Today I spend an afternoon in studio with a beautiful dancer, Soyeon, and with Daz.

Usually the person who decided when something will be captured is the one that holds the camera. You watch through the lenses and you decide which is the “right” moment  to shoot. What happens when it’s your subject to decide when!

Soyen started a dance improvisation and we had agreed that I follow her in the space with my camera but she will be her to give the command “Now” when to shoot. I show so many “right” moments disappearing in front of my focus.

Waiting for the command:

I wanted many times just to press the button but I knew that I couldn’t unless I hear “now”. The first time we tried out after a while I could prevent more or less when she will say “now”. Maybe because I have been on the other side and as dancer I know what can look “interesting” or nice. However both we new that what I was looking and what she was thinking I am looking couldn’t possibly coincide.

“NoW”: photo made in a collaborative way. 

The second time we tried, actually, in a dance improvisation of approximately 15 minutes, she said “now” just twice- in the beginning. My tension was rising as I was waiting a command than never was given. Just once I couldn’t resist and I decided to shoot. I was breaking our contract but the need to take that photograph was more important. A nice photo?Well maybe yes, maybe no. But it was that moment that I felt closer to her. I felt that she was more emotional and vulnerable (my assumption) and then I wanted to evade her space and her privacy. So, I shot her.

Looking but without shooting. Waiting. Tension. Shots never taken.

Later Daz joined and we started a simple score-game.

Three roles:

A director set up a score for both.

A photographer tries to carry out the score.

A performer tries to carry out the score while avoiding to be photographed.

Example:

Trying to make a picture where ears and hands are in the same frame.

Trying to make a picture of Daz’s nose.