Which Seattle photographers who best capture the city’s spirit? Over on our Instagram account (@the_evergrey), we invited you to nominate your favorites. Now, we’re sharing photos and perspectives from the talented explorers you told us about.
Follow us on Instagram to see who else we feature on our #bestSEAphotogs hashtag. Seattle’s a gem. Let’s celebrate the people who help us see that every day.
Sig Sreedharan (@siglivetoeat)
E: Why does this picture represent how you best capture Seattle?
S: My signature style of photography is bright and colorful. This photo is a composite I made from multiple fireworks bolts I captured of the Independence Day fireworks over Lake Union as seen from West Seattle. I think this photo best represents three of my passions – Seattle, bright cheery colors and my need to make everything I post a bit unique and stand out from the rest of the hundreds of photos of the same scene.
E: What are your favorite things or places to photograph in Seattle?
S: I love this city and I love the entire skyline. But my three absolute favorite subjects are 1) The Space Needle, 2) Mount Rainier and 3) Sunset behind the Olympics with a ferryboat in the foreground.
What other Seattle photographers inspire you?
S: This is a really tough question and there are way too many to name. But if I have to pick three names as my top inspirations whose photos I look at and wish they were mine, it’s got to be @timdurkan, @starvingphotographer and @cr.a.ig.
Brendan Ramsey (@brendanramseyphotography)
E: Why does this picture represent how you best capture Seattle?
B: As a photographer, the spirit was quite high that night at least in the photography community and weather lovers. Seattle isn’t known for extreme weather so when it happens, there is a kind of electricity that also runs through this city. Seattle is a port city and I love the water, so when I learned of this storm, I went to Pier 66, one of my favorite places to shoot. A good majority of other photographers were at Kerry Park, but I had Pier 66 to myself and therefore walked away with this one of a kind shot.
E: What are your favorite things or places to photograph in Seattle?
B: Being born and raised in WA and living in downtown Seattle for last 20 years, I have an obvious enjoyment for uniquely photographing my city. I enjoy sunrise more than sunset and reflections whether puddles or other reflective material. I love the nature and wildlife that surrounds this amazing city, so much to explore and shoot.
E: What other Seattle photographers inspire you?
B: Brand new to Instagram but one who definitely inspires: Chuck Hilliard (@lightofthemoonphoto), Marcus Klotz (@mynameismarcusklotz), Don’t.Sleep.Studios (@dont.sleep.studios)
Tim Durkan (@timdurkan)
E: Why do these pictures represent how you best capture Seattle?
T: Right now my work is focused on the juxtaposition between the ‘pretty and the gritty’ sides of Seattle. When I took this (first) photo of the “Blood Moon” over Seattle, my goal was to capture one of those moments that people could look at in 50 years and say “I remember where I was.” The photo has been seen by over 12 million people, making it one of the most widely seen photos of the Space Needle ever!
The “grittier’ side of Seattle includes scenes like this (second photo), of my friend Tina who lived in an area under I-5 called “The Jungle.” I spend a lot of time with my homeless friends on the street trying to help them get in touch with services to better their lives. I try to document this side of Seattle to help balance the perspective that the Emerald City is all about the ferry boats, sunsets, and high tech
E: What are your favorite things or places to photograph in Seattle?
T: All of them!
E: What other Seattle photographers inspire you?
T: I am continually inspired to become a better photographer through the work ethos of @anitanow and @alabastrophoto; the soulful and creative efforts of @seattleempress and @siglivetoeat; One consummate professional and all around good person to whom I owe a lot to is @joshtrujillo – it was his encouragement to practice, learn and push myself that made just about everything else possible. Thanks, guru!
Erika Schultz (@erikajschultz)
E: Why does this picture represent how you best capture Seattle?
ES: Here’s the caption on that first photo: “From left, Dawit Teshome, 8; Surafel Abiyu, 6; Yonatan Damtew, 8; Natty Seifu, 9; and Kirubel Abiyu, 8, walk in a procession during the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s Epiphany celebrations in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood January, 23 2016.”
As a photojournalist in Seattle, I’m looking to photograph how families and neighbors connect. We live in a beautiful and diverse community in the Northwest and as photojournalists we get the opportunity to learn and work with our neighbors to help share stories of news, history, culture and religion with the greater public.
E: What are your favorite things or places to photograph in Seattle?
