Snowball Swing Festival – Stockholm 2015

I’ve finished my year at the mythical Snowball Swing festival. People say that as Herräng Dance Camp, this is one of those events where you should go once in life. And yes, after the experience, I would suggest you to do it.

I proposed myself to enjoy the festival more as a dancer than as a photographer, but giving some time to both.
I’ve enjoyed a lot chatting with friends and also knowing new people. Is funny how in the actuality is normal to know several people just by their Facebook profiles, but we’ve never had a chat with them. So during these days I’ve got to talk for first time with people I used to cross in my “virtual life” and also several people surprised me saying happily “finally I’ve got to know you and the face behind the camera”.

I didn’t take out the camera up to the 3rd night, when I photographed some performances and a nice spontaneous Jam circle.
If you are interested in technical details:
Camera: Canon 5D Mark III
Lens: 24-70 2.8L II USM
ISO: 2500
No flash

 

 

Stockholm serve me beautifully as background for a couple of photo-shoots I’ve had planed. The weather was close to 0º, but Alice Meï, Peter Kertzner and Felipe Braga, all of them natives from much warmer cities, participated without complaining or putting any excuse or hurry to finish work.
Special photo-shoots it’s a theme that deserve a whole post, but I could say that having same energy, trust and commitment in both sides of the camera is one of the most important ingredients for a successful shooting.

 

Tuesday night was when Sólo Jazz and LindyHop competitions had place.
The Solo competition was INCREDIBLE!!! I was excited seeing you guys! What a group of expressive and rhythmical dancers. It would had to be hard to judge. Felipe Braga, Helena Verheyen and Felix Berghäll were the winners this year.

1/320seg f2.8 ISO 2500

1/320seg f2.8 ISO 2500

1/320seg f2.8 ISO 2500

Afterwards the Lindy couples competitions had place, Open, Advanced and Invitational division. Lots of known faces, amazing moves and body lines that I personally enjoyed a lot.

 

1/320seg f2.8 ISO 2500

On Wednesday night other two performances had place. This time girls and boys made their particular show.
I was on a side of the stage frame. Photograph a group choreography from the side could be a bit tricky, because usually they perform in symmetrical distribution oriented to the front and we will totally miss that. I decided to put my attention and focus to the person who was closer to me, and try to catch the others with an aesthetically pleasing composition.
In groups choreography you would probably find repetitive body shapes that you could use as “graphic pattern”, and that would work even if you aren’t in the front of the stage.

The grace of Mikaela Hellsten, Alice Meï, Natalia Eristavi, Remy Kouakou Kouame and Skye Humphries are definitely wonderful lines and expressions to work with.

1/250seg f2.8 ISO 2500

1/250seg f2.8 ISO 2500

1/250seg f2.8 ISO 2500
1/250seg f2.8 ISO 2500
1/250seg f2.8 ISO 2500

 

Thursday started early for me with another special photo-shoot. This time I worked with Alice Meï and Nick Williams. They had been teaching already for several days, and we all had been partying the previous five nights. Even dough the tiredness, we decided to meet before midday to have more possibilities to find a free room to work, indoors this time.  Again I’ve been surprised about the good mood and willpower they had.
I had some light equipment with me, but those big windows gave us fantastic natural light to work with. As I heard several times “Less is more”.

 

Thursday night. New Years Eve was a long-awaited night for me. I’ve been seeing photos from previous years of that moment when the bright confetti falls from the celling over the multitude… My insider child was desiring to be under that silver rain!  … and when I review the photos, I discovered there were more “insider child” expressions. It was as nice as I’ve imagined!
Naomi and Her Handsome Devils was the band that was on stage, and she sang a capella a song that people recognize and join her.
That same night two generations of tap dancers, Chazz Young and Joseph Wiggan, made the public vibrate with their rhythm.

Friday night. The closing party has arrive. I wasn’t sure about taking the camera, but I did… yes, I confess, I have kind of strange dependence on it. I could pass the whole night without taking any picture, but I need to know that if something interesting would appear, I will have the opportunity to express my joy with the tools I want.
Indeed, that moment happened. A spontaneous jam circle where we could finally see the organizers, the 4 Swedes, Marie Nahnfeldt Mattsson, Helena Norbelie, Hasse Mattsson and Keneth, enjoying dancing as everyone have done during the event.

 

I had a super positive balance of 2015, and this experience was the perfect closing for it.  I’m looking forward for 2016, full of new ideas and goals to look for.
Hope to find you in my way, to continue sharing experiences, growing and enjoying present.

I appreciate if you’ve arrived reading up to the end. I hope you’ve enjoyed it and found something interesting or new.
Feel free to write me your impressions, comments or wishes of what would you like to hear from me in coming posts.

Enjoy your present and give the best of you in every moment!
See you next time,
Tamara*