Toronto - Blue Silver competition - Mar 2010

[Graham]

My efforts (52 pics out of 1300). I hope you enjoy them (I'm leaving Elise to post mine of her and P).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48676465@N05/

My favourite couple of pics.
Classic - http://www.flickr.com/photos/48676465@N05/4459829467/
Movement - http://www.flickr.com/photos/48676465@N05/4460626334/
Abstract - http://www.flickr.com/photos/48676465@N05/4460606610/

Graham

[elisedance]

very nice - I would have commented there but not a member yet....

[Graham]

I made a comment to Rugby (offline) about the Blue Silver pics. I realise looking at them after the filtering process to choose which ones get posted, that certain couples are present a lot more than others.

Possible reasons would be that I took more pics of them and so statistically (all other things being equal), they would be present more frequently. I took more of ED and DP as well as Rugby and DP than anyone else, but I wouldn't have posted as many pics (certainly some) - no disrespect intended.
Possibly the couples were prettier, but I would like to think that I am not swayed by looks alone.
Possibly some couples seem to have a better line between poses than others and so the pics show slightly better if the optimal point has been missed (camera takes at 2fps at best, slower shooting RAW).
Possibly some couples attire moves better, again producing a better picture off-optimal.

It is these two latter points that I am tending towards. I don't know. Interesting point for me to consider further, it could be good to further my photography as well as my dance. I see many people focussing on the pose lines rather than good movement between the poses. Certainly in the social world I see many flash-no substance couples and very few couples who present well throughout.

Any thoughts?

Graham

[elisedance]

photographs are a terrific way to follow your dance development - better I think than video.  The reason, as discussed a bit elsewhere, is that they catch you at any moment whereas with a video we tend to focus on 'the' moment - we self filter the nice actions from the bad ones.  Thats why, I think, photos seem to be so harsh (there are other factors, not least of which is the use of flash ).  Really great dancers look great all the time, whether in a pose or between feet - thats why they are great so if you take a picture they also always look great.  I think you will find that social dancers almost never look great - they can look good, comfortable, like they are having fun - but they very rarely look great.  Good pre-champ dancers look really good in photos about (I'm guessing) 1/3 of the time whereas really good championship ones do so maybe 50-70%.

[catsmeow]

I am busily looking for the one in three possible good photos that EE mentioned above. My partner just told me I am not photogenic. That was a toxic comment and I aint talking to her for awhile.

[elisedance]

I am busily looking for the one in three possible good photos that EE mentioned above. My partner just told me I am not photogenic. That was a toxic comment and I aint talking to her for awhile.

I don't think its particularly toxic - just a matter of fact.  I used to be very photogenic - but age has its way...

[Graham]

Good point. As you say, easy to look good in poses, but to look good during the transition is harder. Good thought for the percentages.

Also goes to show how important the outfit is. I look terrible dancing in jeans cos the cut make me look very large in the butt (and I really don't need the help). Maybe I should start a thread about how (and more interestingly to me, WHY) attire can affect your presentation.
I need dance pants that are wide at the ankle to balance out my large upperbody. ED, your DP is much better shaped for dancing than I am. I have been mistaken for the burly doorman on several occasions rather than a dancer (at least until they see me dance).

Graham

[elisedance]

Lovely isn't he?

[Graham]

Must admit, lovely isn't a word I would use to describe your DP. Nice fella nevertheless.

Graham
(never thought of another guy as lovely)

[Rugby]

I am busily looking for the one in three possible good photos that EE mentioned above. My partner just told me I am not photogenic. That was a toxic comment and I aint talking to her for awhile.

Actually I told him that I am not photogenic, but now that he mentions it he isn't either.   

[Graham]

Of the pics I sent you, I like numbers 5, 54, 61, 72 (but that was the end of a dance), 81.
Given that I posted only 1 in 25, to have 5 that I like is pretty good.

Graham