Slick? Is that a bad thing? I thought it was kind of haunting.

...and thanks for the comment, Tracy!

I mean polished, so yes it's good.

Merci beaucoup, M. Zorilla. Je vous vois parler la langue du ballet.

kyla...I'm used to being a suspect, thanks.

@Ana, philippe, zorilla, Nick, kyla and John...thanks very much for your comments.

Yes, yes, yes! King, I made this shot "featured" :-)

@matt, zulu...thank you very much.

@klimin_a_s...couldn't have done it without you!

really nice King, unusual perspective in many perspectives ;)
great job!

Thanks, ChriZ.

This photograph was taken in the late 70's. The room was to be one of the new studios of the Boston Ballet Company (of which I had been a member a few years before). I was exploring the large studios, hoping to find a way to illustrate a "Before" image, knowing that I would have many opportunities for "After" images.

The dancer was one of the company ballerinas, the beautiful Jerilyn Dana, who was most cooperative and helpful.

King if I had rated this one, it would have garnered a 25. It is one of my favorites of all time from your archives. Really well done and the vanishing point really adds an element of mystery to an unusual combination of focal point and subject matter.

I don't look at this one as 'unusual perspective,' but rather unusually creative combination. High marks and congratulations.

pursang...thank you, my friend. I agree with you about the perspective.

</Shop Talk About the Theme>
Of my three entires in this theme, only the photo I posted last night (#93) illustrates an "unusual" perspective. This is just a low angle. What makes it unusual is not the perspective per se, but the fact that the ballerina is balanced on a pair of 2x4's (as opposed to a precipice or the sea shore). The vanishing point, as you pointed out, contributes some.

My first entry, #54, is a totally commonplace perspective, but the eye is fooled into thinking the perspective is odd. That was intentional.

My approach to Theme illustrations (definitely not shared by some) is that if the image merely hints at the theme (i.e., is relatively low in Relevance), but is powerful in the other categories AND moves or inspires me, then the photographer will not get penalized for weak Relevance. That is, I might assign a 3 for Relevance and 5 for the other categories, but not 3's across the board.
</Shop Talk About the Theme>

King,

Love the contrast of subject and location and the technical qualities too. Superb image.

Dan,

Praise from one of my heros! Thanks--that means a lot.