Tribal fusion portraits - Meilyn

[Granddad]

A couple of Meilyn in her tribal fusion (with a Steampunk flavour) costume for C&C. Both shots would probably have been better if I'd posed her at a 3/4 angle instead of straight on to the camera. I'll get that through my thick skull eventually. :er:
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[Vautrin]

Posing is good. Exposure is much improved from last thread . Don't get her costumes though. But that's just me...

I've noticed you're taking only full body portraits -- have you experimented closer up? Maybe just torso or other "pieces" of her body.... Might even be interested to see just, say, legs if done correctly...

 

[Granddad]

Re the costuming, Tribal is a very popular sub genre of belly dance, sometimes called "The Dark Side". Tribal varies greatly, most commonly a folkloric style with hard, urban, gothic style in lots of black and chunky Berber or Afghan jewellery coming a close second. Meilyn represents an emerging trend towards a softer look and what seems to be a blend of flapper chic and steampunk oddness. That's one of the things that attracts some of the ladies to The Dark Side, there are no rules set in stone in the costuming and there's a lot more flexibility and scope to develop your own style in the dance. My wife (a very respectable grandmother, church secretary, former church school teacher and a pensioner) teaches both classical belly dance and tribal style. If she had to go for one or the other I think she'd go for the Tribal :lmao:. There's an article on her website that tells you a bit more with photos showing costuming. The photos are mine and are quite old so forgive the quality.

Most of my work is full length but I do have a few head and shoulders etc. I have yet to really get into the proper studio portrait thing. My work evolved from photographing live belly dance events (an excuse to be involved with and support my wife in her hobby) and now I have the proper kit I'm working towards expanding my portfolio and thinking outside the dance box.

 

[squirrels]

I've been combing through new and old posts trying to learn, and I have to say I love seeing your dancer posts.

Its fun peeking in at intricate niches/subniches of various interests (makes me feel kind of darwinian finchy).

Thanks for the read and the interesting shots!
C

 

[Granddad]

Thank you. This is a great place to learn, Squirrels. Most of what I know now I picked up here over the last 18 months. It's better than being in a photography club!

Submitting work for C&C is a great way to keep yourself humble.

 

[Mully]

Thank you. This is a great place to learn, Squirrels. Most of what I know now I picked up here over the last 18 months. It's better than being in a photography club!

Submitting work for C&C is a great way to keep yourself humble.

It also hardens you up for the real world. I like your shots, the first one she is too close the the background to regulate shadow. have you tried a light grey seamless? I would also get some closeups while you are at it.

 

[Granddad]

Thank you. This is a great place to learn, Squirrels. Most of what I know now I picked up here over the last 18 months. It's better than being in a photography club!

Submitting work for C&C is a great way to keep yourself humble.

It also hardens you up for the real world. I like your shots, the first one she is too close the the background to regulate shadow. have you tried a light grey seamless? I would also get some closeups while you are at it.

Thanks Mully. Too close to the background seems to be one of my too common errors. I can see why I'm doing it (limited length of room and a wish to get the full body length in without going wide angle or having the shot overlap the backdrop) but I need to work on ways around that. I know better in my head, it just doesn't get applied often enough.

Using seamless paper has been suggested by others in other threads and it's a good one. I have enough in my camera account now to be able to afford a roll or two. It poses practical problems because I often take my portable studio equipment with me to a hired room for the shoot but a home made drain pipe case on the roof rack could solve that.

On the close ups, you and others are right. I don't do enough of them. Next shoot, I promise, even if it's only my wife. Meanwhile I'll find some of my head and shoulders to post, I do have a few.

 

[greybeard38 10]

I like them both, I would prefer a bit more fill in #2

 

[tirediron]

Nicely done - Tribal Fusion apparently varies a LOT between continents.

 

[Granddad]

Thanks Tirediron, we have the more traditional, too. This young lady is a variant, I've only seen 2 or 3 with anything close to this style of costuming. I must say I quite like it. Incidentally, one of the best male tribal dancers is Canadian, have you come across Valizan? I stole and adapted my signature line from a quote from him.

 

[unpopular]

I have to admit, they're nice photos ... but wow, what an obnoxious genre.

 

[tirediron]

From a Hafla a couple of years ago. NOT posted for it's quality, but just as a sample of local Tribal Fusion.

 

[Granddad]

From a Hafla a couple of years ago. NOT posted for it's quality, but just as a sample of local Tribal Fusion.

That's MUCH more normal! :lmao:
Here's one of my wife's troupe performing late last year, she's on the left. They're getting to be quite good dancers but she has to work on her colleagues to start showing some facial expression. I couldn't use most of the photos because those two just looked so bored!

 

[Granddad]

I have to admit, they're nice photos ... but wow, what an obnoxious genre.

Thanks Unpopular. Compliments on this forum are all gratefully received. The genre isn't one that appeals to most but for some it becomes an addiction. Definitely a niche market!

 

[tirediron]

I couldn't use most of the photos because those two just looked so bored!

My problem always seem to be any time it's more than a solo performance, there's always at least ONE person who didn't get the memo on choreography and is off doing their own thing. I probably bin 1/3 of the shots of any Hafla/dance event because of that.