A couple of months ago I set out to create a fine art video piece inspired by a still shoot I had produced of a nude ballerina. I had set up the shoot just for fun, as I way to creatively express myself. After that first shoot I was hooked– photographing dancers is truly rewarding and inspiring. They are poised, confident and elegant. After photographing a still image of a dancer, I knew that the next step was to capture these striking movements on video.
I contacted the great director of photography I had worked with before, and pitched him my idea. I would do the same effect with the powder/flour but instead shoot slow motion video. I wanted to really see the tensing of the muscles, all the beautiful angles, and to use powder to accent the power and elegance of the dancer’s movements.
To do this, John (my DP) helped put me in contact with the operator (Steve) of a super high speed video camera called the Phantom Camera, which shoots upwards of 1500 frames per second!! We filmed at Broadway Stages in Brooklyn. I realized very quickly that film production involves a large team to make a successful project: director, lighting, camera operator, director of photography, talent, production assistant, grip, hair, makeup, wardrobe, editor, composer and more!
This shoot consists of a single movement, and when played back at its slowest speed takes more than 2 minutes to view. I absolutely love shooting in slow motion; you can see each particle explode into the air, you can see every muscle tense, you can experience all of the intricacies of a single movement.
In addition to creating this piece as a personal project, I also have been working to produce additional moving image pieces… I believe building my reel as a director will be an important part of building my clientele and expanding what I can offer clients.
This piece was featured on Imagine Fashion‘s ‘Fresh Intelligence’ section. Imagine Fashion describes itself as:
An engaging on line and on mobile environment, created with the digital experience in mind where moving image takes centre stage, iF is translating the traditional philosophies of a premium print title and setting a new benchmark for editorial, advertorial and advertising alike.
To Ashes from Lindsay Adler on Vimeo.
To view it on the Imagine Fashion site, check out “To Ashes” film here.
