Childs Dance Recital

[jpsamora]

I think I learned a lot since last year's recital. C&C appreciated on the following.

http://pixels2print.smugmug.com/photos/551384778_eu3xx-L.jpg

2
http://pixels2print.smugmug.com/photos/551386383_bbQi5-L.jpg

3
http://pixels2print.smugmug.com/photos/551385748_SePCx-L.jpg

4
http://pixels2print.smugmug.com/photos/551385824_EYTNf-L.jpg

[annavera]

The first and fourth are the best IMO. The first would be greatly improved by cropping out the rest of the dancer on the left and then editing out what can't be cropped.

But most important - you don't seem to be focussing on the eyes. All of the images would be greatly improved if you focussed on eyes.

The focus on the first shot seems to be on the elbow, and on the fourth, I am not sure, but it seems it might be on the nose.

Otherwise, great subjects and poses and over concept is very good!

[Brikwall]

Although I normally have no objections to tight crops, I'd suggest zooming out a bit to get the entire dancer in-frame. This is especially necessary with the smaller kids who don't move around as much, as fast, or with the same "flourish" as the older dancers. Otherwise, the images become less performing arts and more portrait. You want to place them in the context of an actual performance and not something that could be mistaken for a studio portrait.

Personally, and this is just my opinion, I wouldn't worry too much about getting other dancers, or parts of dancers, in-frame. Sometimes it's just too hard to isolate the subject with so many bodies moving back and forth across the stage. It's even harder when the photographer doesn't have the freedom to move around to get better angles. You might be able to edit out a hand or foot but probably not half or three-quarters of a body.

Finally, I also wouldn't worry too much about getting the focus on the eyes. This is fine for static subjects but extremely hard to do when your subject is continuously on the move, especially when the lighting is poor and the face simply doesn't give enough contrast for accurate focussing to begin with. You're probably better off using center point and focussing on the costume. Even with the shallow DOF, unless the subject is tilting their head towards or away from you, the face should fall in approximately the same plane of focus as the chest.

[jpsamora]

Thanks to both of you for the comments. I tried to put the focal point on the eyes. But the distance coupled with the shallow DOF and add to that the somewhat erratic movements of the dancers and I was happy to get faces in focus!

I shot this recital with the intention of selling some 5x7 prints to the parents. With that in mind, I shot tight and cropped tighter. Momma's like to see their babies faces more than the the context of the dance it seems. And that was tough for me because I'm all about telling the story through the picture.

[Aerton]

Good work, how far where you from the stage, center, balcony or seat?

My nieces recital is this Saturday and since I don't have a 70-200 2.8 so I don't think I want to attempt this. I took some photos last year and it was a disaster, nothing worse than showing up with a big DSLR and showing the same crappy photos parents get with pocket cams.

[jpsamora]

Thanks for the comments Aerton.

I sat front row center this year. That way I didn't have to shoot through anybody. I started out by the wall stage left but the dancers kept getting lost behind the proscenium that I was intending to shoot. I would guess that I was about 15 yards from the first row of dancers and up to 30 yards away from the last row.

[Aerton]

Hi, sorry to keep asking, did you shoot at 2.8 the whole time, do you think I can get away with F4? I'm looking at a 70-200 f4 for a good price.

[alessandro2009]

I like the first although I think it is a little underexposed and the last shot.

I'm agree with annavera however if the clients are satisfied is ok.

[RandyMN]

First one instantly put a smile on my face. She looks like she is really enjoying herself and its contagious.

[Peter Camyre]

What lens was used for these shots?