This summer I was able to shoot Lar Lubovitch Dance Company twice at Jacob’s Pillow. One photo session was on Wednesday for the photo call during dress rehearsal – you saw my photos here – and my second shoot happened later in the week from backstage.
I wanted to share these two sets of images together to show the different intent behind making them and the different results produced by each method.
LAR LUBOVITCH DANCE COMPANY: PHOTOS FROM FRONT OF HOUSE
Lar Lubovitch Dance Company in the Ted Shawn Theatre at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival
The dress rehearsal photography was all about getting “the shot” for the press reviewing the dances. In order to get a great shot for press I have a few things on my mind: shoot horizontal, don’t cut off hands or feet or toes, show the choreography, find trios and small groups, look for “signature” moments that showcase the piece. Sometimes I have to shoot a bit more conservatively, because I’m expected to produce images that will run with a review and hopefully help stir interest in the company and bring more people to the show.
That day Lar Lubovitch’s company only danced one piece in full costume, and that’s all I could photograph.
LAR LUBOVITCH DANCE COMPANY: PHOTOS FROM BACKSTAGE
Lar Lubovitch Dance Company from backstage in the Ted Shawn
A couple nights later I was allowed to sit behind the downstage right curtain and shoot during the performance. I was shooting at a hard angle, right into the lights and with a very limited view. I was only feet away from the dancers. This shoot was simply for fun and I wasn’t under any pressure to produce anything or follow any guidelines. I photographed the group more freely, looking more at dancers’ facial expressions, catching little momentary exchanges between them, playing with the lighting more and framing shots without worrying about including the ends of fingers and toes.
The backstage shoot is a great tool for creating marketing photos. The images are much closer and more intimate, you can see the dancers’ personalities and the hard work that goes into their performance. It’s a behind-the-scenes vibe that’s irresistibly real.
Take a look and tell me what you think.
christopherduggan.com | studio@christopherduggan.com | (888) 379-1359
5 comments
I just watched the new DANCE/WEDDINGS header images for, like, three minutes. Great stuff. Also, JEALOUS that you go to watch from backstage. I’ve been wanting to do that for three summers!
Katryn, you are the best. Thanks for being my fan. And next summer, stick with me, I know people who can get yo backstage. It’s pretty cool. C
[...] can see more of my photos from front of house vs. backstage on my blog at: http://blog.christopherduggan.com/2011/09/jacob%E2%80%99s-pillow-dance-festival-lar-lubovitch-dance-… Christopher Duggan, Photo by Julia [...]
Your photos are exciting and dramatic, but I am curious about one thing. When you are contracted by a professional ballet company to photograph their dancers, do you work with the artistic director/ dancers to choose the best technical and best artistic photos? or does the company allow you, as the photographer, to make the decisions on which photos best represent the company/ dancers?
Hi Rhonda, Thanks for your comment. The answer is it depends. Sometimes the company specifically asks for first look before anything goes out online. Other companies I make images choices and they trust that what I post will be flattering to all. If you mean which images do I give to the company for their selects, I shoot my butt off, give them lots of variety and send them everything that I personally think is good and makes me proud. I just don’t send them anything that I don’t like or would not be excited about if they chose to use. Make sense? Any other questions feel free to email me, too. Thanks, C