Almost every master photographer has done a series relating to dance, movement, etc. One series that I've always found interesting is Richard Avedon's nude portraiture of ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev. Avedon captures the dancer's movement splendidly while also producing great work pertaining to the body. Annie Leibovitz has also shot dancers in several of her series and magazine features. Leibotvitz shoots with a similar interest in the dancer's body and form. Posted below is from a series she did on dance icon Mikhail Barishnikov.


The work that I've most recently researched however is Barbara Morgan's extensive study of modern dancer Martha Graham and her company. Morgan spent years documenting these dancers and their graceful movement and lines, creating some of the best action portraits of her time.


Good. Barbara Morgan's work is classic. So for you I recommend: looking beyond the subject, how did the photographer achieve success with the image? Is it lighting, timing, composition, background? Look closely. It might be interesting to see what you can do with dancers. Go for it!
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