Ballerina Photo-Series - looking for feedback

[NAKA]

I recently went for something different and attempted my first photo-series called 'Beauty Within'. The concept was to highlight Alberta's (Canadian Province) art scene by placing ballerina's in various settings throughout the province. I hope to post a few from the series but I'll start with the image below (captured in the Crowsnest Pass).

Shot using Canon 60D, EF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS II USM lens in RAW format. Post-production in Lightroom 3. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Derrel]

Nice lighting, and a solid concept and composition! My first suggestion would be to carefully clone out that object at the bottom of the frame, between her feet...that is an eyesore. Otherwise, good. I see lens quality issues at the top of the frame on the super-large file (at 5,184 pixels), and the image has a lot of compression artifacts when seen at 5184x, but shrunken down, it looks nice! Her pose and the wall's visual weight and visual balance are VERY nicely done!

 

[NAKA]

Thanks for the comments Derrel. That object could definitely be removed and this file is a highly compressed JPEG (limited to 2mb) so might explain the artifacts? Anyhow, nice to hear some positives as well.

If I were to post some others from the series should I post them here? or should I start a new thread per photo?

 

[Derrel]

Thanks for the comments Derrel. That object could definitely be removed and this file is a highly compressed JPEG (limited to 2mb) so might explain the artifacts? Anyhow, nice to hear some positives as well.

If I were to post some others from the series should I post them here? or should I start a new thread per photo?

Yes, I figured the artifacts were just due to compressing such a big file for the web. It's up to you--you can post additional images in this thread, or start new threads, as you choose. I thought the concept and execution were both very good in your image. I thought the rugged, natural-world background elements were a wonderful counterpoint to the delicateness that we often associate with ballet.

 

[NAKA]

I might as well continue in this thread since it's part of the same theme. Here's a handful more:

 

[mmaria]

I like them, but could you please post fewer photos in one thread? That way it would be easier to comment

 

[Big Mike]

Beautiful ladies and Alberta landscapes....These are two of my favourite things.

As for posting the images together or separately, it's up to you. If you want more in-depth responses on images, you are more likely to get that with individual posts & threads. But if you want to show them as a series or project, then it makes sense to post them together.

I'm curious if you have any oilfield related images.

 

[NAKA]

Thanks Big Mike. It was a fun shoot to do - combining two beautiful things.

This shoot was a 'preliminary' shoot of sorts that I did with my fiancee. We were going to see the interest in the project and hoped to continue it in the new year (going province wide and indeed including some oilfield related settings). The project is explained a bit more here - Alberta: Beauty Within | Photo and a Song and was even featured on the HuffPost here - 'Alberta: Beauty Within' Photography Project Adds Ballerinas To Iconic Backdrops.

I did want to give a feel of the series and get C&C on the set as a whole, so I posted a bunch (but I can definitely see your point mmaria, it would be easier to give more detailed C&C on a single image).

Cheers!

 

[jenko]

Nice shots--my favs are the ones with the trees.

 

[Derrel]

Nice work. It;s a fun concept, and I think you've done well on it. It's fun to see the natural and geographical aspects of the province with the ballerinas oddly out of place--that's a great fish with a bicycle kinda' concept, and I love it!

 

[NAKA]

Thanks guys.. I hope we can continue the series.

Has anyone ventured into 'crowdfunding' services to fund a project?

 

[Designer]

Has anyone ventured into 'crowdfunding' services to fund a project?

We've seen that here, but I don't know if it was successful.

 

[Rags]

Nice work Naka

Your choice of settings and comps are very well done

Rags

 

[baturn]

I think a pretty girl does wonders for a poplar forest or an abandoned grain elevator, but the jump in front of the windmills is the winner for me . All outstanding!

 

[Granddad]

I agree with Baturn. #5 (with the windmills) is the one that grabs me as a DANCE shot. The others could be a pretty girl in ballet clothing posing in odd places. When shooting dancers I try to get them in motion in a significant proportion of the shots.