Photo
Mar, 2020Views
185
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Awards
Top Shot Award 22
2020 Choice Award
Peer Award
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Emotions
Impressed
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in the main square in Trieste which was one of the stops on our holiday cruise. We had just got off the ship and as we walked towards the square we could hear a violin playing, it was about 10.00 am the sky was blue and the sun was blistering down on this magnificent square surrounded by tall, glistening white buildings. We heard music in the distance, and as we got closer and the music grew louder, we could see a woman dancing, accompanied by a young violinist who was playing along with some classical music tracks which were powerering out of a small speaker.There was a busy little cafe right next to where she was dancing and as we arrived, the couple sitting at the table closest to the action left and we sat down. We ordered some ice cold wine and sat watched and listened for about two hours. She had four different costume changes and danced in four very distinct styles. I must have taken a hundred photos. Afterwards I spoke to her and although she spoke very little English and I spoke very little Italian, I was able to get her email address and send her the pictures when I got home. It's a precious memory and one I treasure.Time
It was about 10.00am - the sky was very blue and the sun was bright and not yet high in the sky. Conditions were perfect, it was too early for the sun to be in full force so there was a freshness of the morning which was captured in the colour and atmosphere.Lighting
The lighting was natural, no tricks - the sunshine and blue sky did all the work and I took the shot. The sun was in the right place so it was behind me, lighting up the dancer as if she was in the spotlight.Equipment
I used my Canon - hand held so I could move around and capture as many shots as I could.Inspiration
The dance and the music - trying to capture the atmosphere and the emotion of the dance and the music and to hold a memory so I could re visit all the images I took and breathe in the sight and sounds and emotions of that day. I wanted to capture the movement, the grace and the expression of the dancer, the power and drama of the dance and the way she was lost in the dance, like nothing else mattered.Editing
I only touched up the colour to make sure it was as vibrant as it needed to be.In my camera bag
I usually have my camera and two lenses.Feedback
Make sure the light, in this case the sun, is in the right place. I stood there for a long time waiting for certain moves to happen, knowing that there was a pattern to the dance and she would repeat movements that I might have missed earlier. I took a lot of pictures and held the camera as steady as I could so they would be sharp.
