Colorado's western status. I live in Denver, Colo., with my husband, Dan Petty. This blog is where I share our triumphs, troubles and everyday slivers of life.

Questions, comments, thoughts, concerns? Shoot me a message: hello@anyaelisephotography.com

(And if you say Colorado is in the "midwest," we are going to have some words.)

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Recent Posts

  • Assemblé Dancewear || Photojournalism
  • We’re moving! Well, sort of.
  • Globeville Riverfront Arts Center || Photojournalism
  • Disneyland || 10 on 10
  • Cherokee Ranch Arts Afield || Photojournalism

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