milonga watcher

Those who organise this milonga seem to believe that the atmosphere is improved by limiting the lighting to a few candles and the light of an open fire, so it’s nearly impossible to get a technically good shot without the intrusion of flash photography. That notwithstanding, this shot should speak to the experienced milonguero because it shows a watcher clearly interested in those dancing (the experienced tango dancer will spend a long time watching those dancing as they are keen to identify those whose technical expertise and musicality will most suit their own).

This image was taken in Milonga Bohemienne in early 2011. While I don’t like the blurriness of the dancers it illustrates the challenges of unobtrusive dance photography in an atmosphere that most dancers would consider to be both romantic and bohemian.