Documenting Dancers Pt 1

I have been working on a photography project that is related to some studio work I undertook last quarter. I have always loved dance, and photographing dancers. Last quarter I photographed three different dancers, in various costumes and performing various traditional dances and gestures, along with fusion. This quarter I have been following the members of Karoun Dance Ensemble from the point of view of documentary, or non-posed, journalistic photography. Karoun specializes in Classical Persian and Central Asian dance.

I began with my friend Karen Spiel, a lovely and graceful dancer. I followed her, with my camera, one afternoon and evening, from her first preparations at home to the end of her actual performances at the venue. Here are some samples of that journey:

Pepper Interrupts Dance Rehearsal
Karen's cat tried to rub against her legs while she
was rehearsing for her dance performance.
He finally walked away in disgust, when she
continued to dance.

Karen Applying Makeup
I wonder how many women would be this relaxed with a photographer
hovering over their shoulder as they put on their makeup?
I love the effect of six Karens in this shot, taken in her bathroom,
as she applied her stage makeup, for the show.

Karen's Hands Braiding
Closeup of Karen's hands, as she braids long, blond, hand-made
extensions into her hair. These are key for the Tajik, a traditional
dance from the Badakhshani region of Afghanistan.

Karen Putting on Earrings & Getting A Bite To Eat
After finishing her long braids and makeup,
Karen adds her jewelry and takes a break in her
kitchen, to "have some nibbles" before rehearing
 in her living room, once more.

Admiring Karen's Costume
Elham, another member of Karoun Dance Ensemble,
admires the colorful appliqués on Karen's Tajik costume.

You're On In 5 Minutes!
Karen quickly helps Janelle Bel Isle, the third member of Karoun,
attach and braid her hair extensions, for the Tajik dance. 

Karen and Janelle, triumphant at the close of their
first dance performance of the evening. Zamani
Culture House, in Bothell, WA.
The place was packed to the rafters!

This is a sampling of this project. I have many more shots to edit and prepare so that I can share them here.

In addition, I am now documenting Karoun Dance Ensemble as a whole: behind the scenes, during rehearsal, backstage, and on stage. I will present the final project in its entirety here, on this blog.

Thanks for your interest, and for visiting!

Blessings,
Linda

Quintessential Pioneer Square: An Exploration

Welcome! I have been working with documentary photography for a month or two, and undertook an assignment to photograph a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. Pioneer Square was my selection,  and I pursued the goal of creating a multi-photo portrait of this historic and popular area.

My images were shot on an overcast day, inside and outside, ranging from the well known and loved Victorian pergola, to Occidental Park, the Underground Tour, past restaurants, clubs, galleries, shops, and services for the homeless and disadvantaged. This is a neighborhood where the ghosts and sites of the past collide with the tourism and commerce of the present, where the well-heeled and the homeless tread the same streets and sidewalks, and where night and day are as different as, well, night and day.

Please join me on a visual tour of Pioneer Square...

Bust of Chief Seattle, aka "Sealth, Seathle, Seathl, or See-ahth" *and the Victorian era pergola, two of the most common sights in Pioneer Square,
along with lines of people of all ages, who take the popular Underground Tour... 

Bread of Life Mission, with an ironic sign
 for happy hour, in the foreground. Ironic sights
 are common here... 

Raindrops on a chessboard, in Occidental Park.
There are a group of stone chessboards here,
for enjoyment and use on sunny days... 

Memorial statues and beams dedicated to the fallen
firefighters of Seattle, in Occidental Park...

Tliingit totem pole in foreground, Pioneer Building
 in background. The Pioneer's original front door is
located on a lower level, in the underground
 and is not in use...

Merchants Cafe, with a member of the staff taking a break.
This is the oldest restaurant in Seattle, in operation since 1890.
It is reputedly haunted, and was investigated on the Travel Channel's
 television show, The Dead Files...

The historic Delmar Building and State Hotel on 1st Avenue,
with its Rooms 75 cents sign. Built in 1891*

Colorful ivy-covered building in Occidental Park, near
the outdoor, stone chessboards...

One of my favorite places in Pioneer Square,
the New Orleans Restaurant and Bar, Creole food and live blues! 

Stone, carved lion head and architectural detail on a
beautiful terra cotta-colored building in Pioneer Square...

I frequently saw mounted police and downtown-goodwill-ambassadors
 in the  area. This guy looks like he is ready to be off-duty!
There are several sports bars in the area,  this neighborhood
borders the area where our major sports venues stand.

Turns out, it was the horse who wanted a break from work! 

Detail of old, brick wall and windows, from one of the
main rooms on the Seattle Underground Tour...

I have always loved the verdigris of old, oxidized  copper. This is detail
of a very old, copper bathtub, as seen in the Seattle Underground...

I was captivated by this corner nook, with an old bucket
and the shadow of a ladder, as seen in the Underground..

Doorways and portals exist where you least expect them sometimes.
A very old door frame and the edge of a trellis, in the Underground...

Loved this old but colorful sign, lying amidst the rubble in a corner.
In the Underground...

I held my camera through a random window into darkness,
 set it for manual focus, turned on the flash, and here is what I got,
 a secret stairway, rising into a solid ceiling above!

Hope you have enjoyed this short tour of Pioneer Square. I had a blast walking around for five hours taking pictures. See you next time!

Blessings,

Linda

A New Beginning: Studio Dance Photographs, with Elizabeth Dennis

Welcome back!  I have been gone from this blog for so long! I have been busy with school, taking photography classes, and throwing myself whole-heartedly into the world of photography. Last quarter I worked with studio photography: portraiture, product, metal, glass, etc. It was a fantastic opportunity to work in teams, learn continually, and shoot in the studio every week.

I have always loved dance and photographing dance, as a result, my final project consisted of photographing a variety of dancers and dance styles, solo, in the studio. One of my models was the beautiful and talented Elizabeth Dennis, known in the Seattle area for her unique fusion of different styles, such as Belly Dance or Raks Sharqi, Flamenco, East Indian, and others. Here are three shots from my shoot with her. She was a terrific model...

Elizabeth dancing with one of her favorite props, a fan.
She has a magical ability to create free flowing shapes...

Elizabeth dancing with a veil. She is also well known, among
dance enthusiasts, for her beautifully expressive hands and arms...

Elizabeth kicks up her heels in a passionate and expressive fusion
 of Flamenco and Danse Orientale, demonstrating the integral role
that costuming plays in dance...