Carl F. Sermon Photography

Photographer of the Raq Stars


Reel Sound and Light Productions
15651 Camino Del Cerro Los Gatos, CA USA 95032-3721

 Tel: (408) 356-9473

Email: Reel.sound@comcast.net


Premier Performance Photographer

Carl Sermon is the premier photographer to the San Francisco Bay Area (CA, USA) Middle Eastern Dance community. He is known for images that capture the "Ya Habibi Golden Moments of Dance". The key to his success is over 30 years of performance photography experience, knowledge of the music and the dance form, and the expertise to anticipate the best moment to photograph the most favorable image of the dance.

Performance Photographic Expertise

Carl’s years of experience photographing the dance gives him a predictive focus and artistic intuition, and along with fast image composition skills he captures live-action images. His combined photographic expertise and extensive knowledge of Middle Eastern dance - based on years of understanding the music, rhythms, and dance styles in performance – results in intuitively knowing and anticipating what the dancer may do next, and instantaneously capturing the image at the precise moment that portrays the dancer’s personality and style.

Performance Photographic Expertise

Carl’s years of experience photographing the dance gives him a predictive focus and artistic intuition, and along with fast image composition skills he captures live-action images. His combined photographic expertise and extensive knowledge of Middle Eastern dance - based on years of understanding the music, rhythms, and dance styles in performance – results in intuitively knowing and anticipating what the dancer may do next, and instantaneously capturing the image at the precise moment that portrays the dancer’s personality and style.

Capturing the Essence of Performance

Carl’s timing and image composition expertise captures peak performance of the dancer’s special staging, emotion, and signature personality. Carl says of his approach to performance photography, "I look for that special sparkle of personality that twinkles in their eyes, the subtle smile of satisfaction and happiness, and that look of pure joy from feeling they are performing to their utmost. I look for veils and skirts floating about the performer framing them in rich color and texture. I look for the mystery and drama created in the moment and conveyed to the audience in a flash."

The Magical Ya Habibi Moment

Carl captures images of that magical moment in time. A time when the dancer is glowing, smiling and showing her joy and enjoyment of this dance. A time when her beautiful facial expression shows emotion, and her body intensity displays passion for the dance in taqsim. A time when her costuming, pose, head and facial expression are superbly framed with arms and torso in perfect alignment, and she radiates the beauty of her beaming personality.

Carl books photography sessions in Ma*Shuqa's dance studio in Los Gatos, California, USA which include: Ma*Shuqa’s makeup and costume consultation, performance pose coaching, and photography assistance to capture that perfect photo with backdrop and professional lighting for your professional portfolio. Consider booking Carl to take your photos at the next festival, hafla, or recital. Think about booking “on location” photo sessions for special photography with Carl and Ma*Shuqa.

Raq Stars
Photographed by Carl F. Sermon

Sohair Zaki, Egypt

Bert Balladine

Tito, Egypt

Momo Kadous, Germany

Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan

Beata & Horacio Cifuentes, Germany

Leila Haddad, France

Nakish

Jillina, Sonia, Bozenka, Belly Dance Superstars

Naheda, Germany

Meera

Kaeshi & Belly Queen

Oreet

Sahra Saeeda

Mesmera

Neena & Veena, Belly Twins

Tanya, Las Vegas

Isis and the Star Dancers

Hadia, Canada

Tonya & Atlantis

Dondi Dahlin

Mia Shauri

Shukriya & Dancers of the Pharoahs

Pangia: Denise & Pat Olson

Aneena & Dancers of the Desert

Siwa and the Dancers of the Crescent Moon

Michelle, Zoe, & Troupe Mahalat

Natica Angilly, Artist Embassy International

Suzanna Del Vecchio

Jamila, Suhaila & Isbella Salimpour & Bal Anat

Dhyanis

Sabiba

Judeen

Willow Chang

Aziza, Canada

Fatima and Jamilla Al Wahid

Saqra

Noel, Toyko, Japan

Tatseena & Troupe Tareefa

Masumi with Dance Arabesque, Tokyo

Tarik and Morocco

Mariko, San Francisco Ballet

Amaya

Dahlia Carella

Angelika Nemeth

Fahtiem

Fat Chance Belly Dance

Amir & Mayyadah, Germany

Ansuya Rathor and Ozzy

Ava Fleming

Sadie & Kaya

Alexandra King

Leyla Jouvana and Roland

Amy Sigal and Umata

Anaheed Sofian

Heather Stants

Kami Liddle

Zoe Jakes

Dunia

Zaina Hart

Karen Barbee

Doug Adams and Light Rain

Alexandria and the Ghawazee

Amina Goodyear and the Aswan Dancers

Arianna Al-Tiye and Nubian Moon Dancers

Mary Ellen Donald

Faruk Tekbilek, Reda Darwish, Susu Pampanin, Suleyman, Armando Fojaco