In and around Boston, Must See Ballet

[rutt]

May 15 - May 18 Boston Ballet is performing Three Masterpieces (http://bostonballet.org/season/performances/ThreeMasterpieces.html). I shot the dress rehearsal last night. I've loved nearly everything I've seen at Boston Ballet, but this was the absolute nuts. They aren't calling them "masterpieces" for nothing. So if you are in the Boston area, consider going to this. Even if you don't think you like ballet, this might change your mind. And whatever you do, hang on through the last act. If you aren't happy, let me know personally, and I'll eat humble pie right here on this very forum in public.

Oh, and have I got a deal for you. Use this code: MP2FOR50 when ordering and you get two tickets for $50.

No approved shots yet, but that's coming.

[DwightMcCann]

Rutt, long time no hear! Interesting that I am shoot 400 little ballerinas in their annual dance recital this week as a volunteer as I did last year ... four days of shooting. I find that there is no time to post given the 3000-4000 RAW images that I generate. Anxiously await your exhibit! Oh, I'm loaning a 1DsMIII with 24-105mm f/4L IS to the husband/photographer of the dance gallery ... lens based on being able to get the entire Final Bow from his vantage. He is the sound and logistics support and can't shoot except from the control area in our theater-in-the-round bowl. His normal assistant will be shooting with his 40D. I will be shooting with two 1DMIII's and maybe 5D in the lighting truss with a fisheye remotely. Oh, so much fun! :-)

[narlus]

dwight, a remote 5D w/ fisheye would be too far away to a shot w/ much impact, wouldn't it?


i find that when i use my fisheye, i am less than a foot from the performer.

[DwightMcCann]

dwight, a remote 5D w/ fisheye would be too far away to a shot w/ much impact, wouldn't it?


i find that when i use my fisheye, i am less than a foot from the performer.

Well, when you are shooting straight down from thirty feet and get the entire stage plus much of the seating in an outdoor theater-in-the-(half)round it can be rather stunning. :-) Unfortunately I removed the exhibit of just these images taken from daylight to dark from my website.

[rutt]

Well, I did post this (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=500590) just this weekend. Maybe you missed in the throes of all that ballet shooting.

I have yet to try a 1DsMkIII for this. I've been thinking the noise would be an issue. I have come to love my new 1DMkIII. These days I put the 85mm f/1.2 on it and the 135mm f/2.0 on a 5D and mostly am good to go from row 10 right aisle.

I have some schemes to shoot with a team to get some different angles. I think that's a question of batting average. A single shooter should mostly stay in one primo place and get what s/he gets. You loose to many good shots by moving around.

Ah, wide angle. That's a grand challenge for ballet. I consider 85mm on the 1DmkIII (110mm) to be pretty wide for most shots. It was mostly too wide on the 5D. But when wide is what you really want, well, it can be great. This was just cropped out of a much larger shot with 5D and 85mm. Boston Ballet has a large print of this up in the publicity department. You wouldn't want to get too close, but then again, it's large, so you don't.

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/133706010_cnymT-L.jpg

[DwightMcCann]

Yes, a coordinated team would be great! Of course, we have a team, but I have almost no idea what the others are doing ... they just turn me loose. Our lighting/logistics/staging is hardly in your class as it is just a dance school in a semi-rural area. I do get to sit down in the center isle just above stage level and about 15 feet away or any other stationary place that doesn't block the view so I am normally shooting with 24-70mm and 70-200mm although I have the 135L due to your positive review as well as an 85L ... maybe I should take them out of my case, eh? :-) I'll check out your link.

[dadCameraGuy]

Boy, those are some amazing photos rutt!

I'm eagerly awaiting my daughter's recital in june with my brand new 5d. We get to take all the photos we want during the rehearsals so I'm planning on hitting it big time. I've gotten some good sales on the ones I've been selling in Microstock but I'm not in the league you guys are in! :)

ETA: here's one of my images... it is being sold over on iStock (hence the logo) but it is my image
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/2823864/2/istockphoto_2823864_dancing_on_stage_strutting_you r_stuff.jpg