by Gary Fong
Photographer: Nick Capozziello
High School…a lot of memories we’d like to live again…a lot of moments we’d rather forget. Good or bad, the photos we took while in High School are recollections of a moment gone by.
Just getting into photography, Nick Capozziello picked up his camera for his ten-year high school reunion; just to see what memories he would bring home. If making memories is the only reason…great…wonderful…he gets a silver star for completing the mission.
Now for the Nit Picking
However, if the point is to show the liveliness of youth a decade after graduation, his image leaves more to viewer’s imagination than substance.
Story wise, what’s the context? The dark background could be anywhere. Is it at a party, a location in an exotic land, or a high school reunion with revelries going on all around. The background shows no indication of any frolicking going on anywhere (which is indicative of my high school reunions that I don’t attend). Keep in mind that background provides context to the image.
Why amputate the hands? Yes…well…one doesn’t want to encourage underage drinking, but it’s nice to have all appendages safely in the frame. If the couple had liquid refreshments in hand…it’s easy to ask them to set it down for a second. Such iconic notation could cause the youngsters to follow in the steps of upper class persons. Keep the hands and feet inside a car; keep the hands and feet in the frame.
What lights sources are available to illuminate the moment? If it’s a party, one would think the ambient party lights or dance floor luminescent may contribute to the atmosphere. Flash on camera is usually the last alternative to capture mood lighting. If the flash on camera can be aimed…try bouncing the light off the ceiling or the wall. The light would return softer, more flattering to the subjects.
Speaking of the subjects…young ladies are particularly sensitive about looking great. The makeup needs to be just so, the smile needs to be just right…and every hair needs to be in place. Missing any of these…a photographer could be marked for life. From the guy’s perspective…we don’t care…just don’t make us look like a doofus.
