Posts Tagged ‘Forever Dancing’

Special Event Lighting – Tech Thursday

©TimeLine Media - DC Dance Challenge

White Balance

When shooting color images, digital photography gives us a lot more flexibility in color balance. This is usually one of the first options that photo applications will let you adjust in your photos. In Adobe Lightroom, they call this “Temperature” referring to the Kelvin setting in degrees. On the lower end of the scale are the “cooler” or bluer settings starting at 2000K. On the other end is going to the “warmer” or yellower settings 10000K to 50000K.

Lightroom - color temperature slider
Lightroom – color temperature slider

Similarly to a previous post which I talked about bouncing the light off of colored walls, having mixed lighting sources will also affect the look of your photos. At events where there is lighting setup to set a mood for the room, you will have strongly colored constant lights. These will usually be tinted with a gel or LEDs that can make every kind of color possible. This can be difficult to balance, as now there are competing sources of color in your frames.

Ballroom Dance Photos

©TimeLine Media - DC Dance Challenge ballroom dance
©TimeLine Media – DC Dance Challenge ballroom dance event lighting

My thought in this situation is to use my flash to get the best exposure I can at the time. Having a good exposure means I can work with the file more easily in Lightroom later. The dance events usually has changing lights, so I cannot do a good white balance for each color, I just have to make a good exposure.

Back in Lightroom, I use the temperature and tint sliders to ensure that the skin of subjects in the frame looks good. It may not be exactly their skin tone as you see it, but neither is their color on the dance floor flooded with colored light. The downside is that the colored light in the background, or the ambient color of the room may change, but skin tones are my only concern. Whatever colors happen to change in the background or other room elements will have to be left as is. Let me know what you guys do when facing these room a wedding receptions, or other setups with special event lighting.

©TimeLine Media - DC Dance Challenge
©TimeLine Media – DC Dance Challenge

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

John King & Maria Papakonstantinou

©TimeLine Media - John King & Maria Papakonstantinou

It’s finally Friday! The photos from the DC Dance Challenge are still on sale until Monday, October 28, 2013. That is a 20% off sale on ALL products that are available on the website. This includes prints on paper, prints mounted on canvas or matboard, and digital downloads for sharing online, or storing for future prints. To view all the photos from the events, here is a direct link at the proofing wesbsite:

http://proofs.timelinedc.com

Another treat in covering the 2013 DC Dance Challenge was the opportunity to make some photos  from the two shows performed by John King & Maria Papakonstantinou. After judging the competitors all day, John and Maria treated the evening audience to an amazing display. They are the current Unites States and World Pro-Am Rhythm Champions! With the Ohio Star Ball coming up, I think they would be a good bet to repeat this year.

©TimeLine Media - John King & Maria Papakonstantinou
©TimeLine Media – John King & Maria Papakonstantinou


This first show had a great music track – with changes in dynamics and tempo. This goes along with their quick changes in their dance styles in one routine. It covered the entire floor, and had everyone focused on them throughout the performance. Because this is the first time I have photographed them, I really wish I had the chance to watch this one again without having to follow them from behind the camera. If anyone has a link to a video of this performance, please let me know!

©TimeLine Media - John King & Maria Papakonstantinou
©TimeLine Media – John King & Maria Papakonstantinou

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

Rosalia Gasso and Alejandro Barrientos – Argentine Tango

©TimeLine Media - Rosalia Gasso & Alejandro Barrientos

The photos from last Sunday’s 2013 DC Dance Challenge are now ready to view! Overall the images are organized by the gentlemen’s number. If you have any trouble finding your photos, please email (rassi @ timelinedc.com) or call me for assistance. There were lots of really nice images from the day, and I’ll post some of my favorites here on the blog. If you were on the email list, you did get early access to the photos! Add your email address to the list at the bottom of any blog page to get on the list for updates and news.

http://proofs.timelinedc.com/

©TimeLine Media - Argentine Tango professional dancers
©TimeLine Media – Rosalia Gasso & Alejandro Barrientos


At the end of the evening, we were treated to some amazing professional and pro-am performances. Two of them were by Rosalia Gasso & Alejandro Barrientos. This pair are Master Teachers and Choreographers from Buenos Aires. They performed the Argentine Tango, and the performance was amazing! They had a quickness in their swivels and ganchos that I had to just watch. It would be impossible to capture in still photographs without some planning and a different lighting setup.

©TimeLine Media - Argentine Tango professional dancers
©TimeLine Media – Rosalia Gasso & Alejandro Barrientos
©TimeLine Media - Rosalia Gasso & Alejandro Barrientos
©TimeLine Media – Rosalia Gasso & Alejandro Barrientos


The quiet music, and slow build up of the Argentine Tango makes the entire room still and focused on the dancers. Rosalia and Alejandro captured the attention of the audience, bringing them into the performance which can be difficult to do with this dance. The couple dances with their heads very close to each other, without much eye contact or projection outward. But these two had the room with them from the beginning with some shouts and cheers towards the end when the beats moved faster, and the feet flicked quicker!

©TimeLine Media - Rosalia Gasso & Alejandro Barrientos
DC Dance Challenge Argentine Tango showcase ©TimeLine Media

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

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