Ole!

I love shooting events. I feel fortunate to shoot anything that reflects a dramatic, creative style and requires a strong personal commitment to excel.

For a couple of years, I was asked to photograph Flamenco dancers and choreographed shows for a very talented and famous maestro, Roberto Amoral. He taught Flamenco to very talented young students and directed many other amazing, experienced performers. This was shot in a Mexican restaurant in Reseda, CA. My wife and I were invited to attend, along with many of the dancers' family members and friends, as a sort of fun time for the performers to show off a bit.

I just loved the angles I was able to shoot in such an intimate setting. This one particular angle is so elegant and cool, and you can't see her whole body. You just see her head and her arm. There's just something about it that is very regal, energetic, and aesthetically pleasing to me.

Plus, since the venue is so informal, the lighting isn’t customized the way a stage show performance is carefully structured to highlight certain featured dancers. I loved the spontaneity of the image and how a simple black shawl can create such a dramatic impact. Incidentally, this image hangs in my office as a framed canvas.