Dance Studio Images

These next photos were taken in a dance studio with several spotlights on. This helped create shadows from their movements as they danced. 

These photos are mainly of jumps, leaps and positions. I feel these images show great character and excitement through their expressions and positions. 

The expressions and action in this photo add excitement and character to the image. 

 The ease and simplicity of her jump in the air adds interest.

These images although were very spontaneous and individual images more abstract, the characterising, the emotion and stories come across easily within these. From their facial expressions to the movements they were captured in, can help tell us something about them and their unique personality. These images are photographed from the front, an improvement from this could be to delve more into the movement, changing angle and direction. Although these specific images work best when being the 'audience', they are captured at the perfect moment creating spontaneity and fullness.

Dance Field Images

Here are a selection of some of my first experimental images, luckily on this day the sun was shining so with this I was able to create effective shadows and shapes with the dancers. 

Below are many images that I took, individually with difference compositions and shapes created through the dance movement, positions and balances.  

Here with her hands covering her face gives a sense of the unknown and with the angle being a lot lower, like we're beneath her initiates status and hiding.

The only link from these two photos are thoughts of imagery, animalistic and the sense of spinning/movement.

The angle of this image accentuates the position of the dancer, with her legs lining up with the horizon of the grass/sky balances the the photo. With the perfect timing and the positioning of herself in the sky, the composition leads towards her and her comic expression.  

The natural lighting in this image shines on there clothing, this initiates the direction in which it is shining. This helps emphasises the shadows on the left hand side of the image. I feel the image could have been improved with having more shadow showing in the image but trying not to distract from the position they are holding.

Her position she is holding slightly looks like its upside down and shes pushing against the grass. I feel her face expression adds to this. The position she is holding is very obscure and intriguing.

Her shadow of hers is leading inwards towards her and the sun.

Here is the same photo but one is turned upside down; looking at the photos individually in original photo compositionally they are positioned between two trees either side, her arms are the same level, her hair is split coincidentially into two sections and their shadow leads towards them. And when looking at the photo upside down, it seems to change the look of it completely, it doesn't look like the same image. The image seems to play with the eye more and makes you think indepth.

The photo on the left is the leading position into the image on the right, but generally I feel the preparation image is more engaging due to the alien like position. It almost seems they are like one and joined together.

The idea that her legs are cut off links to the idea of leading somewhere.

The main focus in this image are there height of their legs, and the lining of it.

Here is a very similar photo to one in this post, shes pulling the same position but generally the positioning of herself in the photo is that shes more central and in line with the grass. It also seems like the grass horizon is curved slightly and positions around her.

These 3 photos are all the same jumps and positions but only from different angles and each one brings something different.

This ones also different with including the school location in the background and the 3 different dance movements. It feels more informal with the bags and coats left in the image, which adds also to the imbalance of the image with the dancers on the far left.

Each movement is different but linking slightly. With the Fenella and Hayley having similar positions and Lauren leading towards Hayley who is in the background.

With having the sunlight behind them, shadows them and there faces, outlining there bodies and the position held.

Getting Started

As a starter for my own work, I decided to look into different events and places of which photographing dance would be most appropriate. Although using friends or colleagues is also a possibility for ongoing practical.
There are numerous of opportunities out there looming, of which I need to look into with more detail and search around for possible chances.

I am going to start off with a simple introductory experiment with dance movement and light. I feel the blurred images from the soliloquy are very intriguing and I feel this could be a good start to my work.

To do this I would need to originally sort out where I would take these images, and who of. I feel there is a stereotypical way of photographing dance in a studio with staged lighting and planned movement. I hope to achieve images that are a variety of planned and improvised.
Places such as along the street, in a town centre, park, beach, along the pier, in a car park... normal spaces combined with movement.

All by myself cont.

Chris Nash is a London based photographer specialising in Dance with a worldwide reputation built from over 60 individual exhibitions globally. His highly theatrical style and ability to capture key choreographic moments have been in demand for over 2 decades, not only by contemporary dance companies needing promotional images but also fashion, advertising and editorial areas.

