The Before Photo

One of the rules I tried to instill in other photographers is to arrive early and stay late. When possible.

There are many reasons why this is a good idea. Frequently you are the only photographer around and will have an exclusive photo when something important happens.

I’ve had photos of a governor making last-minute changes to the podium and the staging before an important speech and a powerful union leader with his feet on the desk after all the other media left.

If you’re early you can hobnob with the principals before the event begins. That’s an opportunity to ask questions that might give you an advantage in shooting position or timing. When the event ends is when people are relaxed and more open to more candid photos.

This photo is an early photo. After the Otterbein University graduate’s march to commencement I stopped by a volunteer tree planting location scheduled for two hours later. FACT President Luanne Hendricks was alone kneeling or on her knees sorting through and tagging with color ribbons the trees and bushes that volunteers would plant later.

The panoramic image has a vintage feel to it. The choice to save it in a slight sepia monochrome gives it a timeless quality, highlighting textures and patterns without the distraction of color. The contrast is well managed, with a dynamic range that maintains detail in both the highlights and shadows.

The sunlight filters through the tree canopy, creating dappled patterns on the ground.

The photo is composed using balanced asymmetry. The trees on the left seem to frame the central figure, Luanne. She gives a human element to the scene, offering scale and a narrative focal point.

This is the combination of a three-frame stitched panorama. The panoramic format gives a broad view of the setting and includes the anchoring trees on either side.

Here’s the color photo that will be in tomorrow’s The Westerville News.

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A Different Edit

I reworked yesterday’s newsletter photo as a black-and-white. Now I’m not sure which one I like better. Which one do you prefer?

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