P#14 Q4B: How to Capture a Photo of a Child Performing Ballet

Come Prepared

Vik Orenstein: Ballet is a sport also so a lot of the same rules pertain. Sometimes the stage lights are a little bit low, but it can be really, really beautiful. Ballet moves a little bit more slowly than soccer.

When taking a photo of a child during a ballet performance, I would recommend bringing a tripod, a monopod, or a chainpod. A tripod, everybody is familiar with I think. A monopod is like a tripod but it just has one leg and it helps stabilize you to a degree without restricting your motion. You can still move the camera to follow the dancer.

A chainpod is actually just something that you have a board going across the bottom with a chain attached to it. The chain runs from the board to the camera. You put your feet down on the board, and then you hold your camera and press it so that the chain is sliding against the board and the camera. That helps you stay a little bit steadier too.

You can capture that beautiful stage lighting and not have to use your flash. Frequently people are too far away to use their flash anyway.

In Summary

Ballet performances are a beautiful thing. If you want to get a photo of a child and capture the essence and movement of the ballet performance -- Vik suggests bringing along the right equipment -- such as a tripod, monopod or chainpod.