Happy World Ballet Day!!
For World Ballet Day, I'd like to share a few behind the scenes snapshots from our studio shoot at Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching where I photographed the pre-professionals who dance their hearts out full time. This photo shoot was such a wonderful experience that allowed me to truly witness and capture the gruesome hours of hardwork, passion, dedication and grit required for ballet training. Being surrounded by perfect poises all day, I certainly found myself standing much taller each day!!
Here are five lessons I learnt from photographing ballet dancers:
The importance of timing and anticipation
Ballet dancers move with such elegance and fluidity; capturing their movements requires a keen sense of timing. I found this quite similar to the childcare photography that I do, whereby I have to pre-empt what a child is going to do, to capture that special moment. I learnt to anticipate those magical moments with these ballet dancers too, when their movements reach their pinnacle.
2. Embracing the beauty of details
Ballet is a dance form that thrives on precision and the smallest details. By photographing ballet dancers, I discovered a newfound appreciation for the delicate nuances—like the placement of fingers, the exquisite arch of their feet, or the extension of their limbs.
3. The art of composition and framing
Ballet offers a delightful canvas for exploring creative composition and framing. As I photographed these ballet dancers, I loved uncovering countless opportunities to compose my shots in imaginative ways, accentuating the graceful lines and captivating shapes they create.
4. The virtues of patience and perseverance
Ballet dancers devote countless hours to perfecting their craft, so as a photographer, I was patient and persevered to capture their artistry authentically. I learnt to patiently wait for that perfect moment, to persistently experiment with different angles, and to keep trying until I achieved the desired shot. Here’s a fun shot I was not expecting but managed to just capture the moment!!!
5. The power of collaboration and effective communication
Photographing ballet dancers often entails working closely with them, their instructors, or choreographers. This collaborative process was a beautiful opportunity for me to learn how to offer gentle direction, provide constructive feedback, and work together with the dancer/instructor/choreographer to realize a shared vision.
Happy World Ballet Day!!