May 2014 archive

Arthur Murray – Tysons Corner – Foxtrot

Foxtrot professional show - ©TimeLine Media

Chantilly, Virginia

When a Foxtrot comes on over the speakers, I think of relaxed, smooth almost walking steps across the floor. This professional show, like many of the others that we shoot, was much more of a showy display than what we do during practice – as the shows should be! Luck would be with me for making images from this performance.

Professional Ballroom Dance - Foxtrot - ©TimeLine Media
Professional Ballroom Dance – Foxtrot – ©TimeLine Media

We have covered the DC Area Arthur Murray events for a few years now, so many do not even know that we are regular students at the Tysons Corner studio. In addition, these two are our regular instructors, so we do have an affinity for them, and would have been cheering along with the crowd if we were not working! That disclaimer aside, I think my favorite images from this event came from this show.

Foxtrot Dance Show

Arthur Murray Professional Show - ©TimeLine Media
Arthur Murray Professional Show – ©TimeLine Media

Of course the dancers are well-practiced, and they pulled the performance off nicely after some trouble with getting the correct music track to play. I also placed myself in what I thought would be the best spot to get the dancers by sitting across the long side of the floor with the studio banners in the back of the frame, and the flashes positioned in the back were in a spot to not flare too much from my position.

Professional Ballroom Dance - Foxtrot - ©TimeLine Media
Professional Ballroom Dance – Foxtrot – ©TimeLine Media

But really luck is what really allowed me to get this awesome photo of the two of them in mid-air!

Foxtrot professional show - ©TimeLine Media
Foxtrot professional show – ©TimeLine Media

Even when you are shooting quick action, you know when you may have captured something cool. You may not have time to look at the back of the camera, but you know by the timing, there is a good chance you have it. This frame was a complete surprise! You can still make out that they are dancing, but there is an abstract element that really makes it stand out to me. I may have to print this one out large to hang at home. This is definitely an early contender for my favorite 2014 ballroom dance photo!

Arthur Murray Professional Show - ©TimeLine Media
Arthur Murray Professional Show – ©TimeLine Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

Middleburg Virginia Horse Racing

Horse racing - ©TimeLine Media

Point to Point Race

Over the weekend, there was a lot of attention to the Kentucky Derby. It was a spectacle for the sporting world that is unique in the presentation of coverage compared to other events for television. The first of the Triple Crown of horse races was run with a record crowd in attendance, and the 2 minutes that the race is presented on TV is some of the most compelling even if you do not follow the sport.

Paddock at Glenwood Park - ©TimeLine Media
Paddock at Glenwood Park – ©TimeLine Media

We watched the race, and I was inspired to go back to see the photos from the Middleburg Point to Point from a weekend ago. Obviously, it must be the horse racing season! We were out there with all the colorful hats and crazy ties in the area surrounding the track on this occasion. In watching the TV coverage, it looks like the scene was similar at Churchill Downs. As can be seen in the photos, it really lends itself to photography.

Tailgate Contest

Tailgating at the Middleburg Point to Point - ©TimeLine Media
Tailgating at the Middleburg Point to Point – ©TimeLine Media
Tailgating at the Middleburg Point to Point - ©TimeLine Media
Tailgating at the Middleburg Point to Point – ©TimeLine Media

Trying to capture horse racing in Middleburg was a lot of fun! On this occasion, the racing action was very accessible for those in the audience. It was easy to get a good vantage of the horses as they closed to the Finish Line. The camera was able to track the action, and I fired the motor drive as they passed. To be sure the 70-200mm lens was plenty to get close to the jockeys and the horses.

Horse racing - ©TimeLine Media
Horse racing – ©TimeLine Media
Horse racing - ©TimeLine Media
Racing horses in Middleburg, Virginia – ©TimeLine Media
Horse racing - ©TimeLine Media
Horse racing – ©TimeLine Media

Looking at the images large after the event really makes me appreciate these horses on account of their biology. They are beautiful as they pass you on the paddock, and additionally their incredible speed as they go through their runs is staggering! You can really feel their ground as their feet thunder by on their last pass. It is really a great photography subject, and I encourage any sports photo enthusiast to give it a try. They will give you some awesome images.

Horse after racing - ©TimeLine Media
Horse after racing – ©TimeLine Media
Horse racing - ©TimeLine Media
Horse racing – ©TimeLine Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

Waltz Professional Show – Spring Freestyles

Ballroom Dance professional show - ©TimeLine Media

Chantilly, Virginia

Happy Friday! After a busy week, I am really trying to get the studio organized. There are some big projects coming up, and I need to clean up a little around here. There is more dancing photos in the future, and we just came back from a dance lesson. Overall, this helps to get the oxygen back into the brain after a day at the computer.

Ballroom Dance Waltz professional show - ©TimeLine Media
Ballroom Dance Waltz professional show – ©TimeLine Media

I think our smooth dancing is getting to be much better and “smoother” (pun intended) and the Waltz is my favorite right now. I feel like I do not have to think as much before starting a new figure, and when things do not line up, we can recover nicely without missing a beat. Looking for photos to post on the blog today, I thought about the Waltz and came across this pro show from the Arthur Murray, Gaithersburg, Maryland studio.

Ballroom Dance professional show - ©TimeLine Media
Ballroom Dance professional show – ©TimeLine Media

Waltz Professional Show

This was a beautiful performance of a dance that can be relatable to everyone that is watching. Whether you have been dancing for 6 weeks or 6 years, you know how to dance the Waltz. The simple three beats and a basic box will get you through any requests to go out on the floor.

Waltz by Arthur Murray Gaithersburg - ©TimeLine Media
Waltz by Arthur Murray Gaithersburg – ©TimeLine Media
Waltz - Ballroom Dance - ©TimeLine Media
Waltz – Ballroom Dance – ©TimeLine Media

Overall, these two took a dance that everyone is familiar with and made it look effortless as they performed solo in front of all the students, their colleagues, judges, etc. This is a tough assignment for all the performers so when they can come out and nail their routine as if they were still in the practice studio with no one watching is outstanding! Everyone was applauded their effort, especially the enthusiastic students and staff from Gaithersburg. They showed their pride in their professionals, and I know they will have many great shows when they dance in future events.

Arthur Murray Gaithersburg Waltz Pro Show - ©TimeLine Media
Arthur Murray Gaithersburg Waltz Pro Show – ©TimeLine Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-84-8208

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