Students taking Homecoming pictures in DeLand can have a hard time finding the perfect spot to capture the marvelous night. Either places are too crowded, bad lighting or just not the right place people are looking for.
Jaina Perry & Ella Hernes at Victoria Commons.
Students were given a survey asking their favorite and least favorite places to take Homecoming pictures and overall, students said downtown DeLand is the best place to take pictures because “there is a lot of different places to choose from,” sophomore Anna Rickels said.
Downtown does have many different photo opportunities such as the DeLand Wings, Artisan Alley or just the fun spots like record or bookstores.
If you’re looking for a picture enhanced with nature, parks such as Lake Beresford Park or Earl Brown are other great options because of the different amounts of scenery around them. Lakes or any waterfront can also be great like Ed Stone Park or Victoria Commons, which both have beautiful lakes or ponds to take some gorgeous pictures.
When finding the perfect spot to take pictures, knowing the places to avoid is also important. Out of the survey, Stetson was voted to be the worst spot to take pictures. The Stetson fountain (or anywhere on the Stetson campus) is a classic place to take pictures in DeLand, but every year it seems to be getting more and more crowded.
Although the campus is beautiful, having people taking photos in the background of your photo is not the most pleasing look in a picture. So, going to less crowded is favored when taking Homecoming photos.
Other unfavored places for photos are Athens Theatre, fast food restaurants and the high school or the dance itself. Just like Stetson, Athens Theatre is pretty, but “...it tends to be very crowded and hot,” sophomore Sophie Kountanis said.
The school is a very plain building with very few colors or lights, so pictures taken there may look bland. Inside of the dance, there is a lot of movement and low lighting, so taking pictures in there is very difficult.
In addition, it is very crowded since everyone is in there. Taking pictures during the dance is still fun, just not the best for formal photos.
To get the best photos, you also have to know the best times to go and take pictures. Depending on whether you would like sunset, sunrise, sunny or raining pictures, planning is very important in the process for Homecoming pictures.
Checking the weather, picking poses and choosing times for when you’re meeting other people in the pictures or going to take the pictures by yourself are all very important to having the best picture possible. Also, taking pictures the day or a couple of days before the dance is not a bad idea, because then you miss crowds and have plenty of time to get ready on the day of the dance.
Homecoming is a great time, and capturing the joy and excitement before is great to look back on in the future. Having good pictures that you had fun taking is important in the experience, so going to the right spot and planning is sure to get you the photos of your dreams to add on to the fun night.
Photo by Simone Stephenson
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