When I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison more than 15 years ago, it was nearly impossible for my mom to snap a photo of me walking across the stage at the Fieldhouse to accept my diploma. The 11,500-seat multi-purpose arena is not designed to allow short moms with inexpensive point-and-shoot cameras to capture commencement ceremonies very well.
Unfortunately, the conundrum will likely play out repeatedly across the country during the next few weeks, as tens of thousands of proud parents attempt to capture their graduate during his shining moment. Let’s face it; unless you are seated in the front row or you find a way to stand near the stage without getting booted by an usher, there is little chance that you will score a winning shot of your kid getting his diploma. Then, factor in poor lighting and bad angles and the deck is really stacked against you.
To improve your chances of getting a decent shot of your graduate during the commencement exercises it’s vital that you secure a spot near the action, even if you have to run up when your kid hits the stage and shoot while squatting down in front of the people holding down the prime seats. Another option is to invest in a top-rated DSLR camera with an outstanding telephoto lens. You might also confer with your child as to where you will be set-up with your camera, so he can be looking in your direction when he is handed his diploma.
Depending on the lighting situation you may have to change your camera’s settings. I would recommend taking it out of auto and shooting in manual. This will allow you to experiment with different features, including focus and depth of field, so you get the shot just the way you want it.
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