Deconstruct This Photo

[JAS_Photo]

A fun post from Chase Jarvis. How did he do it? Can you work it out?

Deconstruct This Photo 4.0 - Dancer in Flight | Chase Jarvis Blog (http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2011/05/deconstruct-this-photo-4-ballet-jump/)

[JAS_Photo]

Well, since he has not posted his answer yet, I will hazard a guess. My guess is that she is holding a lovely arabesque position and not jumping as supposed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabesque_(ballet_position)


Although toe shoes are flat on the toe, it looks like there is displacement here, so I will guess she is standing on plexiglass. The photographer is below and a bit to the front. I am going to guess this is a two light set up. One camera left fairly high and just behind her arm maybe an octo or other light box; the other light is lower and bit to the front of camera right. My guess is that it is possibly a gobo'd flash.

My knowledge of lighting is not that great but that is my guess. The highlighting here is very nice, IMHO.

[Bambi]

could she be in this position but flat- on a board and he's above and to the fore? I'm sort of thinking that she's doing a version of the splits. No guess for the lighting- I don't know enough.

[Matt K.]

I think she's on a balancing beam .... two lights, one from the bottom right, one from the bottom left. The flat spot on her right thigh makes me think the beam is Photoshopped out ...

[Iguanasan]

I was in Bambi's camp before I even read her answer. I think she's doing the splits on the floor and the photographer is up on a step ladder. Strobes to subject left and subject right to light her up without lighting the background.

[thoughton]

I'm not sure why she can't be mid-flight. Looks like it to me, with one flash camera left high up and behind her somewhat, and one camera right mid height. Reminds me of some Joe McNally stuff, even down to using a ballerina.

[JAS_Photo]

The big reveal:

Deconstruct This Photo 4.0 -- Ballet Dancer Image Revealed | Chase Jarvis Blog (http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2011/05/deconstruct-this-photo-4-0-revealed/)

[Michaelaw]

Awesome... no real magic unless you want to count the fact that it was conceived and executed with results that are hard to imagine without leaning heavily toward sorcery or magic. This team is good! If you never got to the vid linked on the site check it out below.

LINK (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xug-6XURtQ&feature=player_embedded)

[JAS_Photo]

It is very cool how it is all choreographed. I actually saw it before, I like how the band backs up the drums and moves them behind the scenes and are ready for the next scene. The whole set up is pretty amazing from start to finish.

Now the finished video, and its amazing to think it was all filmed in one cut.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GKykZ5zmqU