When Michael J Elderman shows up with his camera, you know you've picked the right place to be. Having your photo taken by him has become something between a rite of passage and cost of entry for Riversiders, a mark that you're part of the city's ongoing story.
For nearly five decades, Elderman has been that story's chief visual chronicler, covering events and taking portraits with the discipline of a commercial photographer and the instincts of a street photographer who never misses the moment.
Since earning his professional credentials in the late 1970s, Elderman has achieved a level of access that, combined with his exceptional skill, has made him worthy of a title bestowed by former Superior Court Presiding Judge Victor Miceli more than a decade ago. At an Evergreen Cemetery restoration event where Elderman had donated photography, Miceli thanked him publicly as "the Eyes of Riverside." Elderman immediately asked to borrow the moniker, and it stuck. Through decades of showing up and being trusted, he's become part of the infrastructure of how the city remembers itself.
One of his most beloved projects is an annual calendar featuring photographs he's taken at landmarks and hidden treasure spots around town. What began as a simple showcase of Riverside's character has evolved into something much more significant, a holiday gift-giving tradition for many Riversiders. Each December, locals purchase calendars knowing they're giving more than just a collection of pretty pictures; they're sharing a year-long love letter to their city.
The calendar captures everything from iconic spots like the Mission Inn and Victoria Avenue to those tucked-away gems that locals treasure, a particular corner in the Wood Streets, architectural details downtown that most people walk past without noticing, or views from the hills that frame the city just right. Each month reveals another layer of what makes Riverside home.
The 2026 edition promises to continue this tradition, offering twelve more glimpses into the soul of a city as seen through the lens of someone who has documented its evolution for nearly half a century. When Elderman captures these moments, he's not just taking photographs, he's creating an ongoing visual archive of Riverside's story, one frame at a time.
For Riversiders, giving this calendar has become a way of saying "this is our place", a gesture that celebrates both the photographer who has dedicated his career to seeing their city clearly and the community that has embraced him as their visual chronicler.
The 2026 calendar costs $15 and can be ordered by phone at 951-318-3467 or email at mjelderman@gmail.com.
