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Ballet 101


LenMarriott

Canon A540 P&S on 'A'perture priority. ISO 400, 1\200@f2.6, 5.8mm (35mm FF equiv) Slight crop plus B&W conversion to emulate Tri-x film in Photoshop via Channel Mixer. Best, LM.


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Family

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In one word: Exquisite! Perfectly composed, timed, and presented. A memorable photograph. I'm particularly mesmerized by the child holding forth her pinafore like fabric (I know very li'l about such garments, what it'd be called). The picture really fills out in the viewer's imagination, and that's always very satisfying. Compliments. The Tri-X film emulation works very well for me.

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Thanks for your thoughtful comment.  The little one's attire is called a tutu.  (that's the extent of my ballet knowledge).  Trying to balance the different colours of the light sources (daylight from the windows and fluorescent from the room lights) was a nightmare.  Thus the B&W conversion.  Best,  LM.

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Thanks, Len. B&W is anyways the best choice for such a composition with its felicity of form. 

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I think the B & W works really well. What first really strikes me about the image is the little girl seen trying to emulate her teacher, but secondly and  moreover the tree outside seems to be directing the choreography for the whole lesson.   Very well composed and you have handled the outside lighting really well.

Best Regards

 

Alf

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Thanks for your different twist on this one.  I never even considered the tree to be an element in the composition but you're right, there does seem to be some waving of the branches (hands?).  I'll keep that to myself.  Wouldn't want to scare the kids.  :-)  It was a very dull day so the inside lighting matched very closely that outside.  No brainer.  Can't take too much credit.  Best, LM.

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This is the human way to become a balerina...  ;-))  Very sweet composition,the timing is perfect. The little holding her dress is anoher way that shows the begining of  skills.I think that you have  well overcomed the light problems , the grain does  not disturbe the whole . The in/out  feeling and B/W tones are very nice as well.

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I'm not surprised that you find merit in this one being as you are known, in PN circles at least, to be somewhat of a dance enthusiast.  :-)  And who knows, I may become more knowledgeable myself in that area now that, to coin a phrase, I  have "some skin in the game".  The little girl is my granddaughter.  The lighting was soft & even and I never let a little grain or noise get in the way of an interesting capture.  As I said to Rajat, the different colour light sources were troubling so the conversion to B&W was an easy decision.  I prefer B&W for people shots anyway.  Thanks so much for taking the time.  It's most appreciated.  Best, LM.

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Thanks for your answer ,you have to  really start developing your dance interest! ,...;-)) with  a skilled sweety dancer in the family! 

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Len, great story is here. I like that teacher's elegant movements, as well as girl's concentration on that magic lesson. And what will happen to them in next 20 years? That simple project is called Life. Thanks for sharing, Vlad. 

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Elegance, the 'before' and the 'after'.  :-)  Who knows if my granddaughter will be the one doing the teaching in 20 years? It could happen. Stay tuned!  Thanks for taking the time to view & comment on this one.  Best, LM.

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Nice composition and the grains work miracle here. while the little girl is trying to follow the teacher, she retains the usual fondness for her dress too.  compliments -koushik

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Thanks for your visit and your thoughts.  Great observations.  I agree that one should never let a little grain\noise get in the way of a worthwhile image.  And what 3 year old little girl doesn't like prancing around in a frilly dress?  :-)  Best, LM.

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excellent, len. choosing the moment and the crop you make us see very very well the efforce of the little girl in following the teacher's mouvement. as all simple things, very difficult to get something like this, bravo.

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Much has already been said and i agree with all of the comments. It is a visual treat of contrasts which is very nicely represented in black and white. Adult in black and white; the younger girl in white and black. The older toe in a perfect and graceful position while the young girl tries to emulate. Even the exterior scene adds to the appeal.

 

If I am to be totally honest I am not crazy about the grain. I know people add it to images to give an effect. My dislike of grain is engrained in me from a youth where i did everything to avoid grain by using 25 or 50 "ASA" film and only using Tri-X when I felt I had no choice. Of course this is a personal bias and it should not detract from all of the other very attractive elements in this image. For what it is worth I just picked up a software tool to reduce noise in images. I had an opportunity to purchase it at 50% off on "Black Friday".

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I just decided to run it through my 'new denoise" tool and now I can't quite make up my mind [ "Go figga".

 

Tch! Tch! "skin in the game" (*_*). Grampa is going to have to clean up that kind of language (*_*).

 

PS my software tool is Topaz denoise and i have not learned all of the ins and outs (better watch my language)  of it as yet.

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Thanks a ton for your input.  Though my philosophy is that the image  trumps the noise I'd still prefer most of my images to be as low as possible in that department.  So thanks for the tip about Topaz.  Your version is great!  I'll look into it. As for 'skin in the game', I think that was a phrase coined by Warren Buffet to describe his executive's personal investment in their company, Birkshire Hathaway.  Simply meant to indicate a personal stake in whatever event is taking place.  See here.     Not sure what you thought it meant.   :-0  Best, LM.

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Back at ya, Ken.  And a Happy New Year since the end-of-the-world deadline has passed & we are all still here.  Perhaps the deadline was extended 'cause we all owe so much money & that has to be rectified first. :-(   Best, LM.

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I could have sworn I commented on this back when you posted it.  I often forget to hit the confirm button though.  Anyway, this is precious!  Even though you can't see your granddaughter's face, the body language tells us she's concentrating and trying her best.   Does she get those characteristics from you?  ;-)  All things being the same, I prefer it without the noise, but I don't find the noise offensive in the least in your original version.  And you've handled the lighting admirably.  It's definitely a special photo your g'daughter will cherish someday. 

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I'm happy to hear that I'm not the only one suffering from that recurring mild form of dementia.  :-(  I too find myself commenting on images I swear I'd commented on before.  (probably the same scenario that you experienced) .  I agree that in this case faces are less important than the body language being displayed.  Puts it in the global category that everyone can relate to.  No, she gets those characteristics from her grandmother.  I'm more of a 'close enough' guy.  That's why the grain in the original doesn't bother me but I do have to agree that Tony's version is a step up and one I intend to make an effort to duplicate in the future.  I hope she enjoys the shot in years to come otherwise my efforts will fade away when I do.   Best, LM.

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