Motion Studies: National Dance Company Wales at The Place

A few weeks ago National Dance Company Wales held an open rehearsal session ahead of their performance at The Place. 

It was a unique opportunity for artists and dance fans - either to take a peek behind the scenes and really admire a fraction of the hard work that goes into those physical and beautiful pieces, or to sketch, photograph, write about or just observe freely without worrying about disturbing fellow audience members or breaking any rules. 

As a theatre and arts photographer I'm privileged to see many of these behind the scenes moments while photographing rehearsals or shows; this was different in that I was only photographing for myself and therefore could be a bit more experimental. I played a lot with long exposures, moving myself or keeping the camera static, with what happens when you put the camera out of focus on purpose, and even tried freelensing for the first time (conclusion: the effect is beautiful but when your subjects are also moving it's even more difficult!). 

It was also a wonderful sensation to have creativity happening behind you in the stalls as well as in front of you on the stage. The air in the room was almost crackling with it and we all shared gleeful smiles as we left for the sheer pleasure of making something all together. 

Warm-ups for me

Warm-ups for the dancers

Moving camera on tripod to follow the dancers across the stage (above and below)

Free-motion capture (above and below left) 

I had time to play with the exposures to balance out tracking the dancers' movements with retaining some detail

The studio becomes like a cinema screen, each cell a fragment of time, movement, energy 

Winding back down, unfocusing, loosening muscles

Thank you very much to both companies, the choreographer and most of all to the dancers for the opportunity - head to The Place's website and sign up to the mailing list to find out about more such classes.

And of course I couldn't resist a few classic shots...so much grace, so much sinew

A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of my favourite plays and certainly one of my favourite Shakespeare pieces. The dreamy fairies, the rude Mechanicals, the play-within-a-play; all seem to inspire some extremely funny, lively, beautifully designed productions. I recently photographed a new version for Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and it was totally gorgeous. All the sets and costumes looked like a Vogue spread and the performances were on point! The show continues to run tonight and tomorrow but looks like it's sold out!

Director: Steven Grihault
Set and Costume Designer: Susannah Henry
Lighting Designer: Adam King
Pictured: Rikké Haughem as Puck

Ant the Elder I

I've been finding more and more interesting people while scrolling through my Instagram feed and wanted to shoot a portrait or two of the faces I come across there. 

Ant is a tattoo artist working at Sang Bleu in Dalston and elsewhere in London and abroad. Follow him here (contact details in bio to arrange a booking).

Follow me for mostly pictures of bits of stuff on the floor and flowers.

I'm looking to expand my portraiture portfolio in 2017 so if you or someone you know would has an interesting look and would be interested in arranging a sitting please email me to discuss...any SFW proposals considered!

Blue butterflies

Romance rejects

I'm starting work on a personal project about romance, beginning with some test shots today to get a sense of the tone I want to strike for the rest of the images. These are (I am pretty sure) rejects so I'm just going to go ahead and share them here for prettiness. 

Istanbul, part I

Last week I dropped into Istanbul for a few days, visiting a friend who is living there and out of general curiosity. Are you ready for a lot of photos? About 700 of them are tiles. Here they come..

I once wrote a poem about this blue but it's too bad to share.

Pals

Uh-oh

Raki leads to lols.

The Blue Mosque. Everything in Istanbul made me feel a little like I was in an episode of Game of Thrones.

Uuuuggghhh so much beauty.

Seriously stop being so beautiful.

No, I said stop it.

Maybe when you see it every day you get blasé about it.

But I don't know how.

Tourist selfie.

After a stroll around Topkapi Palace (above) I also visited the Ayasofya or Hagia Sophia (below).

Greek graffiti?

Despite the crowds, it was one of the most beautiful and moving places I've ever been.

After all that sightseeing you need baklawa.

And lots of it. 

The inside of the Blue Mosque. 

Turkey's an adaptable sort of place, as evidenced by these enterprising calligraphers on the way to the markets. #yonce

The markets are bonkers

And so to an evening in Beyoğlu. Playing backgammon and drinking beer outside under vines, not bad if you ask me. Then finding a local haunt for a great view and pickled cucumbers.

The next day, a proper Turkish breakfast of cheese, eggs, bread, coffee, sausage and a delicious mix of tahini and molasses set me up for a ferry ride to the Asian side, and a wander around the gallery district.

A top time was had! Thanks for treating me so well Istanbul.