There
’s a hypnotic beauty behind local photographer Narinder Dogra’s
images of dancers surrounded by nature. His photos of ballerinas
posed amid beautiful landscapes on locations mostly in the western
United States, against a background of different rock formations
and colors that change with the lig
ht, bring out many good feelings, according to Dogra.
There’s a hypnotic beauty behind local photographer Narinder Dogra’s images of dancers surrounded by nature.
His photos of ballerinas posed amid beautiful landscapes on locations mostly in the western United States, against a background of different rock formations and colors that change with the light, bring out many good feelings, according to Dogra.
A native of India, Dogra immigrated to the U.S. in 1978. He lived in Seattle and New Jersey before making California his home state in 1981. Dogra is an electrical engineer by profession and dabbled in photography for many years as a hobby. It was while he was working with Nutech in south San Jose that the idea of turning professional came to mind. The company hosted a photo exhibit and his manager and peers were so impressed with his work they encouraged him to join a photography club in Oakland. It was there, while viewing pictures of club members, that he saw a picture of a ballerina. The idea struck him and set the tone and direction for his photography.
Up until that time Dogra had taken scenic shots, and head shots of people, animals and flowers.
“I had always had an interest in ballet, even when I lived in India, even if India did not have any ballet at the time,” explained Dogra. “I remember seeing a film that pictured a Russian ballerina doing Swan Lake and always had the image in the back of my mind. I had not seen ballet in the U.S. until this picture and I knew at once, that’s the kind of pictures I wanted to take.”
He scheduled a photo shoot with a ballerina. “That was in 1984, and I never stopped,” he said.
Today, he works as a consultant for GE Nuclear in San Jose. Dance photography is still just a hobby, although he is done more and more of it through the years.
Influenced by Ansel Adams’ nature photos, Dogra travels with his dancers as far as Antelope Canyon in Arizona, to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon in Utah, to other sites in Nevada, New Mexico, and of course, California. He will scout an area first, sometimes with a guide, and sometimes alone, and when he decides on a scene, he will call up a dancer and travel with the dancer back to the site.
Dogra said he is struck with dance photography because “dancers, when they see their surrounding, can strike a very creative pose that I can capture on film.”
Serious about his work, Dogra braves areas where there are rattlesnakes and mountain lions, with only his tripod for protection. He admits, it can be dangerous scouting areas alone, but sometimes, the urge to find a spot that will work just takes over.
Finding and getting to the perfect spot is, in itself, an adventure, he said. He can tell stories of close calls with snakes, climbing rocks, or getting stuck in the sand, just to find that perfect spot.
His dancers come from all over the country, many are professional dancers with the San Francisco Ballet. Many are serious college students; one is studying to be a doctor, another has a doctorate in physics.
Now, Dogra has taken his photography to the public in an exhibit entitled “Dancescape,” at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center.
Dogra has lived in Morgan Hill since 1981. He and his wife, Deepa, have two children – Aniya, 18 months, and Aryan, who was just born last week.
An Artist’s Reception which will feature Morgan Hill dance photographer Narinder Dogra and guest ballerinas will be held on Oct. 14, 6:30pm to 8pm, at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road.
Dogra’s photographs, which combine the art of dance with nature’s scenery, are being exhibited through Nov. 4 at the center.
