Belly Dance Christmas Celebration

[ressalg]

My wife's belly dance instructor likes to throw a big party for family and friends of various belly dancing troupes. She had asked me to take photos of her class which turned out ok (she actually loved them). She asked me to take photos for this event, which I accepted with the understanding that I wasn't going to charge anything for my services as I couldn't guarantee the quality of the end result.

If this is the most challenging photographic situation I ever get into, I'll be a happy camper. The "venue" was a small sports bar that had a dance floor about the size of a postage stamp with a railing/bar almost all the way around. Lighting was the standard small bar dance floor set up: various coloured lights flashing randomly to the music, set up (for the most part) behind the dancers.

One of the biggest things I learned was how difficult adjusting your settings can be when all you've got to review the images is the tiny lcd that's standard on the older DSLRs (Canon 20D in my case).

Here's a few of the ones I liked (not loved mind you but again... they're ok).

The organizer of the event.






She actually held this pose for about a minute and a half.


Dancing with a sword balanced on her head.


You can see more on my flicker page. Thanks for looking.

[Weebonilass]

Those are great for a small bar situation. I've done dancing events in those situations (not for pay) and there isn't really anyway to get around the poor lighting situation.

[lindyannajones]

Nice work, especially given the space/lighting restrictions. On your first shot with the organizer to have the one thing that will always make a big difference between like and love and that is the catch lights in her eyes. You got 'em! Very colorful. Dancing with a sword balanced on my head has never once occurred to me!

[Tenzin'sMom]

You've captured some beautiful poses here, despite the challenge! It looks like a really fun dance party -- thanks for sharing these with us.

[dvetter]

Excellent work here, for the situation you did well congratulations! The last 3 are great shots.

[leonaashlee]

I love these shots and I love watching belly dancing. Well done under the circumstances.

[ressalg]

Originally Posted by Weebonilass

Those are great for a small bar situation. I've done dancing events in those situations (not for pay) and there isn't really anyway to get around the poor lighting situation.

I was so disappointed with the setting that I actually offered to organize the event next year... in a polite way of course. "You know... you spend so much time running around making sure all the details are taken care of, plus you're performing with your troupe... maybe I could take care of some of the bigger details for you next year. That way you'd actually get to enjoy all this."

Originally Posted by lindyannajones

Nice work, especially given the space/lighting restrictions. On your first shot with the organizer to have the one thing that will always make a big difference between like and love and that is the catch lights in her eyes. You got 'em! Very colorful. Dancing with a sword balanced on my head has never once occurred to me!

The organizer hasn't seen that picture yet... she will tonight. I'm pretty sure she's gonna love it. It was actually one of the final "test" shots I was doing before the event started.

In case it isn't obvious, they actually use a "decorative" sword. It still weighs about 6 lbs. but it isn't sharpened. My wife (in the last picture) has practiced and practiced. She performed the dance solo, at a Turkish wedding, about two months before this. There were several people there that had never seen anything like it. She was the "belle of the ball" after that.

[ressalg]

Originally Posted by dvetter

Excellent work here, for the situation you did well congratulations! The last 3 are great shots.

The last three? What about the first one?!? Sheesh! There's just no pleasing you.

As always, thanks for looking and commenting, Duane.

PS: Really been enjoying your Flickr stream.

Originally Posted by leonaashlee

I love these shots and I love watching belly dancing. Well done under the circumstances.

Thanks, leona. It was definately a learning experience. Hopefully I'll be able to do alot better next time.

[ressalg]

Originally Posted by Tenzin'sMom

You've captured some beautiful poses here, despite the challenge! It looks like a really fun dance party -- thanks for sharing these with us.

Thanks, Helen. Glad you enjoyed them. It actually was alot of fun... even if I was trying to keep myself in a "professional" state of mind.