(Editor’s Note: This post is by Andrew Daddio, university photographer.)
Each year at this time I am asked to compile a selection of my favorite images from the beginning of the calendar year. I’m always hesitant to call these my “Best Images” of the year, because my choices are culled from anywhere between 40,000 and 50,000 shutter actuations for any given calendar year. And my picks would of course differ depending on the day, the weather, what I had for breakfast, what music I listened to on the way to work, or my dreams from the previous night. Plus art isn’t a horse race with clearly defined winners and losers. But, here are some images that stood out for me after reviewing just under 40,000 files from this past year.
Photo at the top
This image was shot on a very cold morning. I just happened upon this scene. Someone had written “Go Gate” in the frozen snow on the landing of Persson Hall, and signed it with handprints. Using Capture One Pro 8, I was able to bring out and enhance the colors of the sky and trees as well as bring out more of the detail in the snow and brickwork using the “structure” control. I then ran the file through Nik Sharpener Pro 3 RAW Sharpener to finish it off and bring out even greater detail.
This was shot last January on my way to shoot another image of the spillway along Taylor Lake (also in this collection). I noticed the ice in the trees and the long lines created by the shadows, and it seemed like it could make for a very graphic composition. So, I unpacked my gear and waited for some students to pass through the scene. It was a very cold day, as is evident from the cloud of breath that is seen on the young lady walking to class. I was not dressed warmly enough, and by the time I was done with the spillway shots, I thought my toes were going to fall off.
I was very excited to play with some new filters. That’s why I ventured out in negative seven degree weather that morning. Photographers are not rational people. I had just gotten 10-stop and 15-stop neutral density filters, and was really excited to try them out. These filters cut the amount of light hitting the sensor, and allow me to do extreme long exposures in bright sunlight, where normally the shutter speed would be something like 1/500 or 1/4000 of a second instead of 2.5 seconds or 30 seconds. This is one of the really cool aspects of photography; to see things that our eyes just don’t see and record them in a way that we simply can never experience. I think Marcel DuChamp’s masterpiece Nude Descending a Staircase must have been inspired by seeing movement in a photograph… But that is just a speculation, and any art history majors can let me know about that if they have some background. Anyway, I thought, “where best to give these filters an inaugural test but at the spillway?” Nikon D4s, ISO 100ƒ 20 @ 30 seconds.
Often, it is difficult to separate the act and experience of shooting something from the resulting photographs that come from the assignment. Such is the case with this image. The lead guitarist from one of my favorite bands, Ween, talked about how it is impossible for him to separate the album from the experience of recording it. Maybe it wasn’t actually the best album, but they had the best time recording it, and it is impossible to separate the two. Taken on it’s own, I don’t think I can say this is a stellar shot. But, the experience I had shooting Whoopi Goldberg was definitely stellar, and I think the photo captures her vibrant personality.
An unexpected surprise. I got this great sunset while walking between locations during reunion on my way to shoot the Alumni Awards Ceremony in Memorial Chapel. Always have a camera with you, and always have it ready. An old photographer’s adage was “ƒ8 and be there,” although this was shot at ƒ5.6. I think this image captures the surrounding natural beauty against which the 51 campus is set. Capture One Pro 8 was able to bring out the subtle colors of the sunset and hillside, and the “keystone” controls were helpful in getting the horizontal and vertical lines completely straight and aligned.
Another image shot on the same day during reunion. To me, this shot symbolizes the beauty, wonder, and innocence of youth. This was shot hand-held using only available light. Nikon D4s, ISO 2000, 35mm ƒ1.4 lens @ ƒ1.4 at 1/30.
Yet another image shot on the same day during reunion. I’m especially proud of this one, as it was also shot hand-held using only available light and at a very low shutter speed. I love low-light and night photography! Nikon D4s, ISO 2000, 24mm ƒ1.4 lens @ ƒ1.4 at 1/13.
Okay, this wasn’t shot as the same day as the previous three. It was shot the next morning. Reunion offers so many great opportunities for photos. It is a very festive atmosphere, and it is great to be a part of friends reuniting with one another and re-experiencing the magic and memories that they formed and shared at 51. Or to have their children do the same. To me, this is a very Americana shot; the old convertible, the bicycles, the feel of summer, and Raider high-fiving little kids. This was shot during the annual Reunion parade along the village green.
Another classic Americana image that I couldn’t have staged. I love the symmetry of the flags, the flower pots, and the two young ladies with their legs crossed wearing what looks like the exact same tee shirt. I always operate in a purely journalistic and documentary fashion, and I don’t set things up or stage them. Honest.
This shot reminds me of a quote by one of my favorite authors, Hunter S. Thompson. “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” I love those strange, unexpected moments that sometimes unfold during photo shoots. Spontaneous magic. I am drawn to images that make the viewer want to know more about what is happening. Or why. I was photographing a neuroscience lab with Professor Bruce Hansen, and this was the subject of the experiment with a net of electrodes in her hair to record brain waves. One of the great things that I love about working in an academic environment is that I continually get to learn. How cool is that? Bruce and I had a wonderful conversation about the brain and mirror neurons. It was a great shoot and a great afternoon. The image was run through Nik Sharpener Pro 3’s RAW Sharpener to help bring out greater detail.
I love photographing people. One day I’m going to write a short semi-autobiographical story about a misanthropic portrait photographer. I got to travel down to Vestal, N.Y., to photograph . The initial profile I had read of him had intrigued me, and rather than send someone else down to shoot it, I wanted to meet him and shoot it myself. He owns 30 acres and is a renowned writer, naturalist, and photographer. We spent a great afternoon together on his property, riding through the woods in his truck, and this was photographed next to one of his most cherished spots on his property, his stream. I found out that Rick and I also shared a great deal of common interests and experiences. This was also a great opportunity to play with our new ProFoto B1 lighting kit, which is nothing short of tremendous. The B1 light was shot into a Profoto Deep White Medium umbrella and triggered with the air remote for Nikon.
I’m a sucker for fireworks, amusement parks, boardwalks, and anything along those lines. This was shot during homecoming. I had scouted this vantage point earlier in the afternoon as a place to shoot during the fireworks display. Some of you may have seen this on Instagram or Facebook. When reviewing the edit, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the great Jack Kerouac quote from On The Road. “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones that never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue center light pop and everybody goes ‘Awww!’”
The way it is sometimes difficult to describe the plot of a great film where seemingly nothing happens, yet it hits you on a very visceral level — sometimes I think some of the best photos are of nothing. Photos of nothing except the play of light, and texture and form and color and layers. So, in a way, this is a photo about nothing (remember the Fuggs song, Nothing?), aside from the replacement of the James C. 51 Hall roof and a crane in the background working on the new Class of ’65 Arena, set against the autumn hillside. But it is really about so much more than that.
This was taken while out getting autumn scenic shots right around the peak of fall foliage in our area. Lately, one of the tricks that I’ve played with is switching my camera to DX mode if I don’t have a long enough lens with me, or if I can’t physically get close enough to the subject. That way my 200mm ƒ 2.8 lens becomes a 300mm ƒ 2.8, and I can get the proper magnification from my vantage point. I store that setting in my custom menu and have that easily accessible while out on shoots. It comes in very handy. I’ve made posters from images that were shot this way, and they hold up fine. I just use Alien Skin Blowup to increase the resolution, and it works beautifully. For some reason, this photo reminded me of a great Buddhist quote. “What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow. Our life is the creation of our mind.”