Interview and BTS: Lois Greenfield explains her unique approach to photographing the human form in motion

In her exuberant and explosive pictures, Lois Greenfield captures not just the lithe and acrobatic forms of dancers performing their art, but the purity and exhilaration of movement itself. Without tricks or manipulation of any kind, she catches these fleeting and impossible moments in a style that is both lyrical and graphic. Greenfield has been compared with Eadward Muybridge for his exploration of human locomotion, and with Cartier Bresson for capturing the elusive moment. Unlike her predecessors however, her images depict but don’t refer to the "real" world. They are documents of her imagination.

"The point is: the photographic experience for me is not about capturing something that I have in my mind..but in the process of how the shoot unfolds, so that i end up with a picture that's literally beyond my imagination." - Lois Greenfield.

Lois has created signature images for most of the major contemporary dance companies from Alvin Ailey to American Ballet Theater. Many of these images can be seen in magazines such as Elle, Vanity Fair, Times and GQ, as well as in her two best selling books, “Breaking Bounds” (Thames & Hudson 1992) and her second volume “Airborne” (1998). Her unique approach to photographing the human form in motion has radically redefined the genre, and influenced a generation of photographers. Her international commercial clients include, Pepsi, Hanes, DISNEY,EPSON,ROLEX,and Sony.

Since her first solo show at the International Center of Photography, her work has been exhibited at the French Foundation of Photography, The Venice Biennale, Musee de L’Elysee, Tel Aviv Art Museum, as well as in many other museums and galleries around the world.

BEHIND THE SCENES:


Join us for this free live video presentation that features a behind the scenes look at Lois Greenfield's incredible Dance Photography.

 To quote Lois, "My inspiration has always been photography's ability to stop time and reveal what the naked eye cannot see." 

MamiyaLeaf spent a day in Lois's New York City studio and filmed the process, flow and instructions that helped the dancers to create the shape and movement so unique to her photography.

Via Maine Media Workshops + College and Mamiya