Taking evocative tango photos is a challenge, as anyone who has pointed a camera in the direction of tango will attest. Belinda and Rod from Project Neo Fusion Tango in Melbourne, joined with Sidewalk Tango studio to promote the Melbourne Tango Photo Challenge 2011. The judging took place in November at Melbourne Tango studio run by Sidewalk Tango. 

TangoAustralia asked Rod for a report on the Challenge - and the photos that took out the prizes.

T hose who take Tango photos appreciate the difficulties in taking action photos, in-doors, with low light and of a moving target with no flashes, but the technical difficulty is only one aspect - it is the photographer's composition skills that are the striking factor in a magnificent photo. We know as dancers, that there is a distinct difference between showy, choreographed tango and the passionate sensual tango that we strive to experience, and it is this latter sense of feeling that the artist is trying to invoke in the observer.

There are many other aspects and inspirations that lead to photographs that represent Tango: the interesting, the beautiful, the musical, the etiquette, the clothing, the shoes, the dance halls, the friendships, the critics, the paraphernalia, the abstract - all of these demonstrate the richness of interpretation and photography.
The Challenge was made up of three categories:

• Best Tango Dance Photo
• Best Collection of Tango Photos 
• Most Interesting Tango Photo

Participants were invited to enter up to two entries in the first and last category and one entry in the second category, at a cost of $5 per entry. Trophies where awarded to the winner in each category, plus a trophy for the “people choice” award, and gift vouchers for best overall entry and second best entry.

Obviously judging this event was never going to be easy. Three judges were required. We were fortunate to have celebrity Bryan Dawe, comedian from the 7.30 report and accomplished photographer, accept the position as chief judge. Brian's responsibility was to also judge composition. David Backler, co-owner of Sidewalk Tango and a well-known and respected Tango teacher accepted the position as judge of Tango Content. Dana Parker, dancer and Tango teacher migrating south from Canberra was our third judge concentrating on whether the Tango feeling was present.

Initially the modesty of our Melbourne photographers inhibited the number of entries, but as the closing date approached the curiosity and anonymity triggered raw competitiveness! In the end 22 entries totalling 52 photos were received display. The Sidewalk Tango Studio in Richmond was the ideal venue. The Wednesday night Practilonga was framed by beautiful Tango photo’s, with the floorcraft of the dancers even more challenged by the occasional spectator wandering in viewing and casting their People’s Choice vote. In total there were over 100 votes cast.

The presentation of the winners was announced on Friday 18th November.

Guy Israeli took out the awards for Best Collection, People’s Choice and Best Overall Entry with the following collection of six photos:

Best Tango Dance Photo was won by Kylie O’Brien, who also came second in the People's Choice Award, proving that the Judges and our community agreed strongly on who took the best photo.

The Most Interesting category was taken out by Fiz Doherty with her very abstract. The second best entry was also taken out by Fiz with a collection of near abstract photos for David and Dianne from Sidewalk Tango dancing at the Confiteria Ideal milonga in Buenos Aires.

Find out more:
contact Belinda and Rod, Project NFT (Neo Fusion Tango) by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Check out the Sidewalk Tango studio on their website.