video | anya elise

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August 13, 2012 by Anya Elise

“to the mountains” || Beaver Creek video

“to the mountains” || Beaver Creek video from anya semenoff on Vimeo.

Like a long-lost friend, I welcome back fancy phone videos to the a.e. blog. It’s been quite some time since we’ve had a video around these parts. It’s been even longer since it’s been a video shot entirely on the ol’ fancy phone.

And so, without further preamble: the video! (Which is actually above this text. I think that makes the video a preamble to these words when we’re being entirely technical about it. So where does that leave us? A disaster all around. Check back tomorrow…maybe we’ll have worked out these issues.)

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July 12, 2012 by Anya Elise

“the art of walking” || Thoreau’s 195th Birthday

Today is Henry David Thoreau’s 195th Birthday. Or would be, if had extreme longevity of life.

In honor of this auspicious day, I give you this above photo taken at Walden Pond last year during our New England Road Trip. The likeness of Thoreau is both striking and contemplative, don’t you think?

I also give you this excerpt from one of his essays:

“I have met with but one or two persons in the course of my life who understood the art of Walking, that is, of taking walks […]

Half the walk is but retracing our steps. We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return, prepared to send back our embalmed hearts only as relics to our desolate kingdoms. If you are ready to leave father and mother, and brother and sister, and wife and child and friends, and never see them again—if you have paid your debts, and made your will, and settled all your affairs, and are a free man—then you are ready for a walk.”

Again, striking and contemplative. I’m sensing a theme here. Can you imagine launching out on such a walk? An act that to me has always been synonymous with leisure, and digesting Thanksgiving dinner, and passive in many respects. Yet Thoreau says to truly embark on a walk — in the most honest and true way — one must be willing to never return. As if the walk was itself an exploration of a new world, full on Magellan-style. Food for thought.

And finally, I offer this video, pulled from the vaults just this morning. The first half has absolutely nothing to do with Thoreau, but the second half is all about Concord, Walden Pond, and a special little cabin:

Part One || New England Road Trip from anya semenoff on Vimeo.

Happy 195th Birthday, H.D. Thoreau. You don’t look a day over 190.

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February 2, 2012 by Anya Elise

all shook up || National Western Stock Show video

all shook up || National Western Stock Show video from anya semenoff on Vimeo.

As promised! A Stock Show video! (Delayed by about a week, but you know.) One more exclamation point for good measure!

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December 15, 2011 by Anya Elise

rise || San Francisco vacation video

rise up || San Francisco vacation video from anya semenoff on Vimeo.

She doesn’t like when I do it. Take videos of her. She doesn’t like being my “human interest” piece in these travel videos.

But, I have to say, I love when my sister, Emily, is in these videos.

She’s so lovely. Gorgeous really, and she gives the camera this smile when I point it at her that is equal parts incredulity, humor, resolve, and grace.

So, Emily, though you hate it, here is one more video in which you make a number of appearances. And you’re gorgeous. (She’s also a total softie, looking out for creatures great and small. Watch the video…you’ll see.)

Thanks, sister-friend, as always, for putting up with me.

As you, my dear readers, will remember, I mentioned we didn’t have much time for touring about on my most recent – and brief – visit to San Francisco. Nearly all of this footage was therefore shot in about half a day. It’s brief, and chipper, and but a glimpse into the beauty this city offers.

One of these days I’ll go back and give it a better video. But for now, there’s this.

Love and foggy afternoons to you, –a.e.

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November 29, 2011 by Anya Elise

the hunt || Christmas tree video

the hunt || Christmas tree video from anya semenoff on Vimeo.

Every year, my family and I head into the mountains to a section of the forest that has an open season on trees. Trees to be cut down that is. (See evidence of last year’s trip here.)

We decided long ago, before my memory fully latched into my brain folds, to make it a tradition to cut down our tree in this manner, rather than either (a) getting a fake tree, or (b) getting a tree from the local supermarket or nursery. (Though, if my brain folds serve me, there have been occasions over the years where we have gone a different route due to various conflicts.) When all is right in the world however, we make this annual trek.

It is magical and predictable and team-building and character-affirming and season-greeting and altogether perfect fodder for a video. Which is posted above. I hope you enjoy it.

(The song is: “Santa’s Got a Brand New Bag” from Shedaisy. Theirs is one of my favorite Christmas albums. The songs are quirky and offbeat and not very traditional really. But that’s just the way I roll. Buy it here.)