"The instant you see a Chris Nash photograph you know an artist is at work" The Times

The reflections and shapes in this image are most intriguing. The positioning of the arms, legs and bodies almost make the dancers seem alien like. The woman's hair being so white and swished about with movement attracts attention towards her, the focus personally lies solely on them. The plain white/blue wash background softens the obscureness of their movement.

The idea of being from below and capturing a movement from underneath adds abstract view and the idea of Celtic symbolism.  

I love the action of the jumping in this image with the movement of the sand attached with the body. Even though its black and white, there wasn't any need for colour as the image originally adds affect and simpleness with it.

Humour; this image is very simple but the composition of the wall diagonally, leading towards the old man dancing randomly.

This image reminds me of my own from the soliloquy task of the blurred movement. I like the affect it adds to the image and the unknown behind it.

These images of Chris' are based around dance portraiture, these have a different style to his other images but show just the same amount of expression.

All by myself

To begin with my own independent studies, I am researching into various photographers and artists of which show work and ideas into dance and portraiture. I will begin with looking into dance images and photographers which show their interpretation for it.

I look forward to seeing different styles and aspects of this theme and topic.

From searching on the internet, I have found a range of images from different dance and portraiture photographers. First of all, these following pictures and images are from portrait photographers, each have a different style and creativity.

Chris Gloag is a professional portrait photographer providing images for the advertising and editorial market. He has experienced working in many different types of environment and has a relaxed yet focused shooting style which helps in producing the right look and tone for different campaigns.

These images are very stylised and especially Gok's photo links closely to fashion style photography. And considering Gok works in fashion Chris has a way of working with the model closely to create their look and style personally.

Michael Robert Williams based in London, is well known for his portraits of musicians, including The Killers, La Roux, Ian Brown and more as well as other celebrities from the world of sport, film and music. His portraits have been very popular and featured around the world. In addition to portraits for some magazines he has also produced artwork and promotional images for record labels and artist management including Adidas.

When Michael is not on an assignment, he enjoys travelling, music and films, so on top of all his numerous portraits Michael has a selection of his own personal images.

These images are from the photographer Michael Robert Williams, all the images are completely different, but each one are unique. I love how each one represents the celebrities character and personality.

The closeness of the Dev's face adds intimidation to the image, and with the effect of the light shining from behind his hat and being located on the street completes the image. This image is very similar to the works of BRUCE GILDEN with his portraits being taken on the street very close up unexpectedly. Although his eye contact shows his awareness and reaction to the camera.

In this image, I like the contrast between the black and white colours, it creates sharpness and tone. The monotone adjustment is used especially on images like these as the 'classic' affect is used to make the celebrity have a more tonal range creating a better appearance for them.

The black and white effect in this image sets an era which suits Bernado especially. The fact that his eyes are shut adds a sense of calm and tranquillity to the image.

The background pattern highlights the bold colours in Eliza's dress, this makes her stand out against the black and white.

Williams portrait is very formal compared to the other images, the black and white effect highlights the paleness of his skin and the colours in his hair. I like this image as its very simplistic and original.

Robert Frank was an influential photographer for film in the Forward Motion films at Pavilion Dance. This image above is My Father’s Coat (2000):

"After my father was buried in 1976 in Zurich, my mother gave me the coat: “This is your father’s coat. It is very good, warm and not worn at all. Please take it with you to New York and wear it.” I hung up the coat in a small room in our house – with all my film cans on the window sill and an Aloe plant (needs a little water). The door is closed. I did not wear the coat for many years. As time goes by I am thinking more of my father and how I might become more like him."

"Robert Frank is one of the world’s most influential photographers. For more than fifty years, he has broken the rules of photography and film making, challenging the boundaries between the still and the moving image."

Soliloquy Final Image

Once I had selected my final image and spending time altering certain aspects on Photoshop, I ended with this image;