More dancing photos!!!

[roanjohn]

Had a chance to revisit a session of dance photos I took a few months back. After not looking at it for so long (I just got so overwhelmed), I somehow gained a new perspective from it and was able to edit a few more keepers.

So, here they are to share...........fresh off the Photoshop oven:

#1

http://www.pbase.com/roanjohn/image/46465571.jpg

#2

http://www.pbase.com/roanjohn/image/46465579.jpg

#3

http://www.pbase.com/roanjohn/image/46465586.jpg

#4

http://www.pbase.com/roanjohn/image/46465583.jpg

#5

http://www.pbase.com/roanjohn/image/46465580.jpg

Odd how they are mostly in b&w.............I guess I'm in a B&W mood tonight.

(All shots with the XT.......coupled w/ 50 f1.4 OR 85 f1.:cool:

Thanks for lookin'!!! :D

For those interested, here is the whole GALLERY (http://www.pbase.com/roanjohn/ballroom_part_deux&page=all):

Ro1

[Curtis N]

Odd how they are mostly in b&wI'll say. Lovely girls, beautiful skin tones, makup, vibrant costumes, lighting effects...

Quit sucking the color out of them! You're too good a photographer to throw away 2/3 of the data from that expensive camera.

I love your pictures. You have real talent! Now ask yourself: If those pretty dresses really were grey, do you think anyone would buy them?

(end of rant)

[LastLine]

Got to love #4 and #5.

[bikerider]

Very nice job on the dance class, I love the b&w shots, you've given them good contrast and the colour are also great, nice to have the best of both worlds.
Roger.

[Sailfish]

Very nice B&W conversion. Can you share your process?

[schmoelzel]

Hi roanjohn:

Excellent!! Love #4 and I find the b/W works well and gives a more dramatic flair and mood of the dancers......nice work!

[roanjohn]

I'll say. Lovely girls, beautiful skin tones, makup, vibrant costumes, lighting effects...

Quit sucking the color out of them! You're too good a photographer to throw away 2/3 of the data from that expensive camera.

I love your pictures. You have real talent! Now ask yourself: If those pretty dresses really were grey, do you think anyone would buy them?

(end of rant)

HAHAHA!!! I chose b&w exactly for the reason you stated............so that the attention doesn't go to the clothes.........but to peoples faces........and thier emotions. I really think it creates more impact..............no??

Ro1

[roanjohn]

Thanks lastline and bikerider.......:-)

Ro1

[roanjohn]

Very nice B&W conversion. Can you share your process?

Channel Mixer (Monochrome)........adjust HUE to taste..........and add contrast with Curves in the end. Simple right??

Ro1

[roanjohn]

Thanks Schmoelzel!!! :-) Ro1

[Maureen Souza]

Lovely..... but I like the color too. It really adds to the mood of the situation.

[roanjohn]

Thanks Maureen!!!

Ro1

[Boutty]

Hi roanjohn,

Simply beautiful shots.

Did you used flash at all for #2, 3 & 5?

Boutty

[Curtis N]

I chose b&w exactly for the reason you stated...so that the attention doesn't go to the clothes...but to peoples faces...and thier emotions. I really think it creates more impact...no??I love the expressions you captured, especially #4 and #5. My attention instinctively goes to the faces, partly because of your skillful control of DOF and creative composition. While I look at the expressions, my periferal vision catches the color and I think that enhances the image.

Maybe it's my theatre background coming through, but I think the colors are part of the story, not a distraction from it. In #4, for example, you have a glittery dress, a flower in her hair, and a huge white "40" sign on the guy's back. All of these things could be considered a distraction, but they are important elements of the story. If it were simply a photo of a girl with a serious expression, you could have cropped all that out and just showed her face. The other elements in the image, including the way she is pointing her left toe, help to tell the story so we can understand the intense concentration that her expression reveals. Color is just one more element that can help the viewer experience the moment you captured.

Of course, I could be wrong.;) I would love to see a full cover version of #4 so I can compare the two objectively.

