Oakland

Photographer's Note

This is the time of year when schools hold their graduation ceremonies. I was invited by my god-daughter to attend her graduation from high school and delighted to attend, camera in hand, of course. In fact, I chose to arrive about an hour before the scheduled time to scope out the setting and test a couple of lenses. When I arrived the only persons in the auditorium were teachers who were setting up the stage for the coming event. When I identified myself they had no problem with my rambling about the space as I looked for the best perspective from which to shoot.

To my surprise and delight, the school administrators had planned an abbreviated walk through before the ceremony began. I was treated to unhindered access to the auditorium as those about to graduate took their place on the stage. It was as I was shooting the stage that I noticed this single student walking toward the upper level exit to the auditorium and I quickly took this shot. It was only later when I was reviewing the 350 images I shot that day that I came upon this image and saw the beauty of it.

I'll leave it to others to articulate the story one could easily craft about a single student entering the next stage of her life. I'll note simply, that one needs a very fast lens and a camera that can handle high ISO shooting to do this kind of work. If you check the EXIF for this image you'll see I was pushing things just about as far as they would go. But I'm pleased with the result and hope others enjoy the effort.

And to my god-daughter sitting on the stage as I took this photo of one of her classmates, congratulations on a job well done!

Rinie_Hoff, RGatward, Galeota, ALIRIZA, spence, pasternak, elmec, Burnham, peter1892, delkoo, Albrecht ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2006-06-19 2:05

This an amazing photo, so clear and sharp. And, what to say about the colors? They are beautiful. I particularly like the person’s shadow on the wall. I wish I could do something so good.
Antonio

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2006-06-19 2:52

Hello Curtis, this is really beautiful and evocative. It is a festival of lights, forms, soft colors, with a lot of wonderful orange in it like the sides of the chairs and the rectangulars, (maybe the seats?). The diagonals and the curves, and the lines of that (I don't know what to call it) fence? at the end of the stairs, it's all there.
And than the person walking up the stairs, she also looks a bit sad, with her head bend down.
It is beautiful, thanks for sharing, and good luck to your god-daughter in the next stage of life.

RGatward (20086) 2006-06-19 3:39

That really catches the mood of, well, something like the event, though rather sureal with all the empty seats. Very nice work all round, with obviously tricky tech.

Galeota (10352) 2006-06-19 3:41

Excellent framing capturing the harmony of lines. This recalls me very much some of your early photographs, focusing on details, lines, shapes, light.

ALIRIZA (16423) 2006-06-19 4:42

Hello Curtis,
Great POV, good angle, nice shot. I like warm colors, light and shadows very much. Congratulations...
Best Regards...
Ali Rıza

maciekda (19895) 2006-06-19 4:59

it is a wonderful photo Courtis, very well composed - all those lines and the diagonal, beautiful graphism. wonderful colors as well. and the moment is great. congratulations on your 5D, I wish you more images like this one

spence (65) 2006-06-19 8:19

Well seen Curtis! Fantastic lines and colours - beautifully graphic, and when you add in the emotional impact of the solitary student it makes for a really impressive shot. Congratulations on this one.

pasternak (15185) 2006-06-19 9:25

Amazing, Curtis, truly amazing work! These grey/orange stools, a perfect regular pattern, and a lone figure in red against the light yellow background with blue lights... Very very nice photo! Thanks!
Alexander

elmec (12210) 2006-06-19 13:09

Hello Curtis!
Such a great moment You shot!
Very good note there.
Perfect composition with good light and idea!
Good work!
Best regards!

Kicka (0) 2006-06-19 13:31

Nice scene captured. The composition is very good, like all the lines, the colours and of course the great light. The shadow at the wall is a nice detail. Good work.

Take care,
Jessica

Burnham (2428) 2006-06-19 17:14

Well as everyone has said before me this is very beautiful, somehow although this was taken at (/prior to) a very joyfull event it has a sadness to it. The grils bend head, her being alone, all the empty seats and the colours gives it this look of deep emotions, a favorite.

peter1892 (1681) 2006-06-19 18:17

Beautifully done Curtis, wonderful light & colours. I can see from the exif that you were pusihing the boundaries here, and it has certainly delivered a fine image. The composition is excellent with so the diagonal & horizontal lines, and the lone girl adds a whole different dimension to the image.

delkoo (68) 2006-06-22 15:29

very nice shot curtis, great composition, beautiful light and strong graphism.

well done
didier

Albrecht (11283) 2006-12-08 1:50

Hi Curtis
I like the picture a lot. a story behind it and a wonderful atmosphere using the light and the one person there. Good compo.
greetings Albrecht

bradleyh (31) 2007-11-18 13:23

Dear Curtis,

This is a fantastic photo. You should be very proud of this. The composition and lighting is superb. I actually like the photo without a description. There is something so mysterious about a loan graduate walking through an empty auditorium. Without the explanation I am left to contemplate the situation on my own. I believe leaving a viewer in to ponder a situation such as this is a measure of exceptional photography. This is what drew my further attention from the thumbnail.

Keep up your excellent work.

Bradley