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Bharat Mistry-Ribbon Dance-100

Apr, 2016

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken at a local dance school. I've been fortunate enough to work with some very talented dancers. This was a major departure from the typical dance class photos that schools usually request. So we decided to kick it up a notch and let the dancers express themselves.

Time

Taken during the day, but it is a studio shot so can be done anytime.

Lighting

The lighting was very simple. We wanted to keep it pretty simple - black background with a splash of colour from the ribbon. 2 strip lights were used on either side and were triggered via PocketWizard remotes.

Equipment

My usual equipment for this type of photography is Nikon D800 with 24-70mm f2.8 / 70-200mm f2.8. Handheld. PocketWizard triggering the lights. Shot manual, ISO 200, 1/250s, f8-f11. Have a variety of studio strobes.

Inspiration

I enjoy pretty much every type of photography so my preferences will vary from time to time. Dance Photography is very challenging but also very rewarding when you let your creativity run free. This image was part of a series of Jump/Action shots that I wanted to work on with some amazing dancers. I wanted to emphasize the fluidity, form, beauty of certain dance moves and the girls were more than happy to comply. It was a team effort with the dancers really pushing it to perfection.

Editing

If you get the lighting right - there really isn't much that needs to be done on a shot like this. General cleanup of the main subject and the background to ensure it's all black. Minor highlight/shadow adjustments. Where I have some colour, I might adjust the saturation to give it a bit more pop. Final hipass sharpening and it's good to go.

In my camera bag

Short answer is - it depends. For the studio kit, it's the Nikon D800 with 24-70mm f2.8, 70-200mm f2.8, PocketWizards, Sekonic L758DR Lightmeter. For Landscape, I'd add the 14-24mm plus a variety of ND filters, polarizers. For the Video/Timelapse kit, I would use my Lumix GH4 with a variety of lenses and filters. It all depends on the final purpose. For the analog kit - it can be anything from my 2-1/4 to 4x5 systems.

Feedback

Don't be afraid to try - learn from your mistakes. I think it's important that you have a plan and a concept of what you want to accomplish instead of going in randomly and hoping you get something. Observe others, ask questions, experiment. Start with the basics of photography and know your equipment and use the right equipment for the job. There is nothing frustrating than trying to accomplish something with the wrong tools. These days we have a wealth of resources - eg.YouTube, Workshops, Webinars, Camera Clubs, etc. - Use them and learn as you go at your own pace.

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Bharat Mistry-Ribbon Dance-100

Behind The Lens

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