Exhibitions

Watch this Space

Uno, dos, plié, ¡Y!

Jim Markland

James Rowbotham Dance Photography

8th May - 29th July 2012

This exhibition, the second Jim has brought to The Point, was inspired by the location work of American photographer Richard Calmes and includes images from return visits to both Buenos Aires and Vancouver, BC. In the case of Argentina the photographer’s count translated into Spanish as : “Uno, dos, plié, ¡Y!”

It was shooting Argentine tango in Buenos Aires that drew Jim into dance photography; took him to New York to join a workshop at the Lois Greenfield studio and eventually to establish not only an international and very diverse portfolio of dance photography but also a highly successful series of dance photography workshops and a small book on the subject.

Dance photography is rarely easy. In the studio high speed flash is required. In the theatre highly sensitive digital sensors are required and outdoors bright sunlight is most desirable for high-quality images when capturing fast motion. In each case the aim is to capture the moment and to freeze the movement, introducing motion blur only when required for aesthetics.

Since his time in New York, Jim’s work has expanded from being largely studio based, and very much in the style of Lois Greenfield, to encompass a wide variety of styles, shooting in many performance spaces and locations. From time-to-time he goes back into the studio for commissioned work, his own portfolio work, and of course, for the workshops. Although not applicable to editorial work, wherever possible his work is underpinned by the same rigorous methodology.

This rigorous approach, one that enables the capture of just "that" moment, requires careful synchronization between photographer and dancer. To achieve this the photographer counts rhythmically to provide the timing and indicate exactly when the image will be captured. This is particularly important for very fast moves and especially when several dancers are moving together.

Dancers featured in the exhibition: Vancouver - Ashley Whitehead, Danee Lalonde and Katharina Schier.
Buenos Aires - Micaela Spina and Juan Manuel Firmani.

Jim’s work can be found at:
www.frozenmotion.co.uk
www.rowbotham-dance.book.fr
www.rowbotham-cirque.book.fr

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Watch This Space is a contemporary exhibition programme at The Point.

For any more information contact watchthisspace@eastleigh.gov.uk or if you are interested in exhibiting any work in future please click here

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The Point's exhibition programme is supported by Kall Kwik, Eastleigh