Dancing in the rain

Dancing in the rain

Violeta and I created this image on a rainy day in Battery Park. We had the idea of doing a shoot on a rainy day to help give more drama and effect. The idea in principle seemed simple but the practice of photographing in rain is never quite as easy as it sounds. We had attempted to shoot the day before but the forecast for rain let us down. Luckily on this day we got our rain. By the time this image was taken we were both completely soaked and cold. To top things off we had earlier made a deal with the Battery Garden restaurant manager to store our bags there while we shot in the rain. In exchange Violeta would have to dance ballet for them on our return but we felt it was a small sacrifice to make for dry bags.  When we came back to collect our bags Violeta honored our agreement and did a 30 second improvised ballet solo. It was very unique sight to see.

Battery Park is located on the southern tip of Manhattan and has a great view of the Statue of Liberty. Here is some information on Battery Park: http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/batterypark

Ballerina in Recession

Amelia and I created this image in her Washington Heights apartment. Feedback to this image has been mostly focused around eating disorders within the dance world. To be quite honest when Amelia and I created this image it was based upon the poverty associated with being an artist.  Amelia’s refrigerator happened to be empty and we had a conversation of the monetary sacrifices we each made to our art. This image was a product of that exchange.

Quiet in Soho

This image of Simone was created on a summer morning in Soho. I personally prefer the quiet and reflective images of the project opposed to ones that showcase a dancers facility, flexibility and form. Because the medium of the project is still photography I see it most important to capture the dancer and not dance. 

Graffiti ballerina

Christie and I created this image at a building in Queens known as 5 Pointz. We arrived to the location around 7 am on a humid summer morning. Luckily we got this shoot in before the heavy rain and an angry security guard tried to put a stop us.

Here is some information on 5 Pointz:

http://queens.about.com/od/thingtodo/ss/lic_art_2.htm

Ballet on the East River

Jen and I created this image on our second try of photographing under the Manhattan Bridge along the East River. The first time we experience torrential rain and both of us got completely soaked.


This abandoned mooring is located in Brooklyn Bridge Park in DUMBO, Brooklyn. 

DUMBO, Brooklyn in my opinion is one of most scenic areas in New York City. There are many old industrial buildings, cobblestone streets and beautiful water front parks between the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges.  DUMBO is not named after an elephant with big ears but is an acronym: Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. http://brooklyn.about.com/od/brooklynneighborhoods/p/DUMBO.htm

Ballerina Project on the fence

In this image it was Violeta’s idea to do an image up on this chain-link fence. She felt comfortable being up there and was able to do a lot while balancing on the fence. This was the second time we shot on this bridge. After the success of the first go around we felt we could do more with this location.

We photographed this image on the Williamsburg Bridge that connects the Lower East Side of Manhattan to Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

early days of the Ballerina Project

This image was photographed on the boardwalk at Coney Island, Brooklyn. We styled Laura in a vintage 50s Jantzen swimsuit and cap to pay tribute to the history of Coney Island. We were also lucky enough to both capture lightning in the background and miss the rainstorm that soon followed.

early days of the Ballerina Project

This is an image from the early days of the Ballerina Project. It was photographed at Coney Island, Brooklyn on a chilly May afternoon. By the time we took this picture Laura was freezing and from my memory one of the last images taken that day.