Meet David Noble. Performer. Painter. Photographer. And one of the artist presenters at the Artist Round Table – Discovering Visual Voice. I promise that when you get to meet David in June, he won’t have a bucket over his head. Maybe something else but I think he’s done with the bucket for now.
When Maureen and I were in Port Townsend, we were invited to photograph the rehearsal of a series of Butoh dances, one of which was performed by David. When I first saw David perform a month ago, it was in his studio on the second floor of the Baker Building overlooking the picturesque main street in PT. Dance is like photography in the way that it can express a vision and tell a story. It is intensely personal and it can be deeply moving. Watching David dance makes me appreciate him as an artist not just as a photographer.
One of the most important things I’ve done for my learning has been to step away from photography once in a while and to feed my creative soul through other forms of art and expression. I’ve been reading non-photography books (something I haven’t made time for in a while), dipping back into interior design which I’ve always enjoyed, and creating business strategy at work (uninvited and not so successfully though). It isn’t that these activities are necessarily finding their way into my images but it’s that I feel the well from which I can draw has multiplied. I think about movement in dance and how that’s the voice of dancers, how the colour in a room can make you feel one way or another, and how writing a clear path forward for my team at work can articulate a vision. How that applies to photography is best said by something Ray mentioned to me a while ago “life is not about photography rather photography should be about life“. All the inputs we have in life become the wells from which we draw upon for our photographs and for the development of our visual voice. As I write this, my good friend Marco Ryan has just posted a revealing blog post saying something similar but much more eloquently than I ever could. If I had it my way, Marco would be at the Round Table in June. I don’t think that is possible but still it’s nice to dream.
As I mentioned in a previous post (and this should make my friend Charlene happy), I’ve started to shoot more frames than I have done in the past. I think the work below might prove that she is right. In all there were five dances presented. A pre-amble if you will, shrouded behind a curtain which gave me the opportunity for abstract images that I do love to make.
Followed by David’s dance seen above and here as well but in black and white…
Then came Evan…
And Camille using one of my favourite techniques of combining multiple exposures with painting…
And finally Chris and Camille performing the last dance. This was so riveting, so emotionally charged that I almost didn’t want to photograph this dance; I just wanted to experience it.
For those of you who are interested in the gear aspect, I shot these with the D300–not my new full-frame D700–and at ISO’s of up to 3200. I hope you enjoyed this small window into the world of Butoh and that we can entice you to join Ray and David at the Artist Round Table in June in Port Townsend. You can find more details here!
This is a very interesting set of photographs, Sabrina. I particularly like the first two abstracts, and the first of those especially.
You make a very good point about exploring the other arts. It’s something I am guilty of not doing, outside of a bit of investigation of painting and drawing. I’m not sure what to make of the way I listen to music–it’s different than the way I approach visual arts.
But dance has always been a big mystery to me. I communicate verbally and am quite tone deaf to anything but the most blatant body language. So I look forward to hearing from David at the Artist Round Table in June.
Music is another way to also deepen the well. I’d be interested in hearing more about your taste and take on music when we get together. I think you’ll enjoy talking with David. Between you, me and the lamp post, he is also a treasure when it comes to publishing. Now that’s a conversation I’m looking forward to around the table!
I certainly hear you about filling the well by putting down the camera, stop focusing on photography for a bit and taking in something else. I personally have been on a bit of a Steinbeck kick lately. I haven’t written myself in a long time, maybe 4 years, but I do find I am more creative in my scientific work lately.
Personally I am much more inclined to take in another artistic performance and do not take a camera to a concert, performance, or showing. I want to experience them as you suggest. I am also finding it difficult to separate my passion for rugby through my team to objectively photograph it too. However, your images from the Butoh dance perfomrance are very interesting – like Tommy I really enjoy the abstract ones through the curtains. I may be able to see some during Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens soon.
Oh I just love it when scientists get very creative! If you do get a chance to watch Butoh, I think you’ll enjoy it. It’s quite expressive and while some of it might see extreme, like most dance you can really appreciate the athleticism of the dancers. Now if only we could get those rugby players to try it out
Sabrina
You really captured the event and the feelings there. The multiple exposure abstract is beautifully done and I am impressed that you did it with my D300 while you so generously let me use your D700.
The dance was very emotional for sure and it was tempting to put down the camera but also compelling to photograph. When we see through our camera, it is a different experience and perhaps we don’t experience all the full emotions in a performance but we see it in a different (not better not worse) way. I also think music can release creativity in our brains.
Thanks Maureen. Well lending you my D700 did the trick because now we are twins! I do think I have to get a little credit to the nifty 50 I had stuck on your D300. It allowed me to make the most considering the really low light in that room. The images will be a bit grainy at the high ISOs but overall I am happy with them.
And I agree with you on music stirring the brain cells. I often find writing easier/better when I have Classical music playing.
I am happy because the Task has been completed. I now wait with bated virtual breath for a favourable response. Oooh I love having to talk in riddles, heee.
That last set of black and white images is great. Treatment, check. Mood, check. Impact, check. Lots-of-frames working already! Definitely happy
The waiting is always the hardest part…I’m happy you’re happy
ooooh Sabrina, I love the first abstract. Beautiful. Love the black and white where they are mirroring each other too. I wish I could be with you in June. Perhaps another time. xoxo