Just a reminder that the next two Mondays have events expiring on the proofing website. I have been trying to post them here on the blog more often to give as much notice as possible. If you want to have your email on our mailing list, I will also be sending out reminders there. Signing up on the proofing site will add you to the same list. If you are not sure, you can also sign up below. It won’t send duplicate emails if you use the same address.
Tomorrow is the expiration of the Salsa Bachata Throwndown photos, Monday the 26th is the expiration of the Marsha Bonet Showcase photos. This upcoming week, I have some recent photo shoots to edit and post on the blog, so there will be lots of new photos coming soon. Thanks to those that responded from the email list for some sports portraits, it has been fun to make these photos, and I think you will enjoy the results.
In a previous post, I wrote about a sports photographer that I observed while shooting from the sidelines of a professional football game. Another photographer that I have seen through online videos and blogs is Dave Black. He has been published in all the major sports magazines and has covered the BIG events. These include multiple Olympic Games and championship finals. Not only is his photography portfolio stocked with amazing images, but he is a big proponent of sharing his knowledge with fellow photographers. Through educational workshops, he openly shares from his experiences to help other photographers improve their skill level. Here is one of the lessons that he emphasizes when I have seen him teach.
Photographers have to be in the right position
The audience is there to experience the action and performance of athletes. It is the photographer’s job to record their performance and convey the story of the action to viewers that are not at the event. Even though you can be right on the sideline, there can be many distractions that can get in the way of capturing the moment, so photographers much anticipate this, and prepare to be in the best spot.
Sometimes you are lucky, and the action comes directly to you, and sometimes, it is halfway across the field. The background in the action is also especially important – it cannot be too distracting, or it will take viewer’s eyes away from the subject. For me, I am looking to see where dancers will be holding their lines to the audience. This is where the best photos will come. Sometimes, though, it will be to the opposite side of the ballroom, but I must take my best guess as a sports photographer.
Dancers will sometimes repeat the order that they do their figures. Additionally if they are in multiple heats, or there are quarterfinals, semifinals, etc. you can have a chance at catching them in the next round. It is really satisfying to catch a moment in a routine that I saw in a previous dance. Perhaps I missed it because I was focused on another dancer. Or I was not in the right position with respect to the dancers. I remember these moments long after the weekend is over, and more than likely keep those photos in my portfolio.
Thanks to everyone that has visited the new proofing website! The upgrade does seem to have been successful – we have not had any reports of any bugs so far. There are some expiring events coming up, so this would be a good time to check it out. Please visit the link below:
On the website are some events that are expiring soon. The Salsa-Bachata Throwdown held on April 14, 2013 in Rockville, MD will be removed on Monday, August 19, 2013. The Marsha Bonet Dance Showcase held on April 20, 2013 in Alexandria, VA will be removed on Monday, August 26, 2013. The dancers in these events really put a lot of creativity into their performances. The setup for these is also a departures from my normal coverage from the side of a ballroom dance floor. The Throwdown was held in a large dance studio with the audience very close to the dancers. The energy from having them so close seemed to amp up the performers. I was happy with how the images conveyed the enthusiasm of the evening from both sides.
Every year, I enjoy making images for Marsha Bonet’s students. Their annual dance showcase grows in skill and variety. From Flamenco, to Ballroom, to ethnic and cultural dances makes for an entertaining and education evening. This year, I was struck with the colors in the costumes. They were another indication of the thought that was put into this show. Adding a live band to the stage really made this an evening to save space for next year!
