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Extreme Backbend
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AllenP


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Best of 2014 (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark III
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.2L
Date: Nov 27, 2014
Aperture: f/4
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/125
Date Uploaded: Jan 14, 2015

One of my favorite shots from my photo-shoot with the extraordinary ballerina Svetlana Bednenko who is a Soloist with the Mikhailovsky Ballet. I had the pleasure of working with her while Mikhailovsky Ballet was touring the United States in November of 2014.

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 218
Avg (all users): 7.4355
Avg (commenters): 9.0000
Avg (participants): 7.3426
Avg (non-participants): 8.0625
Views since voting: 3608
Views during voting: 284
Votes: 124
Comments: 29
Favorites: 7 (view)


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AuthorThread
01/24/2015 10:40:06 PM
The pose of the dancer, the composition and lighting are fantastically done. Nice to see you back in the spotlight Allen! Congratulations on your blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/24/2015 10:04:44 AM
Originally posted by tome:

Congrats on the blue Allen and thanks for the detailed lighting description!
I just noticed the two vague shadows from her legs - did you worry about that or did you leave it intentionally?


They are caused by the stripbanks that are behind her at around 45-degree angle. I never remove them, because if you do, the model will look like she is floating in the air and has no contact with the floor.
01/24/2015 07:49:54 AM
Congrats on the blue Allen and thanks for the detailed lighting description!
I just noticed the two vague shadows from her legs - did you worry about that or did you leave it intentionally?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/23/2015 10:28:15 AM
Fantastic lighting, congratulations on your win.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2015 08:51:27 PM
Originally posted by Giles:

what was the lighting for this allen, beautiful capture. stunning in fact


Hi Giles, I used 6 lights for this 2 of which are stacked up on top of 2 other in order to create 2 super tall but narrow lights for edge lighting. I have noticed that this way it works so much better when trying to capture dancers from head to toe. Basically the 4 lights (2 on each side) are covering her all the way from head to toe uniformly, but I have grids on them so that they don't spill too much on the background and the floor. Then there is one with a round grid for the background (hitting it from upper right) and 1 giant softbox to light her front (hitting her from upper left) but that one is set to low power. Having the last light is not necessary, but it is easier to darken her side facing the camera later if you want than not having the last light but decide to brighten it which will introduce some noise ... again the last light is nothing more than a fill. The reason you see her face and forehead lit even in the position that she is in is in fact from the tall stacked up lights that I have created which start all the way from the floor to the ceiling.
01/22/2015 08:44:29 PM
an out-take from a commercial shoot?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2015 07:23:36 PM
I can see why this would be a favorite shot. It is exquisite.
The ballerina must have trusted you completely in your studio to
perform this maneuver.

Congratulations on the Blue in a truly competitive challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2015 06:50:24 PM
what was the lighting for this allen, beautiful capture. stunning infact
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2015 04:43:22 PM
Flawless, as usual. Congrats on the blue!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2015 03:17:54 PM
That pose in incredible....and the photographer behind the camera is pretty good too.....wink. Amazing image, Allen
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2015 02:20:36 PM
Absolutely Fantastic!
Two Thumbs Up! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2015 01:04:56 PM
Great score. Wish I'd voted. Congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2015 12:39:39 PM
Way to go, Allen!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2015 11:02:56 AM
This is just so beautifully lit. The lighting, IMO, is what takes it to that "next level." Glad to see you nabbed the blue with this one!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2015 07:14:30 AM
I saw a blue on this the moment I opened it. Fantastic shot. I did like the one you posted in November better, but this is a close second.

BTW my daughter is a gymnast and is pretty jealous of this woman's flexibility.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2015 06:23:34 AM
Congrats on the well deserved blue!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2015 04:11:34 AM
Well done - amazing result in a challenge with so many amazing entries.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/21/2015 11:40:09 PM
One of my top five. Beautiful light and form.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/21/2015 10:22:39 PM
Top 3, not sure how a person is able to bend like that!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/21/2015 05:51:03 PM
extraordinary !!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/21/2015 05:45:08 PM
Stunning
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/21/2015 01:20:17 PM
Very good
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2015 11:04:48 PM
This is a terrific photo! Not only is the dancer in an impossible position, but the lighting and composition of the photo are perfect! I hope this one is available for purchase... I would buy this in a heartbeat. My favorite of the Challenge too - a 10 from me!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2015 03:24:36 PM
Wow, that's amazing. Very elegant study.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/15/2015 11:41:10 PM
Best in show award, congrats , very professional photography again, BIS gets a 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/15/2015 11:18:59 PM
Super clean, fantastic lines...AllenP? good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/15/2015 03:09:52 PM
incredible !

gorgeous light
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/15/2015 12:13:57 PM
stellar.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/15/2015 08:00:29 AM
Quite amazing all around. Worthy of an inspirational poster. Flawless. I can't see how this could get anything less that a 10 for being so clean and perfect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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