Photographing Dancers with James Musselwhite - Dare To Be Different!

When photographing dancers speed is of the essence. Silks dancing especially, is a skill of supreme core strength, and although these athletes can hold their positions with good form, they can't be held forever. In addition fatigue sets in during the shoot and so particularly complicated manoeuvres can often only be attempted on a couple of occasions meaning I only have a limited opportunity to get the shot.

The main benefits for me of using the Elinchrom flash kit are the speed of the flashes and the ease of use of the Skyport Pro Transmitter.

The speed of the flash units help capture crisp, sharp images every time. The Elinchrom units are reliable and on no occasion during the two 6 hour shoots, did they fail to sync or fire.

The Skyport Pro is the perfect partner, allowing for remote quick and easy shifts on flash outputs from your shooting position. This is key, as the Dancers perform at a height above 6 foot and therefore the lights are elevated to match. Changing power outputs manually would be complex and very time consuming.

These images represent girls who dare to dream. All of the featured performers are amateurs. Tiger Tone as a studio, encourages novices to walk through their doors and try something new. Hoop, Silk and Pole Dancing require core strength, no fear and a will to be different. It's not your conventional exercise class. But it's the girls willingness to try something unique and to express themselves that we wanted to capture. I've always thrived on showcasing those who dare to be different, who step outside the norm and who seek to challenge themselves to reach new ground.

About the author

James Musselwhite
Based in Portsmouth
Fellowship with The MPA & SWPP
Twitter & Instagram - @Y2Jimbob
websites - closerphotography.com / portraitofawrestler.com
Facebook - facebook.com/closerphoto / facebook.com/portraitofawrestler
email info@closerphotography.com

Kit Used

• Canon 5D MK3
• 4 x Elinchrom D-lite RX 4 Heads
• Elinchrom Skyport Pro Transmitter Canon