Interview: Unique Graceful Movements of Dancers Frozen in Time

By Jessica Stewart on May 21, 2018 

Created by Brooklyn-based photographers Ken Browar and Deborah Ory, the NYC Dance Project has been capturing the beauty of dancers since 2015. Merging their backgrounds in fashion and editorial photography, the duo has amassed an impressive portfolio of dance portraits. And by working with the world's top dancers at institutions like the American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Alvin Alley American Dance Theatre, NYC Dance Project is immortalizing contemporary dancers.

When My Modern Met first interviewed Browar and Ory in 2015, NYC Dance Project was still in its early stages. Since then, they've published an award-winning book, The Art of Movement, and have seen their photographs used in a campaign for the American Ballet Theatre. Given all the new developments, we were curious to catch up with NYC Dance Project and discuss how this idea, initially inspired by their ballet-loving daughter, has grown over time.

Jovani Furlan and Renan Cerdeiro, Prinicipals, Miami City Ballet. Tights by Yumiko.

We last chatted in 2015. How has NYC Dance Project grown since that time?
We published our first book The Art of Movement in October of 2016. We’re of course thrilled that today almost two years later it’s still a bestseller on Amazon, and that it was awarded an International Photography Award for Best Book.
We’ve shown our work in several galleries, including the Holden Luntz Gallery (Palm Beach), the Furman Gallery (Lincoln Center, NYC), and soon we will be working with the Susan Lanoue Gallery (Boston). We’ve, in the meantime, also started working on our second book, which will be published by Rizzoli and has a publication date of 2019.

Jacqueline Green, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Dress by J. Mendel.

How was the experience of putting together The Art of Movement?
Making an art book was an amazing experience for us. We’ve been taking photographs all of our lives, but seeing them in a collection and a theme together in large, high-quality book format was really rewarding. It was more work than either of us had expected, but the results were definitely worth it. And, of course, we look forward to seeing our finished second book, even though we know it’s a long road and production can sometimes be exhausting!

Artem Ovcharenko and Olga Smirnova, Principals, Bolshoi Ballet. Dress by Leanne Marshall.

What were the original goals of NYC Dance Project and how—if at all—have they evolved over time?
Our original goal was to promote dance and the dancers—and of course to compile a collection of photographs that represented the art as it is today. We’re very happy that NYC Dance Project has become a well-known showcase in the dance world.

Heather McGinley, Paul Taylor Dance Company. Parachute Dress by Norma Kamali.

After photographing so many dancers, what do you think is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as photographers?
We’ve learned to not plan out the photographs too much in advance, and to allow for things to evolve on set. The magic happens when we all—dancers and photographers—are open to making images that feel right, and don’t have preconceived ideas of what they will necessarily look like. So playing by the ear, as it were, or going with the gut, if you like, is crucial to putting everyone at ease, which in turn makes for the most beautiful photos. We also now try to go for capturing a few special images instead of many different photographs in the same session.

Renan Cerdeiro, Kleber Rebello and Jovani Furlan, Principals, Miami City Ballet. Costumes by Norma Kamali for Twyla Tharp.

What story do you try to tell through the photographs? Or does it change according to which dancer you're working with?
There is not a specific story we are trying to tell, but we find that all the dancers have their own stories and their own way of moving. They each express themselves differently, and so we try to first understand, and then capture, what is unique about them. The dancers ultimately are the ones telling their stories through our lens.

Indiana Woodward, Soloist, New York City Ballet. Dress by Leanne Marshall.

NYC Dance Project mainly focuses on ballet and contemporary dance. Has there ever been an itch to branch out into photographing dancers in other genres?
Of course! We have always wanted to photograph dancers in other disciplines and have already been making plans to do so. We had an opportunity to work with a street dancer, Lil Buck this year at the Gala De Danza in Mexico. We have also been talking with Michelle Dorrance, and hope to collaborate with her as well as with other tap dancers. And there is a ballroom dance couple that we will soon work with. We really love the idea of expanding our repertoire beyond ballet and modern dance.

Michael Trusnovec, Paul Taylor Dance Company. Vintage tails circa 1950.

What do you think it is about dancers that captures the public’s imagination?
I think people are impressed when they see dance, whether live, on film, or even in images, because they are impressed with the dancers’ physicality and control as well as their ability to express emotion through their bodies and their movement. We hope that our photographs illustrate that movement, despite being two-dimensional and still.

Misty Copeland, Principal, American Ballet Theatre. Dress by Trash-Couture.

Do you have any standout images from the project that hold special meaning to you? 
We did a campaign for American Ballet Theatre and there were not enough costumes on the set. I had a beautiful wedding dress in a light blue color that had been made for me. Misty Copeland ended up wearing the dress, and the image became a huge banner over the Metropolitan Opera house. It looked amazing, and of course was very special for me, personally.