ES: I enjoy working on stories about women’s and social issues, culture, art and the environment. Photography and documentary video offers the opportunity to develop community relationships and tell stories that paint a broader picture of our society than news coverage alone.
E: What other Seattle photographers inspire you?
ES: There are so many great photographers in Seattle! A great network of documentary photojournalists and videographers are part of the NW Photojournalism community. Because women are underrepresented in photojournalism, I love seeing the perspectives of Bettina Hansen (@bettinahansen), Jovelle Tamayo (@jovellephoto), Genna Martin (@gmartphoto), Lindsey Wasson (@lindseywasson), Lauren Frohne (@laurenfrohne), Katie Greene Cotterill (@katiegcotterill), Corinne Chin (@corinnechinstagram), Karen Ducey, Megan Farmer (@_meganfarmer), Chloe Collyer (@chloetry), Amanda Snyder (@amandamsnyder).
Jim Hamerlinck (@quiet.seattle)
E: On his photography and the discarded bible photograph he chose to feature:
J: I guess this image represents the quieter, smaller, everyday Seattle that many of my photographs reflect…from the natural world to people at work to objects left to decay on the streets. Images that ask questions or tell stories. This one, for example. I saw this ripped up, pocket-sized bible on the sidewalk as I was walking to work one rainy morning. That caught my eye and makes me wonder why/how/who…I’m drawn to discarded things.
E: What are your favorite things or places to photograph in Seattle?
J: I get around. Union Bay is a favorite place of mine. The International District still has lots of cool old buildings. I bike and walk a lot so I find interesting things to photograph all over the city from Aurora Ave. North to Rainier Beach.
E: What other Seattle photographers inspire you?
J: I haven’t been on Instagram very long and so haven’t been exposed to all of the great Seattle photographers here. Two that I have come across, @flynnpnw and @gmartphoto, take really striking and compelling pictures.
Yovany Robles (@yrpixs)
E: On his photography and the discarded bible photograph he chose to feature:
Y: To me as a photographer I want to make sure I capture the best moments. This photo represents one of the best moments I capture for the city of Seattle because it was my first time shooting at night and came out to show me how beautiful Seattle really is. My favorite places to shoot in Seattle is the Space Needle, Kerry Park, and anywhere downtown is amazing to capture fantastic photos.
E: What other Seattle photographers inspire you?
Y: @flynnpnw is one of the Seattle photographers that inspired me and @cr.a.ig.
Sunita Martin (@sunnymartini)
E: Why does this picture represent how you best capture Seattle?
S: This photo captures Seattle’s unique mix of music, culture, history, and nature, which is what so many people love about this city. While there might be unprecedented tech growth and a plethora of music and arts venues, there’s still a humility to it and even in the middle of the city, you’ll find organic elements scattered between rising skyscrapers, whether it’s fluffy cherry blossoms or sprawling lakes.
E: What are your favorite things or places to photograph in Seattle?
S: I love photographing live music and really appreciate all the venues Seattle has to offer. Showbox is one of my favorites for their super-friendly staff, ambiance, and energy. If I’m not shooting in a dark venue with my earplugs in, I love doing animal portraits or shooting the vast cityscapes that Seattle has to offer from every angle, high or low, inside and out.
E: What other Seattle photographers inspire you?
S: Joshua Lewis (@joshualewis), Stephanie Dore (@stephrcdore), David Conger (@dcongerphoto).
Note: Portrait by Stephanie Dore
Marcus Klotz (@mynameismarcusklotz)
E: Why does this picture represent how you best capture Seattle?
M: I chose this image because to me it best captures Seattle in a way most don’t often see. You see the big city in the distance but just below some would consider the slums, to me slums don’t have views like these!
E: What are your favorite things or places to photograph in Seattle?
M: My favorite things to photograph in Seattle are sunrises over the cityscape. I love being up early when everyone is tucked away sleeping, the quiet moments.
E: What other Seattle photographers inspire you?
M: There are so many photographers in Seattle who inspire me on a daily basis. With social media, I can see what’s going on in the community daily and even have a better chance to get involved. A few guys that constantly inspire me are @ryanismee my buddy Ryan who is always posting something new. @tia_intl_photo Tosin, who has been around Seattle for a while and has some very original images. And last but not least my guy @jameswhelan88 whose drone work and time lapse photography is just top notch!