Tripods are not allowed - this is SO not going to be easy

[DVC Jen]

Kylie graduates today. I am already crying. I'm am mess - I need help!

Tripods are not allowed at the graduation ceremony and I know I am going to be in bad shape. Hopefully my IS lens has enough zoom on it that I can get close enough to get a few good shots. Gonna bring my 70-300mm lens just in case.

I really hope I can get something that is not blurry from shaking hands and blurry tear filled eyes.

Maybe I should set the camera and let my DH take the pics? More than likely he will be fairly emotional too though..... LOL maybe Emily our youngest.

Any advice on taking decent shots when you are so emotional and can't use a tripod?

 

[Master Mason]

Could you use a mono? I am guessing no tripods so the aisles are cloged, but the mono you could simply use at your seat to hold the camera steady.

 

[DVC Jen]

Gut feeling is no. They are being VERY strict about what we bring into the special event center. They are not even allowing a bottle of water to be brought in.

Metal detectors - bag checks the whole nine yards.

It will be interesting enough with my 83 yr old MIL. She has a pace maker so she can not go through a metal detector and has lost her card from the dr. stating she has it.

I am hoping if I go with the fastest shutter speed I can pull off - maybe I will get something that isn't a total mess.

 

[Gdad]

Is the ceremony inside or outside? My daughters graduation was last week and it was pretty crowded. My suggestion would be get there early enough to get a decent seat. And if its inside be sure to use a good flash if you have one available.

Here are a few from my daughters..

Okay- it was a Kindergarten graduation.

Good luck!

 

[GrumpyOne]

Could you use a mono? I am guessing no tripods so the aisles are cloged, but the mono you could simply use at your seat to hold the camera steady.

Monopod with a cap on the top? "That's not a monopod, that's just my cane."

 

[Dan Murphy]

Enjoy the day, Jen. And congratulations to Kylie. And to your daughter too, Jeff.

 

[DVC Jen]

Great pictures Jeff. Congratulations to your daughter.

The ceremony is inside thank goodness - it has been raining cats and dogs here all day.

 

[photo_chick]

My advice would be to try and get some good shots, but don't worry so much about it that it takes away from the day. While photos are important, they are not everything.

Congrats to everyone with grads from any grade. My DD is moving on to 2nd grade! Woo Hooo!

 

[DVC Jen]

Well - I tried. I don't think I got too many that are all that great. I was hoping to use my IS lens and a fast shutter speed - but we ended up sitting really far back and high up. My MIL was in a wheelchair (mobility issues - too far to walk) so we sat in the handicap and companion section as high up and furthest back possible. I had to use the 70-300mm lens. Normally that would be fine - but not when you are shaking.

I haven't really taken a good look at what I have yet - but I do have a gut feeling I didn't get all that many good shots.

Oh well - I am now the Mom of a high school grad and it is one strange feeling.

BTW - she LOVES her Canon S3. I have explained all of the auto modes and told her to not even worry about the manual modes yet. Then I explained composition and all of the rules and told her to just work on that for now. Then we would go on to the next steps. I also gave her my two Bryan Peterson books to read.

Kylie and I share a love of teaching together (she is going to be an EC-4 -early childhood to grade 4- teacher) and now we have something else to share - photography. I am looking forward to helping her as she goes down both paths.

 

[AndrewWG]

Well Jen, Congrats to you and to Kylie! You both made it through the day. Now I fully expect to see the user name DVC Kylie posting her shots on the S3 thread!

Again, congrats to you and your whole family.

Andy

 

[Gdad]

Congradulations! And what a great graduation gift. Looking forward to seeing some of her pictures!

 

[rtphokie]

Walking cane / monopod combo. Just be sure you walk in with it in use and they'll be hard pressed to tell you no.

Available in a number of styles from $25-$135

 

[senecabeach]

Jen...
How wonderfully precious to share so many things together with Kylie !!!!
Looking forward to seeing those pics..

Carol

 

[MICKEY88]

Walking cane / monopod combo. Just be sure you walk in with it in use and they'll be hard pressed to tell you no.

Available in a number of styles from $25-$135

sounds good in theory, but once they see you using as a monopod, they could take it. some places would also escort you out with it, would it be worth the risk of missing the event..

 

[garris3404]

Monopod with a cap on the top? "That's not a monopod, that's just my cane."

 

[jann1033]

congratulations!( ok sort of belated, i'm behind in my reading threads ) you think graduation is bad wait till they move out ( course i cried when they started kindergarden as well so maybe it's just my abnormally free flowing tear ducts )