Studio

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Briana Baldovinos Colorful LA Studio Photoshoot

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Briana Baldovinos

Colorful studio photoshoot in Los Angeles

This was the first photoshoot Briana and I did together. I had seen this colorful photostudio available for rent in LA and thought it would be a great location for us to utilize.

I loved the vibrant colors of this space. I think bright colors are underutilized in art and pop culture. Probably because colors are the “standard” of photos, so people equate less color (black and white) to be more “meaningful” in their expression. (But both black and white and color, are equally valid in their artistic expression.)

Briana brought a great charisma and achieved excellent ballet lines that played well with the lines of the furnishings.

For the lighting, there was one large window located on one end of the studio that we used as our main source. It was an overcast day, so the light came in soft and diffused.

I’ve been photographing for around 14 years so I can shoot quickly when I need to. Briana had done many photoshoots before and is a pro, so we were able to create all these images + more in just a 2 hour time period.

You can follow Briana on IG at @Briana.Ballerina and you can keep up with my work right here on the Zine.

-Oliver Endahl

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Kate Huntington in studio shoot + Interview

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Kate Huntington

Studio shoot + interview

Kate Huntington and I have been collaborating for years. We’ve shot in New York, Washington, California, Arizona, and more.

The photos featured today are from the latest shoot that we did towards the end of 2023.

After our photoshoot I sent Kate a few questions to be featured here.

Here are her answers.

- Introduction -

Hi! I’m Kate Huntington. I am currently a senior at the University of Arizona’s School of Dance. I will be graduating this spring with a dual degree in Dance and Economics. My early training began at ARC School of Ballet in Seattle, Washington, and continued at New York’s American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, and Houston Ballet. As of today, I hold an apprenticeship with ARC Dance’s professional ballet company.

- What are 3 things you want to see change in the ballet industry? -

There are several things I would love to see change in the ballet industry. From a young age, I was fed the idea that to be a professional dancer, there is a specific path you have to take. When I decided to go the collegiate route, I accepted that my chances of a ballet career were gone. As I near graduation, I realize it is not as black and white as I had imagined. I hope to prove that achieving a fulfilling career post-graduation is achievable. I hope ballet companies shift to accepting dancers of diverse backgrounds and upbringings. In my opinion, being homeschooled and moving away from your family at 15 years old to train should not be the norm. I would love for the industry to celebrate dancers who chose to get their degrees and who prioritize their well-being. These desires may be dismissed as naïve, though they are plausible when there is a communal effort to evolve. Overarchingly, companies need to better support their dancers’ mental and physical health. The two should not have to be sacrificed to be successful in this profession. 

- Do you think it’s important for dancers to have passions & hobbies outside of dance? -

Absolutely. I think it is important to be a human first and a dancer second. I feel I would have burned out and lost my passion for dancing had I given up everything else. I would go as far as to say that personal development and fulfillment are beneficial to one’s dancing. It affects the energy that you bring into the studio and onto the stage. Finding balance is a daily challenge, however, I know that making the effort is worth it. 

-Top 5 favorite movies (just a general 5 in no particular order)

You can never go wrong with The Intern, Gifted, We’re the Millers, Surfs Up and The Blind Side. 

- Any upcoming performances you’re excited about? -

I am currently preparing to perform a student choreographed work, “Tuyo” by Michelle Fricker in a School of Dance scholarship benefit. We will perform alongside Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet Tucson, and guest speaker, Misty Copeland. I am looking forward to our Dance Springs Eternal performance as well. It’s filled with Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s “Somberismo”, Alvin Ailey’s “Streams”, and other exciting works!

-3 of your favorite dance pieces? (In no particular order) 

William Forsythe’s The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude. Crystal Pite’s Emergence and The Seasons’ Canon. I grew up watching both choreographers’ works at Pacific Northwest Ballet and developed a great respect for their artistry and creative style. In the classical realm, I would say my dream role lies in Romeo & Juliet. 

You can keep up with Kate through her Instagram and keep an eye on this Zine for more of our photoshoots.

-Oliver Endahl

@K8Huntington

Instagram

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Alyssa Fenolio in Denver and Los Angeles 2023

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Alyssa Fenolio

Denver and Los Angeles

If you’ve spent any time on the dance side of the internet, you’ve probably come across photos of Alyssa Fenolio. As a professional dancer and model, she regularly travels the US and shoots with many talented dance and fashion photographers.

Alyssa and I usually shoot 2-3 times a year. Most recently we shot in Denver Colorado and then Los Angeles California.

For our Denver shoot, we created images with massive angel wings.

I really enjoyed shooting with this wing prop. Ballet lines and wings easily mesh because they both create S curve shapes. (The wing curve creates the same line as a winged ballet foot line)

Another style we explored on our Denver shoot was a Noir vibe.

Noir refers to a genre of film.

“The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American film noir. Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key, black-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography.“ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_noir

There’s so much mystery built into the style of Noir. (low light, hats covering the face, etc..) On top of the lack of color + specific lighting, body language is especially important in creating the mood of a Noir-style image. (Body language in all of photography is fun because it’s a non-verbal form of communication. There isn’t any dialogue in photos, but you are still being communicated to by the pose of the person in the photo, and these photos of Alyssa are no exception.)

Now let’s dive into the most recent shoot we did in Los Angeles, California.

This was a new space we shot at in downtown Los Angeles. It had lots of open space, natural light, as well as some fun props like that wavy chair and the oddly shaped circle.

You can follow Alyssa and see more of her work from her two Instagram accounts;

@Alyssa_Fenolio & @a_shea_fineart

-Oliver Endahl