• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Kept Light Photography

Photography and Writing by A. Cemal Ekin

  • Home
  • Articles
    • All Articles
    • List of Topics
    • Genre »
      • Abstract
      • Architecture
      • Infrared
      • Landscape
      • Nature
      • Still Life
      • Travel
      • Rhode Island
      • Neighborhood
    • Color Management
    • Computer
    • Dance
    • Exhibits & Publications
    • Family Photographs
    • Gear
    • Lightroom
    • Photographers
    • Photography
    • Photoshop
    • WordPress
  • Portfolios
    • About Portfolios
    • Exhibits, Ballet, Publications
    • Selected Bodies of Work
  • Purchase
  • Achievements
  • Workshops
    • Digital Printing Workflow
    • Private Sessions
    • Speaking
  • About
    • Kept Light
    • A. Cemal Ekin
    • Subscribe to Updates
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Search
Mihailo Djuric (Misha) Orchis Mosaic

Happy Retirement, Misha

August 18, 2020 by A. Cemal Ekin
Mihailo Djuric (Misha) Orchis Mosaic

On January 19, 2012, I received an e-mail from my friend Jennifer Davis, a former ballerina. I had asked Jen to look at a few photographs I took of dried orchid blossoms to see if she could find a few dancers who could strike poses inspired by them. She was by then a physical therapist offering services to ballet dancers among other patients.

In the e-mail, Jen said she “spoke to ‘Misha’ (Milhailo Djuric-the Artistic Director)” and that he “was very receptive to” my contacting him for some photographs. And, she added that “he is open to any and all ideas about ways to promote” the company.

I thought long and hard for the entire sixty seconds and said I was in.

I met Misha for the first time on January 31, 2012, at 3:00 PM in his office at Festival Ballet Providence. The director of the school, Mary Ann was with him. I mentioned my idea of some dancers posing for me inspired by the flower photographs. Then, I pulled out my tablet with the orchid photographs and showed them one by one. I could feel and see the excitement in both Misha and Mary Ann. We left it at that I would go watch what they do, and he would think about the potential of the photographs.

Maybe a few meetings later, Misha asked me if I would like to collaborate to create a ballet based on and using my photographs. I believe he had spoken with Victor Plotnikov, the resident choreographer and they came out with the idea of the ballet, Orchis. It would be based on the mythological demigod, Orchis whose death gave us the flowers we enjoy today, orchids.

It was quite an offer! I thought long and hard for the entire sixty seconds and said I was in. I was already on sabbatical and left for Turkey for a few months. When I returned, the collaboration gelled, others joined in, music was commissioned, and Orchis was reborn. I was amazed to see the rehearsals starting with awkward moves and magically polishing up after a few tries. Then on the stage, with the huge screen displaying the slideshow I created, above and behind the graceful dancers, the performance was truly thrilling. One of the high points in my photographic life.

I visited these old memories because I have heard that Misha is retiring very soon after decades of leading the company. Misha, welcome to the Club Ret, an exclusive one for the retired people. You will be missed at the company, I am sure but you will get used to the difficult life of retirement with a few pieces of advice:

  • You will learn in no time that every week actually has six Saturdays and one Sunday
  • Try only to remember the important appointments, other than that, October 10 is as good as October 14!
  • You will not be bored, maybe even busier than before, but with doing things you want to do rather than what you have to or need to do
  • And, boredom is underrated and not easy to attain anyway
Use the slider for before-after views

And, now about the opening photograph. That photograph is a photomosaic generated by using over four thousand photographs I took during the rehearsals, live performances, and the original orchid blossoms. And, Misha will get a printed copy.

I created it to celebrate Misha’s retirement and the successful collaboration that brought Orchis to life. Thank you all, Jen, Misha, Victor, Sonya, Toots, Alan, and all the very talented and graceful dancers of the company. You have all given me a gift that will be with me for the rest of my life. Orchis occupies an important place on this site.

Happy retirement Misha!

Category: Dance, Exhibits & Publications, PhotographyTag: Ballet, Festival Ballet, Photography

Previous Post: « Cortaderia selloana (Pampass grass) July 2020
Next Post: Harris Avenue – 2020 Salaam »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Haluk Atamal

    August 19, 2020 at 5:17 pm

    Great!
    “I met Misha for the first time on January 31, 2012, at 3:00 PM in his office”
    ..very precise notetaking I suppose.
    I also wish Misha the very weeks defined by you and best of health until the endlessness.
    Thanks and take care Cemal.
    Haluk

    Reply
    • A. Cemal Ekin

      August 19, 2020 at 5:21 pm

      Ah, I have many years of e-mails in my archive. And calendaring helped as well, Haluk. Thank you for your good wishes. You all take care as well.

      Cemal

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

New Post Updates

Consider subscribing to new post updates, you can unsubscribe instantly anytime you want. You will only receive a short e-mail when a new post is published.

Visit Subscribe Page

Privacy Policy

The Privacy Policy mainly addresses the concerns that may be related to the platform and its technology. We do not collect or share any information about the visitors.

Copyright Information

All photographs and writing are:
© 2020 A. Cemal Ekin · Kept Light Photography. All rights reserved. No work may be used for any purpose without prior written permission.

Contact me for more information.

Copyright © 2021 · A. Cemal Ekin · All Rights Reserved