"The Power of Image"

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/swan-lake-ballerina/ 

Choosing an thought provoking photo doesn't always mean a tragedy, or something depressing, it can be little things, that people wouldn't expect to see a photograph of. The image above isn't a tragedy, and it doesn't tell a depressing story, it is a simple yet beautiful story. 

The goal of a photographer isn't to get what the audience see's, or necessarily wants to see, but what isn't shown to the audience. For example with this photo, this stunning ballet dancer just got of stage after preforming a solo of swan lake. The audience saw what she did on stage, but not what is or was going on back stage. This image has all the grace and beauty that the ballerina would express on stage, yet she is coming off stage in her own world with that same grace and beauty. 

In this moment, the ballerina is a glowing silhouette of awash shades of blue. Her silhouette shows her form and body beautifully, everything that a ballerina should be, thin, hourglass body, and elegance. The slight profile of her face adds to her beauty and gracefulness, as well as making it a mystery who she is. Many dancer's aren't famously known for their faces, but what they can do with their bodies and their gracefulness. The fact that we can't see her face, emphasizes that it doesn't matter who she is, but what she can do. 

Her soft light blue tutu contrasts against, the cold, hard stage floor, which adds a graceful karma to her. The background light it streaking blue on the stage, as well as a flood of blue light from the top, making the stage look like ice. 

Her delicate tutu has the shadow of her face on it. The "v" from her torso points towards that shadow, allowing the viewer to focus on it more than if the "v" wasn't there. 

The out-of-focus figures at the end of the stage, are perfectly placed between the tall curtains and just above the ballerina's arm, make them a focal point of the photo. The space between the ballerina's arm and the figures is essential, creating a frame for the other figures. 

She completely fills the foreground, allowing the background to be lit up, creating a tremendous contrast between the dancer and her stage. Her arms are in a position as if she might just take off, flying out of the theater. She is the white swan, free and happy. 

In my opinion this image also shows how ballet is a lifestyle. She was taught to be graceful in class, but to fully become a ballerina and embody a delicate, flowing, beautiful human being, is not easy. A lot of sacrifices have to be made to get that one chance of being in the spotlight, and working your way up their isn't easy, but the joy of perfectly finishing a performance must be unreal. Nothing is more beautiful than seeing a ballerina dancing to perfection, owning the stage with her allure.