Dancers in Motion: The Art and Technique of Dance Photography

by Susan Michal (Photographer)

Overview

Photographer Susan Michael’s Dancers in Motion is a collection of breath taking images that showcase the essence of the dancer’s gesture. The artist has combined her love of visual storytelling and the compelling subject to produce studying visual images, by capturing the beauty of the physical body in motion. When she photographs dancers she captures their movement and tension.

This book will teach the reader how to direct and work with dancers. It will give you practical advice on your workspace and the equipment needed to get the most out of every dance session. The posing examples provided will spark the reader’s creativity and passion for photographing dancers and give you ideas for working with dance schools as well as advanced dancers. This book answers questions and enthuse the reader into working and producing images in the field of dance photography.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682032077
Publisher:	Amherst Media, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/15/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	127 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Susan Michal is an internationally published, award winning portrait artist. Her adorable and unique photographic images have been used in calendars, greeting cards and posters around the world. She is a respected lecturer both in her community and within professional photographic associations. Susan holds the Master Craftsman Degree in photography and is certified by the Professional Photographers of America. She is an ASP fellow, one of only nineteen women to hold this distinction from the American Society of Photographers.

She has been named North Florida’s photographer of the year and is an active member of Professional Photographer’s of North Florida and Professional Photographer’s of America. She has won numerous awards including Best of Show at Southeast Professional Photographer’s. Susan is a past president, Professional Photographer’s of America and is a member of the Society of Twenty Five.

Table of Contents

The Author 2

Introduction 5

My Equipment 6

The Dancer 7

Dancing is All About the Feet 8

Dance Chooses You 9

The Basics 10

Understand How to Communicate 10

Many Business Opportunities 10

Gymnastics 11

Learn as Much as You Can 12

Be Prepared and Confident 12

Technical Knowledge and Artistic Vision 12

A Camera Made for Capturing Sports 12

Working Together 14

Dancer and Photographer: Artists at Work 14

Prepare, Preplan, and Be Ready to Instruct 15

Be Aware of How Long a Dancer

Can Give 100 Percent 16

The Dancer's Need to End the Session 17

A Dancer's Strengths and Weaknesses 18

Have Realistic Expectations 18

Speak to Dancers, Learn their Vocabulary 20

Control the Session by Communicating 20

Expectations 21

Start an Image Folder 22

Two Sets of Terminology 22

Know Basic Positions 23

Terms Help to Communicate Simply 24

Setup and Posing 26

What Makes a Perfect Photograph? 26

Direct and Refine 26

Reposition and Rethink 28

Let Them Try, Then Move On 28

Avoid Unflattering Positions 31

Appropriate Posing 31

Position the Dancer for Your Chosen Line, Angles, and Shapes 32

A Movement Pose Is Better 33

Dance School Subjects 35

Comfortable Subjects 35

Work with Instructors 35

Advantages to Work with the Experienced 36

Start with the Feet 37

Plan and Organize for Schools 38

Give Parents Image Choices 39

Use Props, But Do the Math 40

Keep Your Equipment Consistent 40

Designate a Set for Groups 42

Advanced Dancers at Dance School 43

Very Young Dancers 44

Young Dancers 45

A Big Seller 45

Instructors to Help with Younger Dancers 46

A Non-Negotiable Rule 47

A Typical Set of Poses 48

The Curtain Call 49

Poses for Different Levels 50

Pre K and Kindergarten Ballet Poses 50

Pre K and Kindergarten Jazz and Tap Poses 51

Intermediate Ballet Poses 52

Intermediate Jazz and Tap Poses 53

Advanced Ballet Poses 54

Advanced, Tap and Jazz Posses 55

Special Needs 56

Children with Special Needs Thrive 57

Recognize Their Particular Needs 57

Capturing the Significant 58

Using Sets 58

Suggest Motion with Posing Technique 59

The Ultimate Goal: Dance Movement 60

A Flowing Skirt Indicates Apparent Motion 60

The Image Is Worth the Effort 61

Show an Example 61

Too Many Ideas Can Cause Confusion 62

Too Much Input Can Confuse 63

Be On the Same Page as Instructors 63

A Neutral Background Frames the Subject 64

Just Let the Magic Happen 65

Find the Dancer's Rhythm 66

Photographing Leaps 67

Dynamic and Challenging 67

Timing is Everything-Count 68

Capture Leaps in the First Few Attempts 69

Recognize Ability 69

Pay Attention to the Details 70

They Will Try the Leaps 70

Time for A Classic Portrait 70

Space, Backdrops, and Safety 72

Size of Workspace 72

A Good Space for Photographing 73

Canvas Backdrops 73

Safe Floors for Dancers 73

Safety Should Come First 74

Keep Floors Clean 74

Lighting 75

Lighting Makes or Breaks the Image 75

Situations Determine Your Choices 77

Flash and Flash Duration 77

Light and Stopping Action 79

A Complete Light Set 79

Number of Lighting Stations 80

Make Lighting Stations Identical 80

Use Forgiving Lighting 80

Start with One Lighting Kit 81

Dance School Lighting Setup 81

Kits That Produce Studio Lighting 82

Many Good Lighting Choices 82

A Softbox with Reflector for Fill 83

At Times Use A Grid 83

Dramatic Lighting 85

With Dramatic Lighting, Shoot RAW 85

Keep Dancers on the Background 85

Position Is Critical 86

Advanced Dance Lighting Setup 87

Using Umbrellas 87

Shooting Live Performances 88

Shooting Live 88

Use a Monopod 88

Preferred Camera Settings 89

Keep Feet Sharp 90

See the Moment Coming 90

Camera Position 91

Anticipate the Decisive Moment 92

High School Senior Dancers 93

Senior Pictures on Locotion 93

Dance School Feeds into Senior Pictures 93

Provide Unique Ideas 94

Provide Different Session Locations 94

Take Care of Your Subjects 95

Backlight for Silhouettes 95

Male Dancers 96

Few and Far Between 96

Power and Strength 96

Direct and Encourage 97

Clothing Alternative 97

Be Reassuring 98

A Better Performance 99

Change to Dramatic Lighting 100

Dance Through Poses 101

Post-Production 102

Getting Lucky with Images 102

Understanding the Dancer 103

Things to Keep in Mind .104

Peer Pressure and Assurance 105

Body Image Issues 105

Choose Poses that Work Well with the Costume and Dancer 106

Dancers Should Understand Light 107

Direct Within the Light 107

Understand Your Depth of Field 108

Natural Light for a Different Look 109

A Fast Shutter to Stop the Action 109

Relationships Build 110

Try Something New 111

Get Outside of the Box 111

Seriously Hard to Do 113

Dance Partners 113

Two Properly Lit Dancers 113

Photographing Partners 115

Different Kinds of Lifts 116

Finding Dancers to Work with You 116

Collaboration and Beyond 118

Document the Amazing 118

The Professional and the Creative 120

Try Different Lighting Techniques 120

Consider Working with Gymnasts 122

A Conversation 123

An Unusual Place: Salt Flats 124

The Enduring Dance Vocation, Documented 124

Thanks 126

Index 127