Meng-ke Wu, Nederlands Dans Theater, Special edition tights by Pucci for Wolford.

Where does NYC Dance Project go from here?
After we finish this next book, we hope to do more dance films, so look for more in motion photography. We also would like to expand our gallery projects, so hopefully, we can have our photographs in galleries in multiple cities in the U.S., but also internationally.

Lloyd Knight, Principal, Martha Graham Dance Company. Costume by Halston for Martha Graham.

 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Official Royal Wedding Photos Are Absolutely Stunning

 

The official royal wedding photos are here!

On Monday, Kensington Palace released three wedding photos of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that were taken by Alexi Lubomirski at Windsor Castle immediately following the nuptials and carriage ride.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex would like to thank everyone who took part in the celebrations of their wedding on Saturday," the palace said in a statement. "They feel so lucky to have been able to share their day with all those gathered in Windsor and also all those who watched the wedding on television across the UK, Commonwealth, and around the world."

Kensington Palace further noted that the newly titled Duke and Duchess of Sussex are "delighted" by their official portraits and "would also like to say thank you for all of the generous messages of support they have received."

Lubomirski was also thrilled to have been chosen to take the photos. "It has been an incredible honor and privilege to document The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's inspiring journey of love, hope and family; from the engagement photos, all the way through to the official wedding and family portraits on Saturday," the photographer said in a statement. "This has been a beautiful chapter in my career and life, that I will happily never forget."

Alexi Lubomirski/The Duke and Duchess of Sussex via Getty Images

The first photo shows the couple posing with the royal family -- including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton -- as well as Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland.  Prince George and Princess Charlotte are also featured in the image -- which was taken in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle -- along with the other bridesmaids and pageboys from the wedding.

Alexi Lubomirski/The Duke and Duchess of Sussex via Getty Images

In the second snap, Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, are posing with just the children from their royal wedding party, and George, 4, and Charlotte, 3, are adorably smiling from ear-to-ear.

Alexi Lubomirski/The Duke and Duchess of Sussex via Getty Images

The final black-and-white photograph is much more romantic and showcases the couple on the East Terrace of Windsor Castle. 

Lubomirski also snapped Harry and Meghan's engagement photos and dished to ET about what it was like to work with the "naturally in love" couple. 

“[Meghan] was actually a godsend because obviously Prince Harry has done many photos before, but she really knew what goes into a photo shoot because she's done it so many times before,” he said of the Suits star. “So, it was wonderful to have her as a sort of coach on set. He kind of led her through and she led him through, and she just made it very nice and easy.”

My Sunday afternoon.  I hope you enjoy the video.  The photos can be downloaded (from an earlier post) to be used as a slide show screen saver.

Eagle and fox captured on film in incredible battle over prey

 

THE fight for survival is an everyday reality for animals in the wild, but it’s one we, as humans, don’t often get to see. But these incredible images by nature photographer Kevin Ebi have captured the exact moment a bald eagle steals the prey right out of a fox’s mouth at San Juan Island National Historical Park in Washington state, USA.

After spending the day photographing a group of young foxes playing in the grass, Mr Ebi said he continued to observe the scene as the sun began to set and the animals turned their attention to hunting.

A red fox runs with a rabbit it caught in the prairie of San Juan Island National Historical Park in Washington. Picture: Kevin EbiSource:Supplied

Before long, one of the foxes managed to capture a rabbit, but the experienced photographer was surprised by what happened next.
“I panned my camera with it to capture the action. Then behind me, I heard the cry of a bald eagle,” he wrote on his blog.
“I turned around and saw it approaching fast. I knew it wanted the rabbit. I intently trained my camera on the fox bracing for a split second of action.”

A bald eagle and a red fox tussle in midair over a rabbit. Picture: Kevin EbiSource:Supplied

However, instead of the fox dropping the rabbit as expected, Mr Ebi looked on in disbelief as it held on tight to its prey as the bald eagle swooped down and grabbed hold — lifting both rabbit and fox about six metres into the air.
The battle over the rabbit lasted about eight seconds, the photographer said.
“The eagle transferred the rabbit to its right talon and eventually let the fox go. The fox fell from enough height to trigger a small dust cloud when it hit the ground.”
Remarkably the fox was unharmed by the fall.

The fox is dropped and the eagle flies away with the rabbit. Picture: Kevin EbiSource:Supplied

oth rabbits and red foxes are introduced species at the national park. Mr Ebi said foxes rarely prey on rabbits — instead preferring to eat berries, insects and voles (small mouse-like rodents).

