Balanchine's Serenade at Boston Ballet

[rutt]

Here are a few shots from the dress rehearsal (Wednesday night) of Boston Ballet's performance of Balanchine's Serenade. This is one of the most beautiful and romantic ballets of all time and the production running for the next couple of weeks (with Carmen) is right on the mark. I have tons more shots. I'm still working on the Carmen shots as the light was very difficult. I'll post as I have them.

Except as noted, all are Canon 5D / 135mm f/2.0 @ 1600 ISO

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/69321531-L.jpg
Tai Jimenez
1/500th

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/69321630-L.jpg
Melanie Atkins, Tai Jimenez, Company Dancers
1/400th

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/69321767-L.jpg
Melanie Atkins, Tai Jimenez, Company Dancers
1/400th

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/69321831-L.jpg
Lorna Fiejoo
1/640 @ f2.2

[DwightMcCann]

The skirts are magnificent on my ACD monitor ... gossamer soap bubbles with only subtle non-blues. The skin tones are warm and textured. And of course the dancers are simply stunning. I love the 2nd and the last images, particularly the little bit of en pointe shoe reflection in the last. Another notch moving me forward toward RAW.

[SYS]

Wow. These are all great!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Excellent shots Rutt!
Great moments you have spotted here. Very well done.

[bikerider]

Wow awesome pictures, love the captured moments great timing. The technical aspects look very good too, great work.
Roger.

[Blue Deuce]

I dont know anything about ballet but do know good photography when I see it. Very well done.

[Spearin]

Beautiful shots of a beautiful subject, nice job!

[grego]

A great example of high ISO with 5D. Great job.

[99Percent]

Great! I really liked the 4th one.

[glowie]

beautiful shots...love the composition on #2 and #3.

[René Damkot]

#2 and 4 are great!

[rutt]

Thank you all. Ballet photography is incredibly fun, especially when the company is at this level. But it's a lot like other taking pictures of sculptures or paintings; the photographer is only trying to capture the beauty created by other artists. In the case of these shots, the composition is due to George Balanchine's beautiful choreography, Boston Ballet has an amazing lighting crew who are mostly responsible for the drama of color and contrast in these shots, and of course, there are the dancers who undertake short and low paying careers out of the love of dance. In that sense, these are truly just captures, trying to convey the beauty created by others.

[jgbeam]

Exquisite images of exquisite dancers exquisitely lit! I don't see anything better in the dance magazines.

Jim

[AeroSmith]

Nice shots. It's hard to beat the 5D/135L combo.

[abbyroadme]

Wow!! Those are beautiful photos.

[Grace]

absolutely beautiful!!! I wish my back looked like those girls! Your photography is awesome!

kathy

[joayne]

Your work is outstanding. Beautiful images. I always look forward to viewing your posts....Keep them coming.