The characteristics of dance photography are very distinct, the subjects are basically moving, and the lights on the stage are also colorful, but they are often low illumination, insufficient light, and limited shooting distance and angle.
Because of this, I love to photograph dances, and as a photography enthusiast, it's a big challenge to test the ability to capture in real-time and adjust the camera quickly. My experience is that although dance is alive and moving, in order to take vivid and dynamic dance photos, as long as you focus on the target dancer and keenly grasp the moment of the dancer's performance, you can shoot a vivid, ethereal, virtual and real, dynamic and static feeling.
Shooting data :
Camera: Nikon D9
lens?¼?Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
F number?¼?F8
Exposure time?¼?1/6s
ISO?¼?90
Photo adjusted the contrast and saturation slightly, after resize added sharpness.
Editing software?¼?Photoshop 2023
10 comments posted
Jim Wulpi
Welcome to our group, Stanley.
I LOVE this image. The movement, the story, the colors, the heroes!
This is very well captured. Your efforts have paid off.
Were you also on a tripod or stabilizing the camera in some way (@ 1/6 second)? Posted: 03/04/2025 21:44:53
Stanley Cheong
Hi, Jim Wulpi, Thank you for your Comments. Yes, because the shutter speed is very slow, I have to use the tripod to keep the camera steady, but because I need to follow the target subject to shoot, I didn't completely lock the tripod's ballhead, I relaxed the ballhead to still maintain a certain damping, This allows me to move the camara horizontally to follow the target subject. Posted: 03/05/2025 01:06:27
Piers Blackett
Thanks for a great image and lesson on how to catch a dynamic scene like this. It seems that 1/4 or 1/6 sec is about right to portray flow and even the rythm of the music! The main dancers being slightly off center gives the image spontaneity and a feeling of being there. Posted: 03/05/2025 13:09:23
Stanley Cheong
Thank you for your Comments. Posted: 03/07/2025 05:16:13
Shirley Pohlman
Your ability to put this shot together amazes me. That would be like my getting a horse's saddle in focus during the race while its head and tail are in motion. I look forward to seeing many shots from your culture. Posted: 03/08/2025 16:29:57
Stanley Cheong
Dear Shirley, Thank you for your Comments, I will continue to upload a photo here every month to hear Opinion from everyone. Posted: 03/12/2025 09:54:43
Karen Botvin
Wow, Stanley, this is a great shot! I love the colorful dress against the black background. My only suggest would be to remove the 'ghost-like' figure on the viewers far left. Because he is lighter than the black, my eye gets pulled away from the dancers. Posted: 03/11/2025 13:53:15
Stanley Cheong
Dear Karen, Thank you for your Comments, agree with your suggestion. Posted: 03/12/2025 10:13:53
Stanley Cheong
Changed for the better, how does it feel? Posted: 03/12/2025 10:28:49
Martin Newland
Another great photo, Stanley. Well done! Posted: 03/16/2025 22:43:39
