Tags
dancer, dancing, dwyer, emelye, James, knowle, Photography, portsmouth, titchfield, village
A new challenge last week – facing November temperatures and shooting a couple of dancers outside. I met Emelye at Camp Bestival in the summer – she gave me some wellies (she was working for Shuh) and I was working for Monkey Shoulder. We swapped numbers and finally managed to meet up in Portsmouth for a shoot with her friend James.
Pretty early in the shoot the police rolled up to say they had received a complaint from some locals about people ‘prancing in their underwear’. The police obviously didn’t waste much time in coming to have a look…. once we promised that Emelye wouldn’t be stripping down any further they let us continue without concern for further risk.
We started off at Knowle Village – a community village built around the old hospital buildings then ended up at Titchfield Abbey, the ruins of a 17th century abbey which was a gorgeous location. Hair and make up by Tori Harris. Delicious cupcakes for eleveneses baked by Emelye.
Helen Abraham Photography 
These are great! I’m a dancer and sort of partial to shots like these and you’ve definitely taken some lovely photos!
Thanks Charlotte. It’s the first time I’ve photographed dancers so it was a fascinating experience. Hope to do some more when it gets warmer.
These photos are beautiful, congratulations. I especially love the partnership ones, very effective!
Allie
These are breathtaking! You’re clearly very talented — and creative. I love the shots in the trees…
🙂
I have to agree – you have really captured some stunning moments here!
These photos are really amazing
I love the ballet ones
great post!
(:
Wow! Your photos are Excellent! Capturing more then just the dancers.
Excellent pictures!
Are you a dancer yourself? Or did you know these people? I am just wondering how you managed to put them out and make them dance as it was summer 🙂
Anyway, I really love the 5 last ones!!!!
Thank you for your comment. I’m not a dancer (at all!) myself and just met Emelye at a festival. They were pretty brave as it was freezing that day but they were keen to get the shots so were true professionals about it 🙂
Beautiful pictures… Being a dancer myself, I know how difficult it is to be photographed in motion. Very elegant pictures…
Hi Helen, I really enjoyed your photos, especially the pictures in front of the brick wall, and at the abbey. I am a dancer, and I love to see people capture the true beauty in dance. It moves me (no pun intended). I have done many collages of dancers, especially when I am in need of inspiration and encouragement. I would definitely include your photos in my next collage. Great job!
Take a look at my blog @ http://simplystudded.com/category/food/.
Hershey
Nice! As a professional dancer, I know how difficult it can be to capture movement on film 🙂 (I have a newfound respect for models after my last shoot!) I especially like your use of the leaves in some of the earlier photographs– very nice sense of energy. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Beautiful photos. I love the ones with the leaves and the ones with the old castle in the background. Really beautiful. Thanks for sharing and congrats on being freshly pressed.
Beautiful!!!!!! 😀
You captured the true emotions behind dancing very well. It clearly made me remember why I love dancing so much – I can do nothing but give you great credit for these shots! Lovely!
WOW….beautiful shots. love your site!
Incredible shots! They’re so beautiful and graceful!
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed! 🙂
Captivating photos! I especially like the the last one!
Gorgeous!
simply lovely. that’s all I can say.
http://valentinedefrancis.blogspot.com/
The ones of the Abbey are truly exceptional.Congratulations on being freshly pressed.
rahulchhiber.wordpress.com
These are gorgeous. I especially love the three that end the first series of photos – B/W. Great inspiration for my photography work that I will eventually add to my blog. Thank you.
I love dance and appreciate anyone who is so graceful. You capture the spirit of the dance and its beauty too.
Ronnie
These are great, you really capture the movement and feeling in each photo. Beautiful job! I think photos of dancers are so gorgeous. xoxo
These are stunning! Wow, the movement in these shots is amazing!
http://cobblestonestreets.wordpress.com/
Beyond the stunning nature of these photos, they represent an excellent use of visual aesthetic in the creation of discourse by specifically addressing the relationship between positive and negative space. Very beautiful.
I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right. Thanks for pointing that out and getting me to take a second look.
Very nice shots.
These are some very interesting poses with some very beautiful dancers. Nice job!
I love it. It’s so beautiful.
amazing shoots!!
Very beautiful!
These are absolutely breath taking!
& congratulations on the FP!
I’m a dancer AND a photographer, so I really, really like these photos. Stunning!
Beautiful photos. I love where you chose to shoot the pictures. But it looks cold… brrr!
Beautiful! Pretty funny about the cops! Wasn’t it cold out there? Can’t even tell by looking at these dancers. Very nice!
Yes – very cold! But we were all working for free for shots for our portfolio so the desire to create something beautiful was stronger than the cold (easier for me to say – I wasn’t standing in my underwear). Thanks for your comment x
Beautiful!
Truly stunning, can’t believe you’ve never photographed dancers before..
Fantastic. Energetic.
The black and white ones are “the business.”
…as they say.
