Just shot my first three shows for Ballet Chicago's Nutcracker this past weekend. A couple different casts, so you may see some variance in the dancer's roles. Shot with a D4 and 70-200 lens. ISO ranged from 2000 to 6400. Shutter speed ranged from 1/80 to 1/500. f stop at 2.8 or 3.2, testing to see if 3.2 is any sharper.
Steve, as you know, normally it doesn't work well when the dancers point their feet (or arms) in your direction, but fortunately this was just off enough to work really well. I was really happy with that one.
Bryan, thanks! And as for 6, I totally get what you're saying. Dancers call it a "crotch shot." This was enough of an angle that I was okay with it, and their costumes are designed to protect themselves as this is a pretty common move in ballet.
Superb photos! Taking those shots at the right moment is not easy.
Some additional info, from working on a project years ago with a major ballet company.
Ballet dancers are the best conditioned athletes in the world. Try doing what they do as intensively as they do it and you'll see what I mean. They also have a high rate of bone fractures in the feet. Those soft-toed shoes provide NO support at all and they put all their weight on the tips of their toes when they're en pointe. They appear graceful, at high cost.
jodo wrote:
Very impressive, Ron. What is your verdict on the aperture?
The weird thing is that my exposure seems better this year than previous years, but I think that's just me getting more and more used to my camera. I'm buried with editing wedding pics right now to deliver for Christmas, so haven't really been able to delve in and inspect the two settings.
GCasey wrote:
Superb photos! Taking those shots at the right moment is not easy.
Some additional info, from working on a project years ago with a major ballet company.
Ballet dancers are the best conditioned athletes in the world. Try doing what they do as intensively as they do it and you'll see what I mean. They also have a high rate of bone fractures in the feet. Those soft-toed shoes provide NO support at all and they put all their weight on the tips of their toes when they're en pointe. They appear graceful, at high cost.
Completely agree with you. And thanks for your comment!
zalmyb wrote:
Very nice! 5 stands out as wonderful (though could use a tiny straightening). 9 looks good with floor cropped out as well
My only critique would be that their faces and skin seem a "bit" too bright and pink. Otherwise really stellar work!
Thanks, Zalmy! Shooting a performance on stage is not like shooting into a horizon -- which should generally be level. On 5, the dancer is to my left so the end of the stage line is going to be slightly askew. If I straightened that, it would look like he's about to fall on his face. I think No. 9 is even more askew.
Agree on some of the faces being a bit hot. Might need to see if I can do more with those.
sibirdie, Dave 1234, and BobnJake, thanks so much! I used to shoot 5 or 6 different companies' Nutcrackers, but these last couple years, it's just the one. But at least it's a really good one.
