Analysis of Maya Almeida Photography

Maya Almeida

"Maya has spent over a decade photographing movement - in and out of water. Her inspiration comes from living in place of limitless possibility. As an photographer she hopes to take the viewer with her on a Journey that is far from reality."

Maya has assisted and trained with Chris Nash in London , she also learned lots from Lois Greenfield in New York. 

Her dance images have been exhibited at City Hall in London during the Cultural Olympyiad 2012, toured the UK including the Metal Culture venue in Chalkwell Hall. 

Her ocean work was chosen for a multi-media installation at the Arles Salon in France in 2012 and her latest 'Underwater Dance' series was selected as one of only two UK photographers for the Shanghai International Invitational Exhibition, 2014.

I like this first image that Almeida has created as it displays an interesting posture for the dancer underwater, this wouldn't have been able to be captured if it wasn't for the dancers ability to bend backward into a very flexible position. Almeida captures the image in such a way that both the surface of the water and the dancers draped cloth are both in frame, the interesting use of light shining in from above the surface really captures interesting and diffused rays of light across the pool.

Almeida's equally interesting studio work displays two men, one in mid air and the other in a distorted position on the floor, I like the use of lighting shining directly onto the front of one man and the back of the man in front, this really confuses the eye and creates an interesting optical illusion as you are almost unable to justify whether or not they are directly above each other or if someone is behind the other. The clarity and sharpness of the image displays every single part of the body and the use of shadow and light really helps this also. The minimalist clothing and background focusses the eyes on the shape being created by the dancer. 

In this image Maya really uses the interest of the draped cloth to create a very interesting and contrasting image. The use of the dark background in the water and the light shone from directly above the dancer causes interesting shadows and creases onto the cloth and the colour works against the colour of the watery background, The surface of the waters reflection creates an interesting shape due to the diffraction of the light and the lime green colour creates an interesting intensity. The interesting idea of symmetry that is displayed onto the top of the surface and so it creates a surreal feel to the image. 

In this image Maya uses two dancers to create an idea of depth into the image. The sharp focus of the image shows even the most minute detail of the bubbles. The use of flowing cloth against the strong and dense muscles of the dancer as well as the blurry water background. The use of light shining in from various directions creates interesting shadow and also gives a very surreal atmosphere to the image.