PDD Photo Conference - Nino G. Photography

Reflections on 2023 Pas de Deux Photo Conference

Posted October 21, 2024November 5, 2024 ninogphotographyLeave a commentPosted in Dance Photography, PDD Photo Conference

The 2023 Pas de Deux Photo Conference took place at the historic Chicago Hilton, with the theme “Bright Lights, Big City.” It was a transformative experience that brought together dancers, photographers, parents, and enthusiasts from around the globe. Attendees enjoyed inspiring talks, stunning visual displays, and the chance to explore new gear at the trade show. Highlights included an informative talk by Steven Karageanes, the captivating work of David Cooper, an innovative light painting workshop led by Zo, and an unforgettable dawn photo shoot with Dane Shitagi and Anne O’Donnell.

Safeguarding Dancers in Photography

For the first time, thanks to Beth McKinney’s initiative, the Pas de Deux Photo Conference invited NEAMA (Nonprofit Education and Advocacy for the Movement Arts) to deliver the keynote address to photographers. Steven Karageanes, NEAMA’s co-vice president, gave a thought-provoking talk that resonated deeply with the audience. NEAMA is committed to protecting and promoting the physical, psychological, and sexual well-being of both youth and adults, stressing the importance of community support while respecting individuality. Karageanes’ talk highlighted the critical role the dance community plays in safeguarding the welfare of its members. His message resonated throughout the conference, igniting a shared call to action. Attendees left with a renewed dedication—not only to mastering their craft but also to actively promoting the well-being of dancers.

Inspired by his talk, I took a hard look at my own social media presence and removed a few images that could potentially be misused by predators. The idea that a photo of a dancer could be exploited inappropriately made me realize the responsibility I have as a photographer. I encourage my fellow dance photographers to be mindful of the images we share, especially those of underage dancers.

David Cooper – A true artistic genius

David Cooper’s impressive career spanning 40 years in performing arts took center stage at the conference. His recent foray into creating Screen Dance films with local choreographers showcased his artistic versatility and commitment to innovation. Attendees were entranced by Mr. Cooper’s ability to capture the essence of movement through his lens. His work not only celebrated the beauty of dance but also reflected the evolution of the art form over the years. Mr. Cooper’s inspiring journey served as a reminder that dedication and a passion for storytelling can create timeless pieces of art. I was so moved by this Eclipse video that tears were coming down my face. I walked out from the talk speechless and inspired. You can watch the Eclipse video here.

Zo’s Light Painting Workshop: A Fusion of Art and Landscape

Alonzo Alcaraz (aka @Zo_After_Dark) infused the conference with a burst of creativity through his light painting workshop. Using the dazzling cityscape of downtown Chicago as his canvas, Zo demonstrated the captivating technique of light painting using Eric Pare’s Tube Lights. Attendees were immersed in a world of vibrant colors and intricate designs, witnessing the seamless marriage of photography, choreography, and urban landscapes. Zo’s workshop was a testament to the boundless possibilities of artistic expression and the magic that can unfold when creative minds converge.

Dawn Delight with Dane: Dane Shitagi and Anne O’Donnell’s sunrise photo walk

The conference took an enchanting turn as the sun rose over downtown Chicago during a dawn photo walk led by Dane Shitagi of the “Ballerina Project” and Anne O’Donnell from the Martha Graham Dance Company. Anne’s graceful movements amidst the tranquil morning setting, accompanied by the graceful flight of seagulls and pigeons, painted a mesmerizing picture of beauty and serenity. Attendees were treated to an unforgettable display of talent and artistry, capturing the essence of dance in its most ethereal form. The early morning session served as a poignant reminder of the power of dance to transform ordinary moments into extraordinary memories.

