Posted by JL Morris on January 6, 2008
Posted under
Color,
Critiqued,
Theatrical
When recording a live theatrical performance with photography you have a number of things going for them, the lighting director has professionally provided dramatic lighting in both color and shadow, the performers are costumed in interesting and dramatic fashion and you might even capture your favorite celebrity.
But the environment has a number of things going contrary to the photographer. The first obstacle is the audience itself. Unless you are in the back of the theater you can’t very well disturb the people around you. You are working under low light with high contrast conditions which requires a fast ISO and even with that you must anticipate just the right moment to prevent blur from movement. Capturing just the right moment can be challenging, you only have a second to decide.
This image has a number of things going for it, interesting subjects, dramatic poses, and nice theatrical lighting. The graduated background works well with the performers and I find the circles on the floor interesting.
It would have been nice if the photographer could have isolated the dancers. The people in the background add confusion to the subjects. I would like to suggest that it be kept in mind that you don’t normally want to cut off the frame of an image at the hand (dancer on left). It is better to crop into the arm if necessary. Best of all would have been to show the hands of both the dancers on the left and right.
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January 6th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Jim,
Thanks for your comments.
This is one of over 1,800 images I shot during the four shows. This is from the opening number in which there were about 50-60 dancers on stage. I agree about the hand, but the action is fast and furious, so it is not easy to get the perfectly composed image. Cropping the arm would have driven her too close to the edge with her knee although I did consider it.
This image has been selected for the 2008 LAAPC Photography Exhibit. It is one of 50 images selected from over hundreds submitted. It is also presently hung in a few other places and homes.
Al Ungar