OSDC: Season Three Company!
Last weekend, Drew and I did the third season portraits of Onstage Dance Company in Boston. We’re still new to dance photography (especially portraiture), so there’s been something to learn each time we’ve done this for them. Take the backdrop, for example — we’ve gone from having no backdrop to renting one that’s too small — to renting two (but finding that the grays weren’t a match — we cheated and turned one sideways). We’re now at the point where we have a clear idea of what we want/need and it’s time to make it happen.
And then there are all those other things to figure out — getting the right lighting kit, shooting enough photos, presenting the poses…
Major props to the dancers — they make it look so easy! It’s awkward and painful to hold some of the photo poses, whether it’s kneeling on the floor or balancing on one foot. If there are six dancers all holding an arabesque, they hold position while someone behind the scenes makes sure that the arms, legs, feet, costumes, hair, torsos and facial expressions are all in sync. In between each shot, tiny adjustments are made. Adjust, critique, shoot, repeat, and then we’re onto the next group — there’s a lot to do in such a small amount of time!
OnStage Dance Company will be performing Sunday, June 3 at 2PM and 7PM at the Virginia Wimberly Theatre in Boston’s South End (more details). There’s also a special 80′s-themed fundraiser on May 19.