2023 Photo Competition

The 2023 Pas de Deux Dance Photography Competition was a global celebration of dance photography, with submissions requiring at least five images to qualify for the Grand Prize. A distinguished jury of professional dancers and photographers reviewed the entries, and the winners were announced at the Welcome Reception in Chicago, accompanied by a mini gallery showcasing the top winners’ work. I was thrilled to see Jingzi Zhao win the Grand Prize, her work truly stood out among a highly competitive field. I was also proud to have my own work place 3rd and 7th in the Portrait Series and 5th and 6th in Teen Dancers. You can view these incredible submissions here.

One of the exciting parts of the conference was also having my friend Lauren Willmann participate as a dance model for the workshops. It was her first time in Chicago, and I loved seeing her excitement as she explored the big city. Having her there made the experience even more special, adding a fresh energy to the workshops.

The 2023 Pas de Deux Dance Photography Conference was a journey of discovery, inspiration, and artistic growth. The PDD 2023 conference concluded with a captivating class led by the delightful Judy Host. I enjoyed watching Judy expertly direct dancers dressed in whimsical, creative, and stylish outfits. From thought-provoking talks that emphasized the importance of community to captivating visual displays that celebrated the art of dance, the conference left a profound impact on everyone who attended. The diverse range of perspectives and creative expressions showcased at the event served as a reminder of the boundless potential that lies at the intersection of dance and photography. As attendees departed with hearts full of newfound inspiration and insights, they carried with them a deeper appreciation for the art form and a commitment to fostering a supportive and empowering dance community.

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Erica Mix on silks during the aerial circus photography workshops by Jonathan Givens's at Pas De Deux Conference

Reflecting on 2022 Pas de Deux Photo Conference

Posted May 24, 2022September 25, 2023 ninogphotographyLeave a commentPosted in PDD Photo Conference

This was my first time attending the Pas de Deux (PDD) Dance Conference. This year’s event was hosted at the Lost Pines Resort near Austin, TX. I heard about the PDD conference from Rachel Neville’s social media in 2021 and I really wanted to attend the next event. I was so excited when I heard that the keynote speaker would be Lois Greenfield! Her work is both captivating and intriguing and she’s a gem of a person. We were just coming out of the Delta variant stage of the pandemic when I purchased the tickets and I was nervous that a new wave might cancel the event. Thankfully, the Omicron wave had died down by the time of the event and everything went smoothly, despite the crazy Texas weather, which I’ll mention a little later.

lois greenfield at the pas-de-deux-photo-conference-speaker-2022 — Lois Greenfield, keynote speaker at the Pas De Deux Photo Dance Conference 2022

Nino Gordeladze and Lois Greenfield posing together during the 2022 Pas De Deux Conference — Lois Greenfield, keynote speaker at the Pas De Deux Photo Dance Conference 2022

SELECTING WORKSHOPS

Mentally preparing for the conference, reading about each workshop, learning about the presenters, and then signing up for the workshops on the PDD app, was overwhelming. Before the conference, I highlighted workshops that covered interesting subjects and then looked up the presenters’ Instagram pages. I signed up for workshops with photographers whose works had inspired me. Some wonderful workshops had conflicting times, so I had to make tough decisions. The topics were quite varied. As a newbie in dance photography, I wanted to attend many different workshops because I wanted to learn as much as possible, but I could only handle so many.

The ideal strategy would have been to identify the workshops that would benefit my business the most, and then add more from there. However, while I mostly do fine-art dance portraiture, I have also dabbled in volume dance photography, so I needed learn from a variety of experts. In the end, I think I picked a good mix of classes, and I included some just for fun, such as photographing with a rain machine, light painting, and aerial circus photography.

WHAT TO PACK

Let’s talk about what I brought to the conference. I always pack more equipment than I need, just to be on the safe side. I had signed up for an individual photo walk so I brought one Vagabond Lithium power pack (which can also double as sandbag for the light stand) for my Einstein 640 ws strobe with 64” black outer cover umbrella with a diffusion fabric. I didn’t want to complicate the lighting since my primary goal was attending workshops. The photo walk was a great portfolio building experience. I also packed my new Sony a7iii with 28-70mm and 70-180mm lenses a good choice because I ended up using both lenses! I also brought a tripod, which was handy during the light-painting classes when I operated the camera with a remote trigger.

