I've been dabbling in photography for a few months, barely. However, just as with any hobby, we develop particular abilities and discover preferences. I somehow always knew I wanted to try my hand at taking photos, and only hoped that a talent might someday blossom. I am a far distance from calling myself a photographer but what I can say, is that I've definitely gotten the bug.
In a very similar manner, I have fallen in love with swing dancing. It is social, it's fun, it's crazy and challenging, it's creative and keeps me on my toes (quite literally) and it just embodies the part of dance that had not yet been fulfilled for me. I had been dancing for years, but this new zest for life that I've been blessed with has only swept me off my feet since I've discovered the swing family of dances (and naturally, the community that sustains it, here in Ottawa). I have thought of taking up photography for a while, but never got around to it. Now that I have started immersing myself in it - and only those who've taken up an entirely foreign technical hobby can understand the learning curve - I have really started to feel the vast realm of creative possibilities and how I could possibly grow as a multi-layered artist. From now on, I benefit from three platforms of self-expression; written, danced and photographed.
I believe that photography gives me an opportunity to express my inner "artist", in a way that writing validates the existence of my inner "poet" if you will. Writing satisfies my need for the spectrum of introspection and communication, which is more of an intellectual exercise. Photography (or visual arts in general) satisfies my irrepressible thirst for aesthetic and art, whether it be in a traditional or unconventional form; I see the beauty in "imperfectness" of life. When reality meets ideas, I sense a creative urge is born somewhere. And I feel that words fall short. It's like being fed when all you want is a tall glass of water. That must be it; language is my bread and butter, and visual arts are my water.
So last night, I had the opportunity to start taking shots of my friends' swing dance practice. I was disappointed to find my regular 18 mm - 55 mm lens to be inadequate, but I got a rush from trying to get the movement just... right. You know? I caught a knickerbocker in mid-air, swivels at their hippiest, charleston kicks at their craziest and trucking at it's geekiest looking moment. I felt like I was catching glimpses of the dancers' vibe.
If you are still wondering... Dance is the air I breathe and the fire that consumes me.
Now you can imagine how excited I was when I found out about Lois Greenfield (http://www.loisgreenfield.com/index.html). This woman is an artist and she has perfected the art of studio dance photography. She portrays the body as a flexible sculpture of beauty and vulnerability. She creates lines, plays with light and color, bends time and captures motion thus painting a canvas of dance as an art form, but also of a tribute to the human body. My mind is blown. She would definitely be an inspiration to me in my future endeavors in this world of images.
This is what life is about... Learning, loving, believing and never ceasing to be amazed!
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