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Eva Nys Photography
Eva Nys is a young photographer making big waves in the dance community. Check out her captivating story and beautiful images below.
Let’s learn more about Eva Nys and her inspiring journey as a photographer.
The Formative Years: Inspiration and Discovery
Eva Nys knew exactly what she wanted to do from an early age. As a childhood dancer herself, she always understood the emotional power and grace of human movement. After experiencing this joy herself, Eva wanted to capture the essence of these special moments for everyone to enjoy.
Initially, Eva was far more obsessed with videography than images. Dance is about motion, and the young photographer wanted to showcase this through movies and documentaries. Eva had a unique understanding of dance as an art form, and she wanted to show people how she experienced this world. Whether ballet or tango, contemporary or hip-hop, she was captivated by the moving spirit of dance.
Eva saved up money from babysitting jobs, buying her first DSLR camera at the age of 15. While she originally wanted to create short films, it didn’t take long before she changed focus. She took photos of a fellow dancer, shared them on Instagram, and found the perfect mentor close to home. Local wedding photographer, Renee Clancy, was also Eva’s Spanish teacher, and she gave Eva guidance and support during this critical time.
With training and practice, Eva learned to appreciate the simplicity and perfection of still images. She learned to pause time and capture motion, finding the eternal beauty of an isolated moment. Eva had found a natural connection between her two biggest passions, and her career path was getting clearer by the day. While she has learned to embrace many other subjects in photography over time, dancing has always been her biggest inspiration.
As an artist, Eva understands the intimate connection between the ideal motion of the eternal dance and the perfect stillness of the captured form. In an interview, she said: “Dance really is an incredible form of self expression; everyone dances, sometimes even when they don’t realize they are. I’ve heard people say many times that dance is their drug; it can be cathartic to the extent that every cell of someone’s being pulls them to it. The connection between movement and soul is my favorite to capture.”
The Development Phase: Connection and Technique
Now on her path, Eva was ready to make new connections and develop better skills. Inspiration is just the start; good photography also depends on equipment and technique. From angles and lighting decisions to physical form and facial expressions, great photographers have a fantastic sense of scale and detail. Eva learned how to freeze movements from particular dance routines, finding peaks and poses based on her intended objectives.
According to Eva, “I rarely am satisfied with the first try of a pose. I like to use the first try as a building block to refine the details. I have a mental list I run through as I look at a shot before I start suggesting corrections.” Decisions typically start from the location, with Eva also thinking about how the room is set up and how the subject is styled and posed. The connection between motion and stillness is central to every good photo, and in the world of dance, this relationship is particularly important.
Along with technique, Eva focused on developing connections with the dance community. She loves forming relationships that endure, getting to know dancers at a young age and watching their careers unfold. Due to her history, Eva had a unique opportunity to connect with young dancers and gain the trust of their parents. “It’s exciting for me to play a part in their journey,” said Eva, adding, “I am forever grateful for the role their parents play continuing to hire me through the years and support my journey through all of this.”
Shoots and Subjects
Individual dancers have played an integral role in the development of Eva’s career. She has photographed more than 1,000 dancers of all ages and skill levels. While she plans each shoot carefully and loves the intricate details of her craft, she also enjoys serendipity and surprise. Sometimes things go in the complete opposite direction, and these moments often lead to incredible results. Eva also gets inspiration from other photographers, including people like Xenia Lau, Tyler Shields, and Juan Oliphant.
Eva Nys works with a wide array of dancers and subjects, including these specializations:
Young Dancers
Eva loves working with young dancers, whether it’s kids in training or people at the start of their professional careers. Having come from the dance community, she has developed great relationships and made lots of special friends. Along with capturing great images, Eva enjoys helping young dancers navigate the big wide world. She advises kids to listen to knowledge, appreciate differences, and pay attention to what’s going on in the world.
One of Eva’s favorite young dance subjects is Leonidas Adarmes, a talented young man from Venezuela who studied at the Master Ballet Academy in Arizona. Eva has photographed Leo on several occasions, capturing his skills and spirit with images that defy gravity. On one stunning photo, Leo is performing a beautiful over split while pulling on his suspenders and touching his toes.
Spooky Pics
Eva enjoys playing around with dark scenes and scary subjects, with “spooky pics” some of her favorites. She remembers sneaking into the Paranormal Activity movies as a young teenager, and before long, she was hooked on the horror genre. Her first “spooky shoot” was inspired by a viewing of The Shining, which Eva organized within 48 hours of seeing the movie. The online reaction to this shoot was amazing, and she started integrating spooky images into her portfolio.
Eva doesn’t always photograph dancers, with some of her spooky subjects emerging from other disciplines. Working with contortionist Georgia Bryan is one of her best memories, with this memorable photo shoot taking place on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. It was a “spooky shoot” designed for Halloween, and the end results were absolutely fantastic.
Photographic Niches
Eva also works in other fields, including film photography, portraits, and stage productions. She finds distinct pleasure in the slow and deliberate nature of film photography, applying her technical skills and waiting days to see the results. Portraits are also close to her heart, as they capture the true essence of the subject in an intimate setting. Last but not least, Eva enjoys shooting stage productions and rehearsals, capturing other creative people directly in their element. She loves being a fly on the wall and capturing a truly unaltered piece of time.
If you’d like to learn more about Eva Nys and her work, please check out her social media channels. She showcases her amazing photography on Instagram and TikTok, and her personal website is also well worth a look.
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