Through a Different Lens~A Photographer I Admire

        I was browsing through calendars at the local book shop when a stunning image caught my eye. Splashed across the cover of one was a women extended in a perfect jete holding a red umbrella and wearing a matching rain coat. I flipped through the calendar's other months to find similarly beautiful pictures of dancers performing in a variety of public places. The series was called "Dancers Among Us," and led me to the work of New York City photographer John Matters. I discovered I was not alone in my admiration for his dancers series, blogs had spread his striking work. I also found his other galleries of work captured art, artists, and the human body in a beautiful way. His series "Uncovered" captured women who proudly went topless on the public streets to raise awareness for body appreciation. Ten percent of the profits go toward the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Photo Credit: John Matters 

In the image above from his "Dancers Among Us" series, the use of the natural environment in a fun way is what caught my attention. Each bird is sharp and in focus reflecting a quick shutter speed. Through the chaos of the flying birds, the dancer is still the focal subject because of her bright attire and form. The diffuse lighting of the cloudy day eliminates shadows, but it appears that fill flash or another form of lighting may have been used to highlight the two dancers. Overall the composition is balanced and follows the rule of thirds as the dancers are not in the exact center of the photo.