I was studying drumming and dance in Guinea, West Africa, and my teacher took me two weeks inland to observe Malinke villagers dancing to a rhythm called doundounba. It used to be a fighting dance with whips and clubs, but now they battle with martial-arts-style maneuvers. I crouched at the edge of the circle and timed my shots to the beat of the drums. Without autofocus, it took me 100 frames to get this shot. But if I hadn't understood the dance and been able to anticipate the dancers' movements, I'd never have gotten it at all.
Malinke villagers dancing with martial-arts-style maneuvers Photographer: Christopher LaMarca
Comments