Flamenco (C&C)

Eirebear

Just back from a nice wee holiday in spain, didnt quite get as much in the way of photographs as i wanted to be honest as i was somewhere between being uninspired by the area we were in (typical touristy resort type place) and being too lazy to drag myself away from the poolside .
I did however get a few shots at a local "Flamenco" show.

I took along my 100mm f2 so unfortunately couldnt get the full length shots of costumes etc due to where i was seated, but other than that i am fairly happy with the results, any C&C more than welcome, and especially on the processing front.
Cheers





More available on my flickr stream whwnever i get them uploaded!

Kali

The first is excellent, lovely tones and captured the dancer in just the right stance, full of emotion and poise (perfectly capturing the grander side of flamenco) easily the best of the three.. well done.

I don't like the second at all the problem for me is the cropping, it's just too tight, especially for something like a flamenco where you need to see the flow of the arms right the way to the fingertips... the passion is there, but the man is looking at her feet/hips, both of which aren't in shot, and the area to the right is quite distracting.

The third shot is great, you get a lovely sense of energy and motion (a more energetic flamenco than the first), only negative I'd make is that the focus is a bit soft (probably forced to use a low shutter speed with the light?).

melekalikimaka

Kali pretty much said what i would have said.

Eirebear

Cheers Kali, im pretty much thinking the same way as yourself about them.
Unfortunately though the second one hasnt been cropped at all. I was just seated too close to the dancers to get a full lengths shot of them so i had to concentrate on facial expressions etc.
Edit:Cheers Melekalikimaka

AnCatDubh

I think number one is quite excellent. The colour and tones are really nice. It's like something you might have seen as a promo from west side story or the like - that kinda quality to it. The only thing (for me) to dislike with it is the shadow under the lady's arm. Having said that - this is likely to be out of control at a performance event.

I think number two is somewhat less ordinary when it shares the same space as the first. Its a nice take capturing the action. Shadow again distracts from the guy's hand.

Sorry but the third is not one that i would like at all. I think the shooting conditions were just a little too challenging for the camera at the time. The flared dress at the bottom isn't overly clear. I personally don't like the expression of the ladies and its picked up some motion blur. The line of the curtain (to me) is wrong in terms of the composition.

Sorry about the last one but number one is a cracker and number two a little less so.

Well done.

Eirebear

Cheers An Cat Dubh, to be honest im reluctant to blame the shooting conditions as they werent too bad to be honest, im pretty sure the 30d with the 100mm f2 should have coped ok.
More a combination of me struggling to adapt and the free sangria....:o