A few portraits from last night's shoot

[angry hampster]

Every year for the last 15 years, the U of I has put on a huge cancer charity called Dance Marathon. All proceeds go to the University Children's Hospital, aid money for families with a child in the cancer care center, and research for childhood cancer. Participants pledge $400, but many come back with thousands of dollars in donations from residents and businesses around the area. The "Big Event" happens the first weekend in February every year, where the participating dancers must stay on their feet for 24 hours; a tribute to the families who are constantly on their feet and on the go while trying to keep up with their child's care. The dancers and "morale captains", who work directly with the families, are encouraged to wear ridiculous outfits in the name of fun.

The newspaper that I shoot for has been largely credited with the success of the event. This is our biggest weekend of the spring semester. We've got 12 photogs on it in rotating shifts from 6PM last night to 9PM tonight.

I volunteered to shoot controlled portraits while one of my coworkers gathered audio for the photo essay we're working on. This was my first time ever shooting portraits like this, but I think they turned out really well. Here are some of my favorites from tonight's shoot.

1
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...ancemarathon02-SCL.jpg

2
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...ancemarathon05-SCL.jpg

3.
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...ancemarathon06-SCL.jpg

4
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...ancemarathon08-SCL.jpg

5
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...ancemarathon11-SCL.jpg

6
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...ancemarathon17-SCL.jpg

7
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...ancemarathon19-SCL.jpg


What do ya think? I'll post a link to the slide show as soon as I get it.

 

[Koing]

I like it mate.

The young girls head was cropped for artistic merit right? I'm not a fan of that, but it works well for the first pic. Others look good as well.

Koing

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: Koing
I like it mate.

The young girls head was cropped for artistic merit right? I'm not a fan of that, but it works well for the first pic. Others look good as well.

Koing

Yeah. The guy standing behind her was easily a foot taller than her, so I cut the bottom half of her face off just to be funny. Here's one I got of them in a normal shot:
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...ancemarathon04-SCL.jpg

 

[Koing]

This looks cool:
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...ancemarathon02-SCL.jpg

Just that the composition on this
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...ancemarathon11-SCL.jpg
looks a bit whacked imo

Koing

 

[Billb2]

I've been following a photo thread on OCN and there nothing but crap there.
Typical
I looked at this expecting more of the same, but was pleasantly surprised to see something from someone who understands lighting and composition.

Nice work..........

 

[BehindEnemyLines]

I love that second pic. What kind of lens and exposure did you use to get that kind of black background?

 

[angry hampster]

I used a black backdrop first of all. My shutter speed was 1/200-1/250 with a 50mm or 35mm lens at f/1.4 or f/1.2. Remote flashes camera right and left.

 

[Aharami]

you're quite talented. Loved the composition on the first one. just keeping her eyes in the frame kept me wondering what the rest of her face look like. was she smiling, or was she not? really jump started my imagination trying to understand what her eyes were saying

 

[rivan]

Nice work :thumbsup:

 

[angry hampster]

Thanks guys. Here's the full slideshow:
http://www.dilibraryarchive.co...deshow/dm09/index.html


All but one or two of the black and whites near the beginning are mine. Get the captions up if you can to see which ones are credited as mine. My name is Steve.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
I used a black backdrop first of all. My shutter speed was 1/200-1/250 with a 50mm or 35mm lens at f/1.4 or f/1.2. Remote flashes camera right and left.

1.2??? whao, you have great depth of field though.