I was contracted recently to photograph a charity event for the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Winter Park, FL. Dance for Heroes - a charitable event to benefit Revived Soldiers Ukraine. That night, the studio was holding a fundraiser for an organization in Ukraine that helps rehabilitate soldiers wounded while on duty.
In attendance, they had dancers and non-dancers alike and during the time there, the studio held large group dance classes by professional dancers, served hors d'oeuvres, held a charity auction, and had plenty of time for dancing. The premise was that those in attendance use their legs (dance) for the soldiers who used their legs to fight for others.
The studio wanted some photos documenting the night’s happenings. I tried to capture the night’s events, including interactions amongst guests, food, the auction, and of course the dances.
In my photography, I have been trying to get more comfortable shooting with flash. I prefer natural light photography because I find it’s easier for me to work with in manipulating the light. But events and weddings are most often indoors where no natural light is available, so I have to use artificial light - most often flash. Opportunities like these challenge me and help me progress as a photographer, and the more I photograph indoor events like these, the better I get at my craft and the easier it becomes for me. With that comes a greater level of confidence for future shoots.
Here’s some of what I captured.
LOCATION: Fred Astaire Dance Studio | Winter Park, FL
GEAR USED: Canon 5D Mark IV | Canon 50mm f/1.4 | Canon 28-135mm f/3.5 | Neewer Speedlite NW-670