Three young photographers talk about their love for analogue photography

May 26, 2018, 07:14 IST | Suman Mahfuz Quazi

Three young photographers talk about their love for analogue photography and how they are using social media to perpetrate a silent revival

Siddarth Govindan

For 23-year-old Siddharth Govindan, it's a childhood framed in albums and prints that becomes the source of his affinity towards film cameras. "Shooting on film has taught me a lot more about photography and has taught me to make better judgments. The revival of film photography does not mean everyone goes back to film. A lot of people my age have never seen a film print nor have they ever taken a film image; they hadn't made a physical image until very recently. I find the process magical. There is plenty of joy to be had in that. It's like reading a book, instead of an e-book as it feels real and is tangible.

Maitreya Mer's journey with analogue photography began at 12 when his father gifted him a fixed focus film camera. "Film photography is the root of technique in photography. Each roll only gives you about 36 chances or less (depending on what film you're shooting) so, every shot counts. I like the texture and grains," the 25-year-old shares. Mer also develops films at home, elaborating on that he says, "I always dreamt of having a darkroom at home. The first step towards it was to start developing my black and white films. I took the plunge after watching videos on YouTube and refrigerating around 60-65 film rolls. It was mesmeric."

If you were to trace Manini Bansal's foray into photography, you'd find yourself in a Tollygunge (Kolkata) bungalow's storeroom. There, you will find 20 to 25 of her father's cameras ranging from Voigtlanders to Baby Brownies still in mint condition. For her, that's where it all started. "My first camera was a Kodak KB10, which I loved dearly. It got stolen during a school trip but a new one found its way back into my life. Since then photography has been a passion," the 25-year-old reminisces. "I was never a big fan of editing my digital photos either. The rawness and surprise element in an analogue photograph intrigues me. It's an expensive hobby, especially since film production isn't popular and most studios don't develop anymore. Hopefully it'll return some day," she adds.

 

Photography 101: Four legends who aced the art of monochrome photography with flying colours

News-Analysis Abhilash Pavuluri May 27, 2018 13:59 PM IST

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I figured this would be a nice addition to last week’s article, about learning resources. After all, a lot of us want to become photographers only after we admire photos taken elsewhere by other people. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: The beginnings of the industry were very humble. Photography was like magic to most people back then, and there were certainly people who could be considered magicians with the kind of photos they took. In this article we’ll talk about 5 such people.

Film photography. Image: Pexels

1. Ansel Adams:
One of the greatest and most popular of them all, Ansel Adams’ photos are a treat in themselves. He was a pioneer mainly for his work in landscape photography. Born in California, Ansel was a shy kid at school (and was later diagnosed with hyperactivity) and he used to look to nature for solace. It was in his later life that he really fell in love with the outdoors. Mainly the Yosemite and Sierra Nevada, whose photos are some of his best work ever.
Adams, along with fellow photographer Fred Archer, is also credited to have developed a new technique for developing photography film called the Zone System. He used mainly large format film cameras which meant he could get a ton of detail in all his photos. He was also an avid environmentalist.

Notable photographs include “Monolith” or “The Face Of Half Dome”.

2. James Nachtwey:
James Nachtwey is another name that cannot be missed. A photojournalist (mainly in warzones and conflict areas), James’ work is absolutely stunning. James recently did a segment for Time about America’s opioid crisis, which I personally think is one of the best works of photojournalism to date.
James was born during the Vietnam War and the eventual Civil Rights movements in the States, which he says are the reasons he wanted to take up photography. Having studied in Art History and Political Sciences, it shows in his photos.
James was also a wartime photographer for quite a while, even getting injured one instance from a grenade while in Iraq on assignment. Despite his setback, he still raged on, and continues to be a photographer today.
3. Stanley Kubrick:
This has to be a joke, right? Writing about a director in a photography column?
Nope. Kubrick was one of cinema’s greatest influences but he was also an extremely talented photographer. At the age of just 17, Kubrick joined the staff of Look magazine after a photo he took in New York made it to their office.
Kubrick went on to work with Look for 5 years, leaving in 1950. But his work is also something I feel every aspiring photographer needs to have a look at. Kubrick is all about the story. Even mundane subjects (such as a lady putting on makeup) turn into a fascinating story through Kubrick’s photos, and that’s what went into his directorial work as well.
However, this wasn’t a very well known fact about Kubrick: It came to light recently when a publishing company took over some photos from the Museum of The City Of New York And Art to publish as a collection.
4. Bruce Barnbaum
This article would be incomplete without a mention of Bruce Barnbaum, another photographer who has been a personal influence to me. Bruce had a different upbringing from the folks mentioned before: He was a computer programmer for around 4 years before he quit to take up photography full time, in 1970.
Since then, and we quote “After 40 years, it is still his hobby; it has also been his life’s work…”
Bruce is also well known for his books. My personal favourite is the essential “Art Of Photography: A Personal Approach To Artistic Expression”. A book that has some of the best insights on composition that I’ve seen.

Updated Date: May 27, 2018 13:59 PM