Carole Edrich Weblog

courageous images

In 2005 soon after I started writing about dance I was lucky enough to work with Hilary Shedel for Ford Magazine. Hilary is a very talented photographer who specialises in dance and movement. Her images were to accompany my piece on a young, rising flamenco bailaora called Mercedes Ruiz. Since then I've often seen booklets and adverts with photos that show her very distinctive style.

Tavaziva Dance Company
(c) Hilary Shedel

In researching a piece on dance photography for Dance Today I decided to get back in touch. As the best I've worked with she had to be in the article. Even though we did the interview by phone it went well. We communicated brilliantly, covered a huge amount and as well as being perfect for this project our conversation gave me several ideas for the future.

That's not why I'm writing this entry.

I thought I had not seen her around because dance photography pays so little. Instead it turns out that she was out of commission for a while. Her own words follow:

me: "What one thing in your career would you like to go back and change?"

Hilary: "I was diagnosed with breast cancer November last year. I've had surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and now I'm well on the way to recovery and working again. What I regret is that I didn't document my experience with my camera. Of course I don't want it to happen again so that this time I can do it. No thanks! But I wish I had done it. I took the camera with me and know I mustn't be hard on myself but the situation distracted me slightly from the camera in my bag.

But there's something I did do. When you're in radiotherapy you go into hospital for 30 days in a row. There's a little ticket that you put into the door to say you're there. We were given a grotty photocopied thing but I changed that. I had pictures. Laminated double sided photos and I put those in the door to show I was there. It caused a huge amount of interest and as a thank you I gave them a big box of my dance photography cards."

Matt Clinch
(c) Hilary Shedel

So Hilary Shedel is not just a wonderfully creative photographer with a real passion for dance (and respect for dancers that was clear in her interview) but a humorous, brave survivor who I hope to work with again soon.

Meanwhile, I thought of Alex.

The images here are presented with Hilary's permission. If you'd like to see more of her work, go to her agency and select 'our news' then 'Hilary Shedel' or visit HilaryShedel.com .

She also has exhibitions at The Place and in a gallery in Leicestershire.

Posted by carole at August 20, 2007 07:32 PM