Ballerinas, 1979

Back in November 1974, I was just beginning to dip my toes into the world of photography. With my camera in hand, I found myself sneaking into a dimly lit stage in my hometown of Florence, South Carolina, eager but unsure of what I was about to capture. The atmosphere was hushed, the only sound being the soft rustle of ballet shoes whispering secrets to the wooden floor.As I clicked the shutter, something magical happened. The low light blurred the dancers' swift movements, creating an image that was unexpectedly beautiful. At that time, I couldn't fully grasp the beauty unfolding before me - the way the blur captured the grace and fluidity of the ballerinas, turning their dance into a dreamy, flowing painting. "Ballerinas" became a happy accident, a simple yet profound reminder that sometimes, beauty lies in the imperfections, in the spontaneous moments that we stumble upon, where motion and light come together to tell a story that is both humble and enchantingly beautiful.