Dance photography is a challenging art form that requires a lot more than a click of the shutter and a randomly moving subject. Capturing the expression of a movement and the emotion of the dancer demands the technical skills of using a camera, but also the deeper understanding of movement and its impact. It’s about creating images as alive as the dance itself. It involves timing, anticipation, and the ability to see the moment before it happens, thus preserving these fleeting moments that express the beauty and energy of the human form in motion
Crafting the Vision
Each project can differ significantly. With personal efforts, the approach is fluid. I encourage dancers to “bring me the clay,” and to allow me to mold their movements into art. This means there is no fixed concept or rule for us to adhere to. Instead, the process is about exploration. Whether it involves elements from past performances or improvising to new music, each session is unique. As the music plays and the dancers move, I observe and note specific movements that I refer to as ‘anchors’. Those moments where a line could be interesting, or where a body position tells a story, become the starting point from which we build the photograph with. It’s a collaborative process of adjusting the arms, the legs, and the facial expressions to get everything in alignment.
When working commercially, however, (i.e.: on a marketing campaign or a program) and portraying a specific works or a character for example, I make it a point to discuss and understand said works, as well as the character’s story. With this knowledge, I direct the dancer to fit in the character’s shoes.
Capturing the Movement
The art of capturing the key moment in dance photography can be likened to capturing the crack of a whip. When observing a whip in slow motion, you see the handle move, the body of the whip curl and uncurl, until the energy is released at the tip in a sharp snap, as the whip cracks. This crack represents the peak of movement—where everything comes together in a single, powerful moment.
The challenge is to synchronize every element. The hands, feet, body, head, the breath, and facial expressions so that at the peak, every single part of the dancer is in harmony. Just as the numbers in a dance count: “5, 6, 7, 8, Bam!” The photograph captures this climax, this perfect alignment of energy and emotion, much like the crack of a whip.
The Power of Dance Photography
When photographing dance, my role involves seeing potential in every movement and transforming it into a visual story that resonates with the viewer. The dancers provide the raw material, with their movements, and expressions. From this, something truly magnificent is created. It is about capturing more than just the physicality of dance, but its soul.
