The photos from the 2016 Maryland Dancesport Championships released at the TimeLine Media proofing site! Firstly, I want to thank Amanda and Ilya Reyzin for inviting me back to photograph their event. Last February we went to the BWI Marriott in Lithicum, Maryland. Certainly not affecting the dancers at all, it was an easy venue for us to get setup.
Since this venue was so close to home, we caught up with many familiar faces this weekend. Likewise, they performed to our cameras since they recognized us. So, we made as many good photos as we could!
Overall, we are confident we got photos of everyone that danced this weekend. However, I am sure I misplaced some dancers when sorting them by folders. By all means, please send me an email ( rassi at timelinedc.com ) to let me know, and I’ll correct it asap. Thank you!
I extended the sale for the Maryland Dancesport Championships a few days. Since I did not properly give notice on the blog or on the social networks it, I added some days. The new deadline in FRIDAY March 6, 2015 for the early-bird discounts at the TimeLine Media proofing site:
The photos from this competition were excellent all-around. We had a great group of photographers that helped us cover the action on the dance floor! I am just disappointed that I have not had the time to properly blog about the experience at this competition with awesome new owners, Amanda and Ilya Reyzin. We were so happy that they invited us to photograph another of their events, and we had a great time over the 3 days in Baltimore.
They always decorate the ballroom so nicely, but they add in a bit of modern technology with each competition. This time, they had a huge 4K screen as a backdrop to the dais above the floor. The photographers really used this to their advantage to make for some different image compositions.
We had a great time visiting with so many local dancers since it was so close to home. We made sure to reconnect, and of course, get their new figures in the can as they have been working hard on new moves and new costumes since they last time we saw them. The professional competitive heats were really exceptional to watch. This was the one time I was thankful that I did not have to photograph as much so that I could enjoy seeing the action without being stuck in the viewfinder!
This is the second competition where I had the opportunity to do so, and it is hard for me to decide which I enjoy more – enjoying the dancing live, or revisiting the action in photos after the fact. I do love reviewing the photos, but being in the room with the music blasting, and the dresses whizzing across the floor right in front of you – it is an awesome experience that is impossible to replicate in stills or video. The photos are still excellent, but I have to admit, I have enjoyed both and cannot wait until the next opportunity to see dancers on the floor!
What way to finish a great day of dancing! Nina and Dmitry put on an exciting showcase for everyone at the end of this year’s Baltimore Dancesport Challenge. The crowd, being very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Latin dancing, really got into the five pieces that they presented. Today’s post is from the first of the five, a cha-cha to Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal”.
These two are so quick with their movements. Her colorful and shiny dress really added to the flashy look of the movements. They connected with the crowd with lots of eye contact, and expression in their faces. The routine was nicely coordinated with the music. If you are inclined, you can see all of these in video form provided by Miller Productions at the Pabon Productions YouTube channel.
In the video, you will get a glimpse of me on the floor following them with my camera. Having both the video and still photos can show how differently I can make the scene look with lighting and lenses. From my vantage point from down low, the dancers take on a larger presence than from above making for better “hero” angles than if I were to shoot them standing, being on their same level.
It was really fun to try to keep up with these two! The auto focus on the camera was working hard, thankfully the advancements in tracking focus has really made this a breeze from the photographer’s point of view. You can see from the video how many times my flash went off. Every single photo had them in focus. If I did not include a photo in the collection, it was due to composition, or angle to the dancers being off, not to anything technical with the camera gear. To see all of the photos from these performances and the others throughout the day visit the TimeLine Media proofing page here:
