Dance Images

For practise and research for the dance film: I took some images of a dance lesson to experiment with capturing specific movements & highlights as well as practising timing and shutter speed when taking images of movement.

Many of the image below are in action and caught at the right moment. With being able to use timing effectively means that images caught and movement filmed will be at it's best. And the shots will capture the movement most effectively.

With images like this, shows a moment of stillness, like a pause, and with the use of sharp and quick shutter speed, experimenting and practising in this lesson could help me do so.

Also when photographing in this lesson and room, it helped me practise with angling the natural light and direction of movement.

Dance Film Ideas

When, initially, trying to think about different ideas for a film idea I found this quite difficult as I wouldn't say filming or producing a film is my strongest aspect.

But I did think about what I would like to continue and have as my main theme for next year, so that could help influence and give me ideas for this short film.

When we visited Pavilion Dance we watched some short films of dance, this started of my idea of producing one of my own. So I knew then I was going to try and produce a dancing film, but now where? how? what? and who?

-Along the beach? Forest? Classroom?

-One dancer, two?

-Tranquillity, peacefulness, anger?

-choreograph, improvisation?

-Video short clips, continuous photos?

There was a lot of different ideas that I could sway towards.

Dance Research

Lois Greenfield:

"I've spent the last 25 years of my photographic career investigating movement and its expressive potential. My inspiration has always been photography's ability to stop time and reveal wht the naked eye cannot see. My interest in photography is not to capture an image I see or even have in my mind, but to explore the potential of movements I can only begin to imagine. What intrigues me is making images that confound and confuse the viewer, but that the viewer knows, or suspects, really happened. I want my images to defy logic, or as Salvador Dali wrote, I strive to "systematize confusion and discredit reality." I can't depict the moments before or after the camera's click, but I invite the viewer's consideration of that question."

When Lois first began taking photographs during the late 60's, she originally dreamt to be a photojournalist for National Geographic. After graduating from University in 1970, she started working towards this goal, freelancing for newpapers, photographying everything from prisons to rock concerts. Having never studied in a class room she taught herself everything she knew.

When she was assigned to cover a dance concert, this was one obstacle, she knew nothing about the dance world or how to photograph movement, it look Lois a while to master photographing the unpredictable movement and lightening of dances on a stage. When she returned to New York, she then finally got the hang of it. But not only that she also found herself very intrigued by the subjects themselves.

As the modern dance world in New York increased. Lois photographyed as many dance rehearsels as she could, developing her technique and reputation, and regularly working for The Village Voice (NY Times, Dance Magazine) and many others. By 1978, she had grown frustrated with the documentary approach. Rather than trying to capture someone else's art form, she wanted to find a visual syntax of her own.

"We poured a mixture of sugar and flour down a tube over Sham's head while he jumped. I wanted him to look as though he himself was being poured and has coalesced into that shape."

"I want impossible looking situatons that allude to the moments before and after the shutter's click. I want to viewer to wonder, where is he coming from? How will he land?"

http://www.loisgreenfield.com/about/index.html

Film Research

When researching films, I tried to think of films which I felt made me think not only about the film storyline itself, but the process of creating and filming.

With films like Avatar which took years after technology improving with filming & editing, the standards are so high and the skills and ideas that were put into a film like this is incredible.

I research into Avatar and these are the words that best describe the film's storyline: tribe, rescue, battle, forbidden love, destruction, survival and heroine.

Below are images from the films trailer, two which show certain aspects of the film.

Technology has dramatically improved in order to create such a masterpiece. The link between human and animated characters is faultless and very lifelike. It creates a next level in film and photography. I feel this film has shown a new peak of technology and from this, films can continue to be even better and shown even a new level for centuries to come.

The overall storyline is very clever and engaging. The plot is spiritually moving, visually daring and emotionally stirring. It's a classic story telling at its best.

I feel with the special effects being at it's best made the film so breathtaking, when watching it myself I felt taken back by the effects which are now possible and with the storyline being so carefully created and captivating.

Memoirs of a Geisha was the second film I watched and researched. I really felt this film captured the life of a geisha and the time very effectively. The words that describe the film the best are: historical, villainous, cultural, war, love, jealousy and betrayal.

Below are images of the trailer; two sections of the film of which I thought captured the essence of that time.

I feel its very realistic in the set and costume, everything is detailed like it would be during that time. The positioning of the camera during certain scenes highlights what the story is truly telling and puts emphasise on the most important and engaging scenes. During the film there are certain scenes which do 'put you on the edge of your seat' and I feel the camera positioning and set/costume etc adds to this effect, as well as the storyline being portrayed so effectively.

The film is very historical and tells a powerful true story. The actresses trained for a long period of time in order to look perfect when portraying a Geisha.The storyline is thought through carefully to engage the audience throughout and they have filmed sections and studied different characteristics thoroughly so it's believable and breathtaking.

Study Leave Task

During study leave for Year 12 exams, we were given a simple task to get 5 photos or so of anything. This was a chance to explore different ideas and independence, and confidence with photo taking and idea expanding.

These first few photos were taken at a BBQ, the closeness of Molly face adds emphasis to the image.
Here the shoulder is the section in focus of the photo, it initially draws attention to it but leads to the blurriness of the people besides the BBQ and food.

This photo for me adds character and personality, with the man's expression on his face from eating a hot piece of black pudding or meat.

These next few were taken at Highcliffe Castle, despite the weather being quite wet and grey, I tried to capture images which highlighted the area at its best.

I particularly like the focus on the wasp and closeness to the flower and rain drops.

This image reminds me of the photographer UTA BARTH; with there being a majority of the photo out of focus. In this one I like the colours highlighted from the budded petals but also the sneaky lady bird hiding beneath the buds.

This tree caught my eye as I was wandering through the forest, if you look closely on the tree there is a small figure of a face. I found this most intriguing.

When I first arrived at the Castle; a young man was playing the piano rather nice and elegantly. Here is an image to show him behind the glass windows at the piano. I feel the emptiness of the castle surrounding's highlights him in the background.

This was my initial photo of the Castle itself.