Ballet Bodyscapes

Dancer: Naomi Tanioka of Ballet Arizona Make Up: Lorraine Garcia Hair: Lisa Marie Mode Photographer: Ron Brwer Images

I hadn’t really thought much about doing bodyscapes using ballet dancers, but the concept has grown with me over the last year or so. Now I love the idea. I had done, as had every other photographer, crops of ballet dancer legs before, but I’m starting to explore images of other body areas. Honestly, the legs, feet and hands will always be the big focus point in ballet. It taking some re-training of my mind’s eye to see the ballerina body differently.

Randy Crespo by Ron Brewer Images

Arianni Martin and Randy Crespo by Ron Brewer Images

Arianni Martin and Randy Crespo by Ron Brewer Images

Arianni Martin by Ron Brewer Images

Hannah Potter by Ron Brewer Images

Randy Crespo by Ron Brewer Images

 

Dancer Credit:    Randy Crespo of Ballet Arizona
Arianni Martin of Ballet Arizona
Hannah Potter of Grand Rapids Ballet
Naomi Tanioka o Ballet Arizona

Support:              For Naomi: Make up by Lorraine Garcia Rivera and Hair by Lisa Marie

 

Beyond Their Years

 

Before I began photographing ballet, I had no idea how rigorous the training schedule is for pre-professional dancers. Honestly, no idea.

I quickly learned that ballet is all about technical perfection. Of course, the end goal is about a beautiful and moving dance performance. But they must be performed correctly. Perfectly, I should say.  I can see that the technical aspects are not as difficult as rocket science, as one can often quickly gain an understanding of the what is to be accomplished. But performing it perfectly, now that’s another story. It takes unbelievable amounts of practice and instruction to achieve the required perfection. There is a parallel to this in many areas of life. Take photography, for instance. It’s not rocket science, either, but it takes years of corrective practice to do it well. Fortunately for me, photography is not nearly as physically demanding as ballet!

I do studio shoots for many young dance students. Their teachers or an instructor are usually present while I am photographing them, assisting the dancer in the technical aspects of dance for the photographs. We always do multiple re-takes of each pose as they seek perfection for that fraction of a second that the shutter clicks. Often, it’s multiple re-takes. Many multiples. These dancers are highly focused and serious, seemingly beyond what one would think possible for their young years. I always stand in awe of them. I understand what I am witnessing.

These are images of a few of the ballet students that I have recently photographed.

 

Dancer Credit:  Jordan Clark, Kylee Haddock, Elizabeth Wallace , Lydia Brown, Meghan

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Negative Space

I love negative space!

Negative space is all of that empty area around the subject in a photograph. What’s interesting about negative space, is that it actually draws attention away from itself and to the subject. Even though it’s the largest part of the image, it becomes the smallest to the viewer. What’s big is important, but only because it makes the smaller subject even more important. It’s a paradox.

 

 

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Dancer Credit:   Arianni Martin of Ballet Arizona, Randy Crespo of Ballet Arizona, Naomi Tanioka of Ballet Arizona, Katie Marie Beechler, Camryn Cortez,

 

 

 

 

On Stage

Davit Hovhannisyan of the Milwaukee Ballet

Hannah Potter of Grand Rapids Ballet

It’s so much fun to shoot dancers on stage, but it can also be very challenging to capture good images.

Some stage lighting is just not very suitable for still photography – it’s just too dark. It may be perfect for the mood intending for the performance when viewed by a human eye, but a camera can’t see as well as a human eye. A human eye can see over 20 “stops” of light (a stop of light is a measurement of light). Most cameras only see about 4-7 stops of light. Cameras just don’t have the dynamic range of a human eye.

Plus, you need a fast shutter speed to stop the movement of the dancer and not get a blurry image, which further reduces the amount of light that the camera can see. My compliments to the professional lighting director for the spring performance of the Arizona School of Classical Ballet – a job well done! He gave me LOTS of beautiful light for most of the day!

These images are of the two guest artists performing with the school, Davit Hovhannisyan of the Milwaukee Ballet and Hannah Potter of the Grand Rapids Ballet. Elegant, professional, sophisticated, friendly and skilled. Amazing people to work with.

Hannah Potter of Grand Rapids Ballet

Davit Hovhannisyan
Milwaukee Ballet

Davit Hovhannisyan of the Milwaukee Ballet

Hannah Potter
Grand Rapids Ballet

Davit Hovhannisyan of the Milwaukee Ballet and Hannah Potter of Grand Rapids Ballet

The Gown Series

I love how a great dress can add to the beauty of a ballet image.

