Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
When you come face-to-face with a belly dancer, what’s the first thing you do? Emulate her moves? Naaah. You try and work out the best angle to take a photograph.
She was part of a celebration at Federation Square, here in Melbourne and it was a leisurely lunchtime when the light was great. I was struck by the vivid colours of her costume and of course by the row of miniature gold discs around her entire waist.
I wasn’t using a long lens, so I walked up and asked her if I could stand beside her and take some shots of the wonderful colours around her hips. She thought it was a hoot and told me to go ahead and take as many shots as I wanted.
One small problem. She figured that I wanted her to do her signature belly dance while I took the shots. Er, no. I wanted no movement at all, so I could get a shot without the discs shimmering and jingling in rapid motion.
I reckon I took half a dozen shots before I got this one of the discs as close to sharp focus as possible. Not so much a case of disc jockey, as a clear example of disc jerky.
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19 comments:
Hi David,
I love your images! I fantasize about being a consistently good photographer ... I've still got a long way to go but I'd love it if you'd check out some of my work on my son's blog (www.charliethenorthstardog.blogspot.com). The photos are mine and the blog is intended for folks considering a service dog for their autistic children.
Thanks! Carolyn
You certainly have a way with words as well as with the camera. Loved this shot,especially when I clicked to enlarge it.
And did your wife actually buy this story?!
Great picture and narrative ~ as always.
That's the thing about belly dancers -- they just can't seem to hold still.
I really like the shot.
boom chicka boom!
I would never have gotten a shot like that. I am not brave enough to just ask some stranger if I could take a picture of their mid-drift! I do think it is a great shot.
GREAT shot, as always.
Your way with words ALWAYS makes me smile. And disc jerky made me laugh.
I love that you had the courage to just walk right up, ask, and shoot. Great color! Fun image!
What a great image.
What a fun title..
David, only YOU would be concentrating on her waist!
Brilliant shots...... love the colours. Not quite sure that I believe your story though!
Didn't the camera slip just a little!
Thanks for that last line, it makes me feel better about having to take several shots to get the right one in focus.
Great shot.
Always great shots on your blog. It's a visual feast!
Shiny stuff fascinates me .. hardest thing to photograph for me ... no flash it blurs, flash and it reflects .. gotta play more with the ISO ..
I Disc you not!
:-Daryl
Ooooh, I love the texture of this shot David!
Thank you very much for sharing. Just like everyone said, I love your images posted. You can really get readers through that plus good content too!
At first glanceI thought well he's swung another way !! hahasandy
I used to belly dance hen I lived in Holland and most pictture I took of my friends or those that were taken of me are indeed blurred. And no picture can do credit to the noise those belts are making!
hmmm.
makes me wonder about the perspective on the OTHER shots.
I remember seeing this one in my reader, but didn't want to mess up the numbers. (I'm a little too uptight sometimes.) I love it. The composition is perfect, and the subject is exquisite. EXCELLENT photo.
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