I love it! I’m a dancer myself – late starter, though, and insanely jealous of anyone who has something resembling a dancer’s figure. I love dancer photos and so glad to see them Freshly Pressed – congrats.
They are all so amazing. I love the expressive movements dancer makes. I especially love the one where the dancer is on the tree ^_^
I particularly love the last photo – just inspires romance, beauty and dance. Dancing is such a free form of expressing one’s self. Love the post & Congrats on being FP!
stunning pictures! I love modern dance.
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed! THese are beautiful!
Great pictures! I’m always in awe of how flexible dancers are!
These pictures are wonderful! A body in motion is so interesting to capture, as it is not posed and stiff; I love action shots! And the castle-like setting makes the dancers look even more poetic and stunning 🙂
Couldn’t tell if those were leaves or butterflies at first, then realized I was happy in the ambiguity.
I love the backlit shot and the use of leaves. It must have been chilly for your dancers!
Lovely images that bring with them a positive energy.
Really Beautiful!
Wonderful!!!
B..b.b.b.bbb.b.b.beautiful.
http://jdogwhitney.wordpress.com/
Beautiful photos! Hope to get there someday 🙂
Great shots! Really nice pics.
Very beautifully taken shots. I love them all but especially the ones with the couples. I am not a dancer but I have always liked the grace and beauty of dancing. You captured it clearly in your photos. 🙂
Cool and creative shoot.
Beautiful pics! Makes me want to dance! 🙂
Really beautiful!!!
these are fabulous shots! I greatly enjoyed looking at them. Congrats on being freshly pressed!
These are BEAUTIFUL!
cool photos
gorgeous photos, make me feel flying when the dancers hanging in the air for eternity at these pics.
congrats.
http://kisahmayang.com
Gorgeous images!
Wonderful photo shoot!
I love the use of colors, lighting, & positions of the dancer’s bodies
Amazing job!!
Totally wonderful.
These dancers are gorgeous, as are your photos of them. Outstanding.
Wonderful! Great work!
I would say the one with the dancer on the tree is my favorite amongst all these nicely taken pictures! Kodus!
These are SWEET! I love them so much! 🙂
Awesome, awesome shots! Absolutely Stunning! i especially love those silhoutte shots that are kind of framed in the doorway. Great use of black and white.
like the photos where it shoot outdoor, outside of abandon building..
Absolutely beautiful! I love them all 🙂
Lovely Blog and i love the photos, especially the one of the Dancer in the tree…
What an awesome set! Thanks for sharing.
these have really inspired me.. as a high school photographer only three months into learning the ropes of professional photography i love the use of composition and the story each photo tells .. keep you the amazing work
Wonderful work!
Interesting, i mean in it in a good way! i like very much 🙂 i love photography so much and i also love dance so this is pretty cool.
Lea.
This looks like so much fun. I love the form and feel of the photographs. Beautiful.
Absolutely adore your work. 🙂 I might use these as inspiriation for some of my own!
Very beautiful pictures!
wow! very nice shot… i love dancing like interpretative dance, ballroom dancing and other. i like the girl who post her different action and position… have a nice day to all…
Great Shots! Your doing great in Photography, Keep it up!
Beautiful! I liked the funny anecdote about “prancing in their underwear”. I loved this post because it includes an art (photography) inspired by another one (dancing). Thanks for sharing.
love the birdman spin…^_^…
I think you’ll like this:
http://www.jordanmatter.com/photography/dance-photography/dancers-among-us/
It’s what everyday would look like in dance!
nice:) I invite u to me: http://www.zzabski.wordpress.com
I follow u!
Wow, these photographs are amazing! I would think it would be so difficult to capture something in photography that is moving and not still. But, you did a great job and they turned out really gorgeous. I love them interacting with the leaves on the ground too.
very nice photo 🙂
Awesome! These look sooo cool! I love the one 8th from the bottom! These are just amazing, great shots!
http://www.thecameraanlge.wordpress.com
beautiful ballet, beautiful scenes and off course beautiful photoes
Thank You; very inspiring. Love the shots in the tree in front of the castle, Courageous.
Just beautiful. I love these photos. 🙂
only one word…. outstanding
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Beatiful photos and excelent location, we share your blog in our cultural blog in spanish.
Our best regards
http://lenous.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/fotografias-de-danza/
Thank you for commenting and for sharing my work x
Beautiful subjects, beautifully shot!!
These are *absolutely* gorgeous. The moments you’ve captured, just wow. I especially appreciate the second and third shots you have – like they tossed the leaves real quick and then danced. Those are lovely.
couple’s photos are amazing! great job! congrats on being freshly pressed!
Beautiful work! True artistry.
Wow..
Gorgeous photos! great shoot.
I love these photos! You are talented. The dancers look great too! Kudos
🙂
great captures! i really love the movement in each photos (:
Beautiful. Though I’m not the shutter bug in my circle of friends, I enjoy the result of all that hard work. Best of luck to you and congratulations on being Freshly Pressed! You deserve it. Hugs!
very amazing pix u got here. i can feel the passion from the dancer herself with the beautiful poses. nice post.
http://triviayourmind.wordpress.com/
Beautiful, very impressive! Like everyone said, you’ve captured the spirit and movement very well! I can’t even capture a glimpse of myself in the mirror when dancing 😉
Well done!
