Black Swan

I thought I would share some experiments I took with toy cameras of a ballerina. I am excited to see how the pictures turn out in a studio or similar.

I posted these photos because I saw Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan today. It seems as though I have been waiting awhile for this film to come to theaters and often when that happens the film is somewhat disappointing. Fortunately, this wasn't the case with this film. The opening shot was a sparse, yet, beautiful dance amid blackness. And very quickly the beautiful grain of the film was eloquently apparent. I love when filmmakers eschew that perfect, crisp look for grain with movement and imperfections. The film was shot on super16, which makes perfect sense as to the larger grain (smaller frame size will be blown up more). Anyway, enough about film grain, as beautiful as it may be.

Some criticism of the film has been the use of cliched story lines, yet I felt that the acting was so good that the ballet cliches did not bother me.  There could have been more dancing, but it may also be in that perfect middle ground of just enough. I'll have to watch it again. Many of the shots were subjective medium shots either in front of or behind Natalie Portman, thus, most leg work was not visible and there were rarely long shots showing the entire stage. When the stage was shown it felt too small to be either of the stages at Lincoln Center.

I know that I will have much more to say about this film as it is still fairly fresh on my mind. It was also exciting to see so many filmgoers out on a Sunday to see a ballet film.

Food!

Lately, I haven't been able to make it the computer too often. I guess the holiday season is keeping me busy. I am trying to finish crocheting a blanket for me daughter as well as re-watching every ballet movie I own. I have had these pictures of our second Thanksgiving dinner for awhile. This past weekend I made a variety of cookies for a cookie exchange in Durham, but forgot to take pictures! I guess my New Year Resolution will be to keep up with my photographs!

A Day of Infamy and Cold

It snowed this weekend! 2.5 inches. Of course, it was as beautiful as can be and I didn't get any pictures. I really need a small camera that I can keep in my purse to use as needed. I have a digital one that I recently found in an old purse, but I don't want to mix digital/film too much. It snowed on Saturday and on Sunday most of the picturesque sights melted quickly. You wouldn't know it though from the weather today since we have not gotten above freezing. My daughter has a slight cold and I don't want to take her out in the freezing weather. We've spent all day inside and looks as though tomorrow is more of the same. I need to think of cold weather activities for us. I got out crayons today and some things were unnecessarily "decorated," such as an upholstered chair and the floor.

I was also taken aback by the passing of Elizabeth Edwards. Since it was only yesterday that it was announced that her cancer was no longer treatable. It is amazing to consider all of the heartache she had gone through in her life and, yet, she always seemed to be upbeat and grateful. A couple years ago I worked with a cancer survivor and John and Elizabeth Edwards came to our campus. My colleague was able to share a small moment with her when they shook hands and it was impressive how through the few words that they shared Elizabeth Edwards inspired such hope in and created a personal connection with my colleague. It is rare that a person can do that and we are lucky to have had her be a part of our country and our great state. May she rest in peace.