Boston Ballet Nutcracker

rutt

I got into the second to last dress rehersal and pretty much had the run of the place. The only rules were: no flash, and I couldn't go backstage. I shot a lot and learned a lot for next time (if there is one.)

The processing and choosing of these is still a work in progress. But here are some:

[Author edit: I have completed processing and choosing from this shoot and a subsequent one. See: http://rutt.smugmug.com/gallery/999326 for finished versions of my favorites.]











My proof sheet with out of camera jpegs and these finished shots is here, if you want to look. I love help with choosing shots. There are more good ones of the bear, perhaps better than this one, but this one shows just how good a dancer he is. There are also come good ones of the toy doll pair.

Should have stayed in the orchestra for the 2nd act with the 85 f/1.2 instead of going to the dress circle and shooting with the 70-200 f/2.8.

4labs

Must have been a wonderful Rutt. Great set, thnxs for sharing.

rjpat

Lovely shots, well done.

pathfinder

I'm jealous, you rascal.

What an opportunity!!

I see how dark it was too, looking at your exif data.
ISO 1600 f2.8 1/50th at 200mm


Challenging conditions, and I think you might have enjoyed a 300 f2.8 IS L at times also.

The height the dancer in the bear suit attained is unbelieveable. What an impressive display.

I love the shot of the bear doing the spits in med air!!

HeldDown

BEAUTIFUL, Rutt! I'm very impressed.
Scott (McLeod) and I were just complaing last night that he and I appear to be the only theatrical photographers on the board. Well, now that's not entirely true. Congrats on some wonderful shots in an environment I *KNOW* is hard to shoot.

- Geordan

rutt

pathfinder wrote:

Challenging conditions, and I think you might have enjoyed a 300 f2.8 IS L at times also.

I have one and brought it, but, even on the 5D from the dress circle, it was too long.

If and when I get another shot at this, I'll stay in the orchestra and shoot with a fast prime. I don't think new glass is required, but maybe a step ladder to get up just a little above the stage lip.

ChrisJ

Wow, nice job in challenging conditions. That must have been fun. The (crisp!) bear coming out of the two dancers bodies at neck level made me laugh. And the height of jump (or illusion anyway) in #4 is killer. Great framing.

rutt

And thank you very much to everyone who commented. There are a few more good ones, and I'll get around to posting.

For me the most frustrating thing was that the light for the Arabian dance was really really dark, but the dancers were so good and the choreography is so challenging and sensuous. I don't know how to capture that. And the dress circle (as opposed to orchestra) vantage wasn't doing me any favors:

rutt

95Mcaj wrote:

Wow, nice job in challenging conditions. That must have been fun. The (crisp!) bear coming out of the two dancers bodies at neck level made me laugh. And the height of jump (or illusion anyway) in #4 is killer. Great framing.

Thank you very much.

No illusion about the height of the jumps. This is probably the second best class ballet company in the US and these are absolutely top professional dancers at the peak of their form. If anything the vantage from the balcony and the telephoto lens makes the jump look less hgih than it really was.

[AUTHOR EDIT: my wife, the real ballet fan in the family was upset that I said Boston Ballet was only in the top 4 or 5 companies in the US. After the New York City Ballet, she says, it's only Boston or maybe San Francisco. So in the interest of domestic tranquility, I corrected myself.]

ScottMcLeod

rutt wrote:

Thank you very much.

No illusion about the height of the jumps. This is probably the second best class ballet company in the US and these are absolutely top professional dancers at the peak of their form. If anything the vantage from the balcony and the telephoto lens makes the jump look less hgih than it really was.

[AUTHOR EDIT: my wife, the real ballet fan in the family was upset that I said Boston Ballet was only in the top 4 or 5 companies in the US. After the New York City Ballet, she says, it's only Boston or maybe San Francisco. So in the interest of domestic tranquility, I corrected myself.]

Don't just paint me green... drown me in a tank of green paint.

I hope that the photo gods someday give me this kind of opportunity. For now, i'll settle with the local smaller companies.

PlayeTyme

Excellent series, Rutt. You photos are simply amazing.

rutt

Lyle Kroll saw these images cross posted on FM and rendered this beautiful version of #1:



and asked my permission to post on the Photo Illustration & Digital Art forum there. His actual post: http://rutt.smugmug.com/gallery/990330/14/45791495

I find it pretty darn nice when a shot of mine gets picked up and inspires such a cool and creative use.

ian408

John, these are great. I especially liked #1. Your shot of the bear shows the
height achieved very nicely.

Ian

lynnma

being an ex dancer Rutt my pulse rate went up several clicks at these lovely shots.. #1 is wonderful.. and I like your version much better

rutt

ian408 wrote:

John, these are great. I especially liked #1. Your shot of the bear shows the
height achieved very nicely.

Ian

The bear is great, but also a misshoot, you know. If/when I get another chance, I'll get the camera much lower and hopefully that way he'll clear the heads of the people in the background.

Thanks Ian and Lynn.

zigzag

rutt wrote:

I have one and brought it, but, even on the 5D from the dress circle, it was too long.

If and when I get another shot at this, I'll stay in the orchestra and shoot with a fast prime. I don't think new glass is required, but maybe a step ladder to get up just a little above the stage lip.

You mean you were by the pit? Uh...how'd you manage that? I play in an amateur orchestra here in Boston that is, incidentally, conducted by Jonathan McPhee. I've seen him kick a photographer out of a rehearsal due to the noise of the shutter during quiet parts of the music. And this was a guy being paid to shoot us!


Wonderful, wonderful shots, btw.

rutt

zigzag wrote:

Wonderful, wonderful shots, btw.

Thanks!

Johathan is a great guy and had a lot to do with saving Boston Ballet a few years ago. But the Nutcracker is big business and they have to give the local pros an opportunity to shoot at the dress rehersals. Also:

1. There are no really quiet parts of the Nutcracker, and
2. The conductor isn't in charge. The artistic director is talking to the dancers almost the whole time, and
3. I wasn't in the pit. But front row and up the steps on either side. It was great.