Wow, really amazing! Great job! 🙂
These shots are great… great choice of location! I’m especially liking the ones in the grounds of the castle! Thanks for posting so we can see them…
natural, simple, calm yet passion for dancing can be seen from the photo shot !! COOL !! I love it !! Nice photographer !!
Beautiful photos and such expressive movements! Lovely!
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What a great setting…love the black and white. You have really captured these dancers beautifully.
Gorgeous! I love the way you’ve captured the sense of movement with the falling leaves.
Beautiful photos ♥
OOh my gosh!! those pictures are breath taking..so beautiful..they seem so fluid and the lighting is great.. 😀
Amazing photos.
the ways in which an art (photography) comes face to face with another (dancing)…brilliant!
Remarkable photos! . . . Really like the Fall backdrop!! The last several pictures are hauntingly beautiful!
http://arabianmusings.wordpress.com/
wow….these pics are amazing….aside from the brilliant dancers, the set-ups were really great… their body lines are solid..
Oh my gosh, I ADORE the photo of the jump with the leaves everywhere! Gorgeous and just breathtaking, really.
beautiful… truthly, i’m speachless!
The photographs are lovely – I love the one of the set of two with the girl looking up and her laughing in the second shot (against the wall background.)
Lovely work.
Absolutely stunning photography! Geez, what I would do to be able to take pictures are beautiful as that!
Amazing photos! Congrats on being FP!
I love your work! These are great, and the dancers passion for what they are doing are coming right true your beautiful photos!
I especially love the ones in the tree. Beautiful work!
I thought this was going to be all about arts funding cuts and what to do with dancers who were, you know, ‘getting on a bit’. Thankfully it’s not though 😉
I like the red brick wall ones with Isadora Duncan-like poses. Also, dancers who are not stick thin (ie underweight) and not just showing off extension make so much better subjects IMHO.
The set of three, and in black and white are marvelous. I really like those shots. They look so natural!
just one word: brilliant
Wow…bbbbbbeautiful!
So amazing photografs!
Just beautiful and full of life!
Will be coming back to look at them over and over again!
Thank you for posting them!
Photo.._012….this woman….like a channelling of Isadora Duncan….breathtaking!!!…Photo…_015….well, she has become her element….the tree….Thank you for sharing these pics.
Amazing and inspiring! Many thanks.
Beautiful photography!!! Those are some really awesome poses!
Wow, these are beautiful photos. They’re still photos yet you’ve captured their movements somehow. They make me want to get up on my feet and do my own little twirl. I love these! Spectacular!
love the lady dancer! Very new and nice to see photos of dancers rather the regular videos…. great job! thank you for sharing. 🙂
Beautiful, sensual photographs!
Gorgeous shots! Love the black and white and the use of red!
Love the photo’s! Congratulation’s on being freshly pressed! The B&W are my favorite! Thank’s for sharing!
beautiful! the grace and elegance is fantastic. i’m a former gymnast and diver, and like dancing, i think photography of those sports is some of the most lovely.
http://www.icouldntmakethisshitup.wordpress.com
beautiful photos of the dancers, given the number of photos, differently locations and lighting conditions you must have been out there for hours! I have often thought of undertaking a project like this, but don’t know any dancers……
any helpful information on getting started would be appreciated.
Absolutely stunning photography!
wow. these are so amazing…
Great captures!
am a dancer myself of a completely different style(Indian classical) and yet the way you have shot the poses combined with the B&W effect simply blew me off…..amazing!! loved the first colour shoot with the orange background wall….the expression and the pose are superb 🙂
I Liked
I’m wondering how long it took to get amazing shots without the blur. Dancing is pretty motion intensive.
just beautiful! I love the combinations
Beautiful photos! Love the ones with the red wall and fabric.
Fantastic photos! How did you get them to be so clear and sharp? Their great!
Beautiful photos! You capture the passion in dance!
Most artistic. I’m sure you could even make me look good!!! Thanks so much for the fabulous shots.
Great dancing photography, thanks allot…
Great post. I used to be checking continuously this weblog and I am impressed! Very helpful info specifically the final section 🙂 I handle such info a lot. I used to be seeking this certain information for a very lengthy time. Thank you and good luck.
Great pictures. My current exhibition is also series of photographs of a dancers
good one……………..!!
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very impressive.This is like going to the swan song …. I like girls.She is so beautiful
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I really blog likewise and I’m authoring a little something related to this particular blog, “Shooting
dancers Helen Abraham Photography”. Would you care if perhaps I reallyincorporate a few of your personal concepts?
Thank you -Trina
Hi Trina. Thanks for reading my blog and letting me know that you enjoyed it. I am happy for you to use ideas or show my images as long as you credit me and put a link back to my blog. Thanks! Helenx