I got tired of shooting in a wider format, which shows more of the context, but a full body/half body shot, I found to be banal. I went back to do more abstract performance shots which was more appealing to me.
So I went with a 70-200mm f2.8 IS lens and sat in the front row, about 10 feet or so from the performers and shot at about 200mm, getting super tight shots. They perform on a small stage with a red velvet curtain in the background, which can often be cluttered.
However, when they move into the spotlight, the bright light allows for a fast shutter speed but that also throws the background black, so there is no context to the shot, it's just abstract headshot of the performer with a black background (which I found to be cleaner). It was tough though as you are using a very narrow field of view on a moving subject with very dynamic lighting situation but it was different and fun and I liked the different look to the shots.
1. Dolly Danger, she had a balloons covering her dress that she would pop.
2.
3. Madeline Sinclare doing a fan dance.
4.
5. Lavendar la Rue
6. Isabella Star.
7. Ali Oops
8. crazy makeup