You have a rare talent, Roanjon. I hope I can someday learn to make pictures like yours. The more pictures you post, the faster I'll learn.:)

[roanjohn]

Hi roanjohn,

Simply beautiful shots.

Did you used flash at all for #2, 3 & 5?

Boutty

Thanks Boutty!!! Flash was only used on the 1st pic.......the rest is available lighting......

Ro1

[roanjohn]

WOW CURTIS!!! Thanks for such kind words!!!

I definitely see where you are coming from...........

I will post side by side comparisons tonight (or maybe tomorrow night) between the color version and the b&w version. For me, converting a color shot to b&w is very instinctual...........so it could be that its not always the right choice.....

Ro1 :D

[ericgtr]

These are fantastic shots, especially the last one with the great sharpness and vivid colors. I just got my 50mm 1.4 yesterday and am looking forward to shooting with it, this is great inspiration!

[roanjohn]

These are fantastic shots, especially the last one with the great sharpness and vivid colors. I just got my 50mm 1.4 yesterday and am looking forward to shooting with it, this is great inspiration!

OOHHH!!!! Get ready.........your other zoom lenses will not seem the same after you use this prime!!! Don't say I didn't warn you!!!

..............and thanks for the comments!!! :D

Ro1

[Croasdail]

I love this stuff.... you have me out lens shopping again. Actually will be in NYC Friday for meetings and plan to hop over to shops while there. I noticed you have both 85's... in your opinion - is the L significantly more flexible? I have a line on a used one but as you know they are much more expensive the F1.8. Thanks again for sharing.

[Jal]

Great shots. Great work.
Jal

[roanjohn]

Croasdail - HEHEHE!!! Influenced??? About your question, there would've been no way the 85 L can handle the movements of these dancers with my entry level XT. The focusing of the L is just slow compared to the 1.8 version. However, where the L shine is low light shooting..........you can get stunningly sharp pictures at near darkness wide open at 1.2..........In conclussion, they are both for different purposes......and there is a HUGE difference from 1.8 to 1.2......HUGE!!! Did that help??

Jal - ThANKS!!! :-)

Ro1

[Croasdail]

It's all your fault.... just bought an 85 F1.8 from B&H -unfortunately for me they had them in stock. Please keep others budgets in mind when you post. Cheers!

[marie]

those shots have beautiful quality about them Roanjohn

the children are very good looking

the first shot they look wonderful, yet weird
their faces seem too old for their bodies
it must be the clothes
maybe the angle (looking slightly downwards) while taking the shot
or it could be the lens
http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_confused.gif

it may be just the grown up dresses and shoes on them.
they seems odd on such young faces.

you have some great close ups of the beautiful expressions.
love those
beautiful colours too, as well as the bl/wh

[roanjohn]

It's all your fault.... just bought an 85 F1.8 from B&H -unfortunately for me they had them in stock. Please keep others budgets in mind when you post. Cheers!


:lol: :lol: :lol:

HAHAHAHA!!! You will love it!!! And you will thank me later!!!

Ro1

[roanjohn]

Marie - you are absolutely right....these kids look more mature than they really are with the make-up and gowns.....they look entirely different out of thier costumes. The first shot looks odd because I used a wide angle lens (which I forgot to mention). Thanks for looking.

Ro1

[KevC]

Awesome shots. My best friend's younger siblings are crazy competitors with stuff like this (they're Russian ;)).

Were those all shot at high ISO? I'm really considering selling my 300D and getting an XT for a bit just to get that high ISO performance! It'd be grainy as h*ll with my 300D! Anyway, I'll try with my nifty fifty anyway, compromise compromise compromise :)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Wow.. !

Don't where I was .. but I'm glad I caught these.. very very nice pics!
Thios is impressive to say the least :)

Congrats:)

[LastLine]

Still love number 5, the only thing that spoils it for me is the startled look on the boys face, but the composition is fantastic. Have to say the girl looks completely smitten over him, but maybe that's my imagination.