University dance

[TonyField]

I was reviewing some dance images taken last november. I found a few that I had missed in my original selection - mostly because they were strongly gelled and therefore are difficult to properly render for screen or print because of serious gamut problems. The shots are from a dress rehearsal. However, the lighting tech was still changing lighting levels on the fly, just to make photography difficult :-)

These are of one dancer with the odd name of Saxon. She is just coming into her stride as a modern / jazz dancer.

C&C welcome:
1- http://tphoto.myphotos.cc/noise/dm20073.jpg

2- http://tphoto.myphotos.cc/noise/dm20072.jpg

3- http://tphoto.myphotos.cc/noise/dm20071.jpg

[eXc450]

Love them :) I am trying to get into dance photography, I had the chance as my (now ex) girlfriend was a dancer so I was allowed to photograph at practices. but that oppurtunity is gone. Nice work especially on the first one :)

[SilverHCIC]

Very nice. ... My daughter's passion is dance, and I know first hand how difficult it is to capture images, even with fast glass. Low level theatrical lighting just makes it even more fun:evil:.

I love the first pic. I see you pushed to 3200. Too bad # 2 has so much noise. It's a good catch. Maybe it'll clean up a bit??

[DVS_WiNdz]

I like the first one. There's a lot of noise on the second one and the third one seems to have motion blur. Nice shots though.

[TonyField]

Love them :) I am trying to get into dance photography, ...:)

If you are really interested in dance, maybe the University of Newcastle has some dance productions - contact the arts department, maybe they can point you in the appropriate direction, even if they don't have a dance department.

There MUST be some good dance groups in NSW that you can get to :-)

[TonyField]

Thanks for the comments. I guess one of the problems with modern dance is the low light levels. Quite often, you are stuck at 1/50 sec ISO 3200/6400 F2.8 or F2. This makes it difficult to stop action - good timing is the only thing that saves you - and you only hope that the residual blur is limited to arms and sometimes legs.

For some reason, I don't bother with noise reduction. I usually prefer the noisy images to smoothed images - but, as suggested, most folks prefer the smoothed shots.

[SilverHCIC]

Thanks for the comments. I guess one of the problems with modern dance is the low light levels. Quite often, you are stuck at 1/50 sec ISO 3200/6400 F2.8 or F2. This makes it difficult to stop action - good timing is the only thing that saves you - and you only hope that the residual blur is limited to arms and sometimes legs.

For some reason, I don't bother with noise reduction. I usually prefer the noisy images to smoothed images - but, as suggested, most folks prefer the smoothed shots.
The issue I always have with my daughter's stage performances is that even when I shoot at f2.8, the lighting just plain sucks. Pushing to 3200 will grab the shot, but I hat it when the noise is distracting from an otherwise gorgeous shot.

I love the expressions in your shots, and while the lighting intensity was the typically low-level you get on most stages, the colors are wonderful. I think # 1 is fantastic, and the reflection on the stage floor is nice. ;)

[Alexajlex]

Not sure if you already ran NR but I ran Noiseware on your #2 shot with fantastic results.

[Rhinotherunt]

WOW! Tough lighting... well done.

[eXc450]

If you are really interested in dance, maybe the University of Newcastle has some dance productions - contact the arts department, maybe they can point you in the appropriate direction, even if they don't have a dance department.

There MUST be some good dance groups in NSW that you can get to :-)

Yeah thanks :) Good idea. I am just waiting till I get my 70-200 f2.8 so I don't have to be front row and I am also going to do a website as a portfolio before I approach anyone :)