For the more produced section of the assignment I wanted to show the powerful forms and bodies of the dancers while still retaining a portrait element that represent the individual expression of the art form. This is Samantha Klanac Campanile posing.
Topics
ballet, Black and White, Dance, Editorial, Fine Art, Photography, Photojournalism, Portraiture, Sports, Theater
I was assigned to cover the Aspen-Santa Fe Ballet during rehearsal in the days leading up to their first performance of the 2016 summer season. The idea was to shoot both reportage and more styled portraits of the dancers in black and white for Aspen Sojourner Magazine. Knowing next to nothing about ballet, I spent a day with the dancers learning about their craft and the challenges they face as well as chatting with the crew that made the performance possible. What I found most stunning though, was the incredible talent required both physically and creatively to accomplish these intense manoeuvers, and the toll it takes on their bodies. Prior to seeing the raw talent up close, I had taken for granted the grace achieved by dancers. Now I've seen the hard work and laborious process involved and I have a much greater respect for the art itself.