Naomi is wearing an elegant 50 year old Olga nightgown that I purchased for ballerina shoots. I also have another similar gown, except that it is a burgundy color. I purchased these two gowns to photograph ballerinas in them, and expect to purchase other gowns that will add variation. They have a wide sweep of at least 120 inches, which provides for full leg movement and flow with the dancer, as you can see in the image above. And they are the perfect material to perfectly reflect the studio lights. They add to the beauty of dance.

These images introduce you to my Gown Series of ballerina images. I plan to photograph most of my ballerinas in them, so you are going to see a lot from this series over a long time period. Enjoy!

 

 

Dancer Credit:  Naomi Tanoika and Eric White
Photographer: Ron Brewer Images

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National Dance Week 2015 FREE OFFER

 

NATIONAL DANCE WEEK OFFER
A free studio photo shoot and digital images

In recognition of National Dance Week 2015, I wish to “give back” to the dance community. I have the highest regard for dancers and the constant discipline they endure for the sake of their art. I can’t express how much I enjoy photographing dancers, so I want to make a gift to a dancer (or dance couple).

In recognition of National Dance Week 2015, I am providing a free studio photo shoot session and 4 retouched, high resolution digital images from the shoot to an dancer (or a couple dance team). One of the images will be a head shot. The recipient may be an advanced dance student, pre-professional, professional dancer, a teacher of dance, or a studio owner. The recipient must be currently involved in dance. To apply, just send me a personal message on Facebook providing your name, where it is that you dance, and the kinds of dance that you are involved in, as well as any other information that you deem helpful. The application must be received by May 4, the end of National Dance Week. The photo shoot may be scheduled for a later date.

Congratulations to all of those involved in dance. Enjoy your week!

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Dancer Credit:  Naomi Tanioka, The School of Ballet Arizona

Ballet in Black and White

Sometimes color just gets in the way. More black and white toning for this set of images.

These black and white images feature Arianni Martin and Randy Crespo, of Ballet Arizona. These dancers know how to work in front of a lens, making for an exciting session.

 

 

Dancer Credit:  Arianni Martin and Randy Crespo of Ballet Arizona

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More Black and White Dancing

 

Andrea Lasley by Ron Brewer Images

It’s no secret that I love black and white images. So here are a few more to add to the original post on Dancing in Black and White.

 

 

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Dancers Credits:
Andrea Lasley
Mytia McNeal

A Deserving Dance Student

Some of those who follow me on Facebook will remember that I offered a free shoot to a deserving dancer last Christmas. Laynee Hahn was a recipient of that offer.

Laynee is a focused and dedicated young dancer (about 12 years old, if I remember correctly). She trains in ballet, contemporary, lyrical, tap, hip hop and jazz. Ballroom is on her horizon. We focused on her ballet and contemporary skills for the shoot.

A couple of years ago her mother, Natalee, was diagnosed with lymphoma. Here’s how her mother shared the story and it’s affect on Laynee. “My family wanted her to take some time off from dance and I knew it would crush her. Little did I know, she had earned the dancer of the year award and received a years tuition to her studio. With this she was able to continue and we were so proud of her. She now needs the head shot to apply for programs that will continue her growth. Your work is amazing and I would be honored to have you photograph her.”

Andrea Lasley did a superb job working with Laynee as the Artistic Director for the shoot, achieving technical dance accuracy while creating an artful mood for the images. Not an easy thing to achieve, but skillfully executed by Andrea.

It was a simple joy to have Natalee and Laynee in my studio. Laynee’s dance skills (not to mention her amazing flexibility) as well as the upbeat spirit that both she and her mother brought to the shoot made it a labor of love. Congratulations, Laynee. Forge ahead.

 

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Dancer Credit: Laynee Hahn
Artistic Director: Andrea Lasley

Ballet from Backstage

Backstage is special.

Ballet is beautiful to watch from the perspective of the audience, but it takes on an unusual look and beauty from backstage. Your appreciation grows.

When you are backstage you get to see things that the audience will never get to see. That usually means that you are shooting from the wings (sides) of the stage, so your perspective is different. When you are backstage, the lighting comes from behind the dancer. Often the dancer is not facing you, as they are to the audience.

It’s special to see ballet from behind. Not many people get to do that.

 

 

 

 

 

Ron Brewer Images
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Dancer Credit:  Faculty and Students of the West Valley Conservatory of Ballet, Surprise AZ
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