This past weekend (lots of images!)

divamum

C&C always welcomed!

My daughter is involved with a dance troupe which does charity performances. To date, it's been local old-folks' homes, but the teacher upped the ante this year and arranged for them to go and perform at the Ronald McDonald House in New York City.

I of course took lots of pictures

There was a dress rehearsal in the form of a local nursing home performance the day before, where I caught a few shots of them getting ready
1.


2. ...and waiting their turn


Lighting was tricky as the room was backlit by big windows
3.



4. but it prompted me to try some different processing (can't decide if I like this or not, but it was kinda fun!)


The next day, we took the train up to the city, the girls finding ways to amuse themselves en route:

5. (yeah, yeah, a snapshot kinda image, but all of them plugged into one ipod cracked me up )


LIghting was even worse than the previous day, but you work with what you have.

6a



6b


The resident kids were invited to join our dancers and learn a few tap steps - watching our girls work with them, and them giving it a try was priceless

7a



7b


7c


7d



After the performance, we went up to the observation tower at Rockefeller Center - at last... LIGHT!!! Couldn't resist B&W, however - something about it just seemed right for the vista.

8a (yes, this one's mine. You can tell by the kitty ears :rolleyes:D)

8b

jeffreaux2

Im on an uncalibrated laptop which in this case matters very little.

The substance and content along with the dialog represent something very special. Mistakes from the shooter....if I had been looking for them (I wasnt) would matter very little here....a case of content taking precedent over technicalities.

Great eye.(have you ever considered wedding photography? )

FWIW....the last two...and especially the VERY last one......absolutely PERFECT!

...and that moment....that girl(yours).....THAT quality in both ...imortalized ...is why you shoot....isnt it?

Halite

Fun series. FWIW, I like the processing in 4. The last photo--absolutely priceless.

Scott_Quier

I have to with Jeff - you have a talent for getting the essence of the moment. Very well done. Love the shots and the descriptions.

Also - have you thought about wedding photogrphay :lol - I think you may have a talent for it!

Mitchell

That last one is a real winner!!

Great composition and conversion. One of the best shots I've seen of your lovely daughter.

divamum

Thanks guys! The last one is my favorite too - we got SO lucky to get the view (less than half an hour earlier it had been at ZERO visibility, but by the time we got up there the sun had come out) and it really was one of "those moments". Not just the success of the trip and our pride at the empathy and collective spirit they demonstrated, but the cat ears (which will be being retired as she enters middle school next year), the gappy smile (just had oral surgery last week to remove 5 impacted baby teeth), the mix of little girl and tween/teen that she's becoming... Special indeed

Oh yeah, and....

No. Weddings.

I just KNOW I'll have to eat those words someday, but for now... holding firm roflrofl

But I will make a true confession: I got most of my IDEAS for these shots (and processing) from having looked at too many wedding shoots - I totally had that in mind as I was scanning the scene for shots. I'm DOOMED!!!! :lol

Tim Kamppinen

I agree about the last one; it's just wonderful. The fact that you can just make out the empire state building in the background really makes the shot for me.

divamum

Tim Kamppinen wrote:

I agree about the last one; it's just wonderful. The fact that you can just make out the empire state building in the background really makes the shot for me.

Thanks - that was the plan! Glad it comes across - I wasn't sure if the haze melting into the blown sky had masked the shape of the building too much. In fact, that's one of the reasons I converted it: I could burn it in to bump up the contrast and get that famous shape in the bg, so glad to know it comes across!

Funny thing is she didn't really want the picture taken (she blows hot and cold) and I had to cajole to get her to turn to look at me, but now she's seen it she's thrilled. As am I!!

Mlark1128

Great style here! I love how you documented the day. Another vote for that last picture too--fabulous! The conversion works perfectly.

divamum

Thanks, Mlark. I'm a big fan of BW and have really been working on better conversions. I admit that I often start with one of the (many) LR presets I've collected over past months, but I consider that a starting point and usually play with them quite a bit above and beyond that until I get what I want. I think that's my favorite feature of LR - I use PS for layering and serious cloning/retouching etc, but hugely prefer LR for conversions.

Mlark1128 wrote:

Great style here! I love how you documented the day. Another vote for that last picture too--fabulous! The conversion works perfectly.