Today we’ll be discussing the composition of photos, and the ballet technique in them.
The first of today’s new photos features David Donnelly.
Dancer - David Donnelly. © 2011 Oliver Endahl
What I like about this photo is David’s intense expression, the angle the photo was taken, and also the colors. I also enjoy the vertical blocks at the bottom that frame him.
You can’t tell too much from this photo, but David’s feet are amazing. (You’ll see how amazing on Monday)
Dancer - Jeanette Kakareka. © 2011 Oliver Endahl
This photo of Jeanette Kakareka was created off of Market street in San Francisco, in a tiny alley.
What I like about this photo is the colors. I really enjoy the blue tones, and also how the lighting naturally vignettes her.
I’m a big fan of natural light.
Jeanette’s ballet position in this photo is gorgeous. There’s a lot of great stuff going on like her incredible well placed attitude leg, her flexible but strong upper body, relaxed expression, and her arms. But what what I notice first about this photo is her high arch, and her nicely winged foot. Both of which are great.
I’ve pointed out the nice wing shape her foot makes with red, and her high arch with green.
Jeanette's high arch and winged foot.
You will see many more photos of Jeanette as the gallery continues. She was just getting warmed up in this photo.
The next photo features Jeraldine Mendoza and Alanna Endahl.
Dancers - Jeraldine Mendoza & Alanna Endahl. © 2011 Oliver Endahl
Alanna’s tendu back line here is great. Both her legs are turned out, her arms are well placed, and her back foot is winged. And even though Jeraldine is just sitting on the ground, her feet are both in balletically appropriate positions. Notice her left foot is in a well shaped wing, and her right foot is not sickling, and is continuing the line of her leg.
Alanna and Jeraldine’s wing’s are in green, and Alanna’s turn out and Jeraldine’s continued foot line are in red.
Alanna and Jeraldine's nice wings, Jeraldine's nice foot line, and Alanna's turn out.
This next photo is of Caitlin McAvoy.
Dancer - Caitlin McAvoy. © 2011 Oliver Endahl
This is the 2nd shot in Gallery Four that features just the upper body. (The first shot was of Alanna)
As I’ve said before, I’m constantly looking for new angles to photograph dance positions in, and I’ve become a big fan of the just upper body shots.
It turns out this pose is actually much more difficult than it looks, because the arms can’t look too tense, and they can’t look too relaxed. In this shot Caitlin found the perfect balance between the two though, and she added her own artistry. I think the photo turned out great.
The last photo we’ll discuss today features Anthony Spaulding & Kimberly Braylock.
Dancers - Anthony Spaulding & Kimberly Braylock. © 2011 Oliver Endahl
I love the dynamic of this shot. Anthony’s pose is so strong, and Kim’s pose is so free. My eye’s tend to go back and forth between the two.
Both Anthony and Kim’s ballet position’s in this shot are great. Anthony’s standing foot is really well placed, and you can tell he has a really strong balance because of it. Also, his back foot in attitude is shaped and pointed very nicely.
Kim’s arms and upper body are great. And even though Kim is in a falling forward pose, she still maintains a great standing foot shape that continues the line.
Anthony’s standing foot and nicely shaped foot are in red, and Kim’s standing foot line is in green.
Anthony's strong standing and nicely shaped foot, and Kim's great standing foot line.
More photos will be added to Gallery Four this Monday.
-Oliver Endahl