Some workshops were crowded, which made it difficult to find a spot close enough to the dancers to use a short focal-length lens. Thankfully, I had included my zoom lens in my camera bag. Next time, I will consider bringing some fun lens filters to play around with. A few people used kaleidoscope/prism filters at the aerial circus workshops, and I thought that was a neat idea! For the outdoor individual walks, the polarizing filter was a must, especially for achieving a saturated blue sky.

For the indoor workshops that used strobes, they gave me a trigger to use for my Sony, but for continuous lighting setups I had to bump up my ISO (the highest I went was 2000) or shutter speed (up to 1/2000s).

HIGHLIGHT

The highlight of the conference was attending Lois Greenfield’s talks. It was amazing to gain insight into her artistry and techniques. I also enjoyed Andrew Eccles’ advanced lighting workshop. There are no intentional errors in his work. He is very methodical in his process and in his use of equipment. His contemporary lighting techniques class was also highly enjoyable.

I also loved the rain machine shoot and the aerial circus. I didn’t have these staged shoots in my portfolio and I could not have afforded to stage them on my own.

Daniel Woods setting up the rain machine at Pas De Deux Conference

Twinkle Toes Nata's Rain Machine Dance Session At Pas De Deux Conference

2022 PAS DE DEUX DANCE PHOTO COMPETITION

Pas De Deux posted highlights of the Photo Competition nominees on social media leading up to the event to get everyone hyped up. Last year, none of the works I submitted made it to the finals. However, this year was different. There were about 1000 submissions this year. I was really excited to learn that several of my photographs were selected in different categories! My proudest moment was seeing one of my works in 9^th place, exhibited at the conference as a print in the Fine Art Portrait category. Another work garnered an 11^th place in the Portrait Series category, while other photos placed among the Top 20 in the Grand Prize category. All the works by my fellow photographers were amazing and inspiring, and the winners were well deserving of their prizes.

Nino Gordeladze posing with other finalists during the 2022 Pas De Deux photo competition

9th place finalist Nino Gordeladze posing in front of her fine arts portrait entry at Pas De Deux Conference

Male warrior dancer posing in black dress in hazy industrial building.

PORTFOLIO REVIEWS

It was a great experience to have a one-on-one critique from an expert. Even for more advanced photographers, it’s always humbling to hear comments from peers. Sign up early because spots fill up fast! My one-on-one was with Vikki Sloviter and we had a great conversation.

INDIVIDUAL PHOTO WALKS

I scheduled the individual photo walk session for the last day of the conference, which worked out well. I had plenty of time to pick the location I wanted to shoot. A cold front came through Texas at the start of the conference with a lot of winter weather. Most of us weren’t able to go outside since we didn’t want the dancers to be outside freezing. In lieu of the canceled outdoor excursions, the conference host, Ron McKinney offered us an opportunity to do an indoor studio shoot, which was a nice compromise. Luckily, the weather warmed up on the last day and I was able to shoot outdoors on the resort grounds. The only downside was that the dancers I wanted to photograph weren’t available even though I had requested them ahead of time.

Lillian Davis photowalk session during Pas de Deux workshop at Lost Pines Resort

Lillian Davis photowalk session during PDD 2022

TAKEAWAY

Don’t be afraid to meet and talk with people. There were about 200 photographers in attendance and we all shared a love for dance photography. Whether you are starting out or you are well established, everyone is there to learn and share. You don’t need to be an expert in dance terminology or know a wealth of technical aspects. Don’t be intimidated by others. No matter your level, you can find something that is useful for you and take advantage of the great networking opportunities. Keep an open mind, you can always learn new things and advance your photography skills!