2008 March Pow Wow No. 6 Photo

Photographer’s Note

This photo required very little Photoshop work to darken the background. The background was mostly black and it looked pretty good anyway. The completely black background enhanced this image even more in my opinion. I like doing closely cropped photos that are clean and crisp like this one, but I was hired to do a variety of perpsectives so I can't get lulled into doing what I like to do best. I try to vary the perspectives the best I can. The type of assignments I do for the local travel guides is an unusual venue. It lies somewhere between photojournalism and advertising and it is not easy to fill the requirements of my client. They have a lot of competition with many other cities throughout the country and it is hard to get fresh POVs in this very competitive business. If I can retire from my day job as a cartographic technician in a few years, this will free me up considerably. As we all know, photography is a brutally competitive business and as is not for the feint of heart.

jwmunro, zmey, Glint, AROBN54, Wandering_Dan, fulvio52, avene, gunbud, Floydian, plimrn has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

feather (50144) 2008-04-08 6:42

If I'd know you were up this early I would have posted the leopard. I just posted something different.
Those colours just sing! As you say the black background emphsises them even more. The closer than usual POV shows so much detail and her face looks 3D. Excellent shot Stan.
Kath

jwmunro (6255) 2008-04-08 7:31

Hello Stan -

Regardless of the perspective all of your dance photos are great. This close up image is great for many reasons but a few are the color, the facial expression of the dancer, and the sense of motion this image brings. I like this idea of filling the frame and even excluding parts of the subject. We seem to be taught to fill the frame but don't cut anything off especially when it is an animal or human. You have broken a rule and demonstrated that we need to break the rules to get that unique photo. Well done, it's an understatement because this is a top notch image.

Thank you for sharing.

John

zmey (7282) 2008-04-08 7:41

hello, stan

very dynamic and radiantly colorful! love the play of the blue and the slight blur on the moving parts of her attire enhancing the overall dynamic feel already well established by the diagonal composition. nicely done, friend!

my compliments,
kristaps

Glint (3074) 2008-04-08 7:51

hello Stan,
a vibrant and colourful shot. The diagonal line gives a good sense of movement. Good POV. I am sure that your clients will satisfied.
regards
Bev

rgarrigus (0) 2008-04-08 7:58

Hi Stan,

This is a nice companion to you other Pow Wow image. I like the black background and commend you for your unbelievable patience in working around the feathers! Love the feeling of movement and those stellar colors.

Cheers!

Bob G.

AROBN54 (10789) 2008-04-08 8:11

Good grief, Stan,
the colors in these shots are always just flippin' awesome and this is no exception. I don't know how you do it without ever oversaturating them. I love the expression on this dancer's face and the movement you've captured. The lighting is perfect and the dark background is simply wonderful to set it all off. You are SOOOO good at these shots. Wow. Thanks and take good care,
Shelly

Wandering_Dan (3293) 2008-04-08 9:12

Hello, Stan -

An awesome photograph! I hope the City of Denver pays you extra for this one. The expression - concentration - on her face is priceless, and I also love the way her costume shows motion while she is perfectly still and posed for this shot.

(Minor nitpick: It looks like a bit of an artifact along the back of her head. You may want to take another look at that edge.)

Best,
Dan

fulvio52 (8314) 2008-04-08 10:34

Hi Stannie,
My first impression is : STRIKING! It truly pops out of my iMac screen, no more no less.
Those vintage renegade colors (LOL!!!) should be in a manual, to show people what photographic color REALLY means!
I absolutely love those blurred yellows and blues in the upper right corner. That's real classy, the perfect dynamic touch to an absolutely glittering, glamourous composition.
WONDERFUL!
Off she goes into my faves.
Cheers!

Fulvio.

avene (11138) 2008-04-08 17:55

hello Stan,
from the photos in this series that you have posted so far this one is my absolute favourite! the black background works perfectly to focus attention on colours, the tight framing adds intensity to the scene, everything is super clear and sharp. but what does the trick for me is how you have composed the photo with the dress forming a strong diagonal line, and how you have captured the moment of pure concentration and movement, love how motion blurr on the dress! superb shot, should be on the cover of NG.

with kind regards,
Kristine

gunbud (28161) 2008-04-08 18:01

Hi Stan,
Wonderful vibrant emotional colors that really pop right through the page. Beautiful sence of motion capture here the dark background really makes these colors pop.
Regards, Tom

sevy (13952) 2008-04-09 0:23

Hello Stan,

I like a lot those pictures on black background. It put very well in evidence the dance and the colored suits. Moreover it provides a kind of abstraction I appreciate: the subject is no more the exhibition, but the Dance itself.
It will produce great high size printings.

Yves.

TopGeo (22213) 2008-04-09 0:54

Hi Stan! Have a picture of dance with a face of person so much motionless and clean. The rest has movement and rythm, the colours and the satin koystoms gives in the picture volume and prospect to outside. I believe that help was the black background.
Georgios

toto (18755) 2008-04-09 5:12

Bonjour,
Belle photo de cette indienne dans ces habits taditionnels et tout aussi beau que ceux des hommes.
Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté de l' ensemble, la netteté et la beauté ressort encor plus avec ce fond noir.

Amitiés Thomas

Floydian (30970) 2008-04-10 0:29

Hi Stan,
Did you again removed the background and turned it to black? Not that i care, or betetr said, i like that black background. Brings the colors of the danser even more in front. There is a slight movement and how i like that, just great. Gives a dynamic feeling to the image, no pose, she looks concentrated with a very sharp face...perfect.
Regards, Henk

tomorrow the green devil

plimrn (19710) 2008-04-20 10:25

Hi Stan,
I really like the POV looking up at the dancer, your photo really conveys a sense of motion and as Shelly says, you capture great intensity in your colors w/o a feeling oversaturation.

Sorry I'm so slow, I hope to catchg up soon. My Mom is finally doing better so Larry & I get a little break.
HLJ, Pat