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