LocalHero1953 Posted February 20, 2023 Share #1 Posted February 20, 2023 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) The university tap/jazz/street/contemporary dance society puts on an annual show. I was asked to photograph the dress rehearsal last week (and was paid with a comp ticket for Saturday night). It is some years since I have done any dance photography, and even that was limited, so I went along to a couple of their earlier full show runs to get an idea of what to expect and how to approach it. I shall use this thread to post the results from the dress rehearsal (the earlier rehearsals were in a gym and without proper lighting). All photos taken with the SL2-S and 24-90SL. Shutter priority, WB set to 4000k (the actual lighting was very varied and rapidly changing), manual focus, but with back button focusing set to 'field'. There are inevitable limits to IQ in this lighting and speed of movement, but it is worth clicking on each image to get the best view. Each post will cover one routine (there were 30). Each routine was 3-4 minutes long, with a short blackout between each. Carnival Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited February 20, 2023 by LocalHero1953 12 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/367580-the-dance-show/?do=findComment&comment=4693026'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 20, 2023 Posted February 20, 2023 Hi LocalHero1953, Take a look here The Dance Show. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
LocalHero1953 Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share #2 Posted February 20, 2023 Superbowl Halftime Show Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 9 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/367580-the-dance-show/?do=findComment&comment=4693030'>More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share #3 Posted February 20, 2023 Wintersong Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 13 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/367580-the-dance-show/?do=findComment&comment=4693032'>More sharing options...
stuny Posted February 20, 2023 Share #4 Posted February 20, 2023 A lovely collection. I'm certain they'll like it. I'm not certain how much the artistic director will like their level of synchronization. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share #5 Posted February 20, 2023 7 minutes ago, stuny said: A lovely collection. I'm certain they'll like it. I'm not certain how much the artistic director will like their level of synchronization. Thank you! I look forward to hearing their comments. Dancers look for different things in an image compared to photographers, and are aware of issues that just pass me by. One comment on my earlier rehearsal photos was that I should try to capture more leaps as the dancer rises, not as they come down. As it's not always obvious when they are about to leap, one needs a hair trigger shutter finger. Each performance was by a different group, although there were some members who took part in a number of them. Some were labelled 'beginner' and others 'advanced' or 'competition team', so there was quite a range of standards. I shall post more over the coming days. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted February 20, 2023 Share #6 Posted February 20, 2023 Watch a lot of dance. Very frequently the choreography calls for two of most things, so as a photographer you can have a slight edge there for leap starts. Also listen to the music, which often helps suggest those moments. During the technical rehearsal they'll often repeat snippets, so if you're paying close attention you'll have another shot at the right moment - try to recall the musical phrase and the pre-leap positions. This is difficult at first but you can "grow" into it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share #7 Posted February 20, 2023 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) 24 minutes ago, stuny said: Watch a lot of dance. Very frequently the choreography calls for two of most things, so as a photographer you can have a slight edge there for leap starts. Also listen to the music, which often helps suggest those moments. During the technical rehearsal they'll often repeat snippets, so if you're paying close attention you'll have another shot at the right moment - try to recall the musical phrase and the pre-leap positions. This is difficult at first but you can "grow" into it. The 'do everything twice' trick was something I watched out for, but it was only the classical dancers that reliably did it. In my post #3, the third photo shows the first leap; the second leap, which I also captured, was when they were progressing round the circle the opposite way and didn't look as good! I know the technically correct answer is burst mode, but I have never been a fan. I took around 1500 images in a couple of hours: a record for me, by a wide margin. A second photographer was up on the balcony; he used burst mode and told me he took well over 4000 images. Edited February 20, 2023 by LocalHero1953 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted February 20, 2023 Share #8 Posted February 20, 2023 You'll also often see it in jazz and modern, though there are far fewer leaps than in classical 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louis Posted February 20, 2023 Share #9 Posted February 20, 2023 Great set; I think you did a wonderful job and the colors and IQ look excellent to me. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share #10 Posted February 20, 2023 1 minute ago, Louis said: Great set; I think you did a wonderful job and the colors and IQ look excellent to me. Thank you, Louis - your comments mean a lot to me, given your own wonderful captures of colourful characters! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Cantor Posted February 20, 2023 Share #11 Posted February 20, 2023 I especially like the second pic with the red backdrop. The fact that the dancers are not in sync is a bonus. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted February 20, 2023 Share #12 Posted February 20, 2023 I did theatre and dance photography for several companies and our university for more than 20 years and your collection looks quite good to me. I agree with David about the second image in the first set. I looked at it with appreciation for a long time. I often went to the tech rehearsal without cameras to become familiar with the choreography and to take notes, then went to the final dress with cameras. That helped a lot. Very nice work overall. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share #13 Posted February 20, 2023 17 minutes ago, David Cantor said: I especially like the second pic with the red backdrop. The fact that the dancers are not in sync is a bonus. David During the Saturday night show (i.e. not seen through a lens), I could see that often the moves were intentionally not in sync: e.g. some were a beat behind others, or the move progressed sequentially through the group. In the tap and street dancing I think there is a deliberate randomness. But while these are talented dancers, they are inexperienced, and I have no doubt there was plenty of imprecision, including much that I didn't notice! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share #14 Posted February 20, 2023 3 minutes ago, fotografr said: I did theatre and dance photography for several companies and our university for more than 20 years and your collection looks quite good to me. I agree with David about the second image in the first set. I looked at it with appreciation for a long time. I often went to the tech rehearsal without cameras to become familiar with the choreography and to take notes, then went to the final dress with cameras. That helped a lot. Very nice work overall. The first set is tap dancing, which may not be obvious at first sight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share #15 Posted February 20, 2023 Nonsense Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/367580-the-dance-show/?do=findComment&comment=4693428'>More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share #16 Posted February 20, 2023 One of my favourite pieces. (I ran most images through Topaz Denoise AI. In the case of this set I see it has caused bleeding of the red dresses into the blue cyclorama. I shall have to re-edit them) Livin' La Vida Loca Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 7 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/367580-the-dance-show/?do=findComment&comment=4693436'>More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share #17 Posted February 20, 2023 Chin Up Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 5 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/367580-the-dance-show/?do=findComment&comment=4693441'>More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 21, 2023 Author Share #18 Posted February 21, 2023 Where's My Love Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 5 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/367580-the-dance-show/?do=findComment&comment=4694812'>More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 21, 2023 Author Share #19 Posted February 21, 2023 Oceans Away Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 4 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/367580-the-dance-show/?do=findComment&comment=4694816'>More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 21, 2023 Author Share #20 Posted February 21, 2023 Rockin' Robin (tap dance - imagine the sound!) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/367580-the-dance-show/?do=findComment&comment=4694818'>More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now