About the Image(s)
The meeting of dance and photography is a dialogue between time and space. As the dancer extends their limbs and the photographer presses the shutter, two art forms collide in an instant, creating visual poetry that transcends the experience of any single sense. Capturing dance through photography is not merely a record of movement??”it is a deconstruction and reconstruction of the aesthetics of human motion, reinterpreted through the lens of the camera.
In this photograph, I used a 1/6-second slow shutter speed to allow the dancer’s limbs to leave fluid trails across the image sensor. The dancer’s hands trace silky afterimages in the air, slow shutter reveals the temporal dimension of dance, invisible to the naked eye, stretching fleeting gestures into visible slices of time.
Shoot data :
Camara : Nikon Z9
Lens : Nikkor Z 70-200mm F2.8 VR @130mm
Aperture : F8
Shutter speed : 1/6s
White balance : Auto
Shirley Pohlman
I am impressed with YOUR poetry of the description of your image. There is a beautiful flow of a simple pallet of blue. I like how the dancers fade out as you look across, and I think a double image of their faces on two, yet a fairly sharp face on the first left. I'm intrigued with the motion and the resulting curves. Are the dancers holding scarves? Posted: 07/05/2025 20:37:18
Stanley Cheong
Dear Shirley, Yes, the dancers all hold long silk ribbons in their hands. The photograph is painted in a blue hue is mainly made by stage lighting. Posted: 07/06/2025 12:56:24
Martin Newland
Stanley, this is another great image. I love the all blue look to the image.
I am always intrigued as to how you manage to photograph your dancers in such a way that their faces are always "tack sharp" and yet their arms and veils are blured giving that wonderful sense of movement. Maybe the stillness of the head is an inherent discipline within Chinese dancing. I have much to learn.
I love it!
Posted: 07/06/2025 04:05:41
Stanley Cheong
Dear Martin, That's mainly due to the continuous shooting capabilities of modern cameras, when I shoot dance, I usually use continuous shooting, I use a shutter speed of 1/6s, which is about 5 shots per second, Then, choose the one with the sharpest face from the multiple photos. In addition, it is important to pay special attention to the moment when the dancer's face is slightly still. Posted: 07/06/2025 13:00:23
Angela Bonner
(Groups 20 & 81)Beautiful and so different. Well done!! Posted: 07/06/2025 15:05:49
Karen Botvin
Wow! Stanley, this image is over-the-top wonderfully created! I love the blue and how the light gives motion to the dancers. Bravo to you for capturing and showing us another great image. Posted: 07/06/2025 18:23:30
Stanley Cheong
Dear Karen, Thank you for your comment. Posted: 07/08/2025 04:29:22
Piers Blackett
Congratulations on your thoughtfulness, planning and selection choice for this image - The seven dancers combine and coordinate within the surrounding blurred blue spheres also numbering about seven - amazing! Posted: 07/07/2025 15:38:24
Stanley Cheong
Dear Piers, Thank you for your comment. Posted: 07/08/2025 04:29:43
Jim Wulpi
Well done, Stanley!
This is what I love about photography - the ability to either capture motion blur - or not. Sometimes the situation helps decide for you, but bravo to you for being able to capture motion (and emotion) so well.
Did you use a tripod, or did you have to hand-hold the camera for this image? Posted: 07/11/2025 20:35:40
Stanley Cheong
Dear Jim, Thank you for your comment, as I used a 1/6 second slow shutter speed, I used a tripod to shoot to keep the camera steady. Posted: 07/13/2025 09:03:47
