Christmas is amazing. Mostly because of Jesus.. Christmas is the time of year we celebrate His coming to earth which ultimately lead to His sacrifice for our sins. Thank you Jesus for the most amazing gift of all.

Christmas is also magical because of all the great lights and events of the season. I was married during the Christmas season 20 years ago, December 21st 1991. I love everything about Christmas, especially Studio West Dance Academy’s production of The Nutcracker. I’m so proud to have my kids enrolled in this studio. The staff and families are all generous, kind, gracious, and encouraging. The productions are professional with amazing costumes, lights, effects and sets. Nothing here is hokey or done halfway. If you live anywhere near Olympia Washington, this is the studio where your kids can enroll and instantly be part of a family.

As most of my friends know, I’m more of a landscape and stock photography shooter than a live action photographer. This was most evident as I tried to shoot the dress rehearsals of The Nutcracker. Wow, there is so much to get right. To get the perfect shot, the shooter must account for quickly changing light, proper framing and timing is critical. Ballet is about lines and position, snap the shutter at the wrong moment and you’ve missed capturing the beauty forever.

After approaching the studio’s staff photographer about shooting alongside him I was invited to be a second shooter. I feel honored for the invitation and the experience. I discovered during the process that I’m not yet qualified for this sort of thing. My timing and light settings were frequently off. And, when I did manage to get them correct, I found that a good many of the images were framed wrong with a foot or hand just out of frame. Thi, I’m impressed at your skill. I have much to learn.

Click the image below to review a handful of the images I took. I’m looking forward to more opportunities and better results.

Crysten in The Nutcracker