Whether you’re new to UT or someone who’s been around campus for years, there are some special places where you—or your visitors—must have photos taken.
To get a really nice shot, you’ve got to see these iconic places in a new way. It takes some planning and creativity, but the result will be a photo that gives you that orange fuzzy feeling.
Becca Ayoub, a sophomore in psychology and student ambassador for Undergraduate Admissions, compiled this list of six places where every Volunteer should have a photo taken. Nick Chafin, senior producer on the video and photography team in the Office of Communications and Marketing, offered some tips for taking good and unique photos at each site.
Ayres Hall—“Where you’ll get the best looking image depends on the time of day,” Chafin said. His recommendation is to shoot from the south side at sunset. Not only will the building look great, the people in your shot will, too, because of the warm hue. “It’s called the ‘golden hour,’” he said.
Neyland Stadium – Chafin recommends standing at the Circle Park entrance to Staff Lot 30, adjacent to the Communications Building and the Hearing and Speech Center. You’ll be up high enough to shoot over parked cars and the view will be unobstructed by other buildings.
The new bridge that connects the Pedestrian Walkway to the Hill —To get a great shot of “The University of Tennessee” emblazoned on the side, you’ve to stand about 100 yards—a football field’s length—away on Phillip Fulmer Way. You can back away even more if you have a zoom lens.
The Torchbearer – One of the toughest things about shooting a good photo of the Torchbearer is making sure you can see the flame of the torch. Chafin recommends positioning your shot so there’s something dark—a tree limb or a building—behind the torch so the flame will “pop.” If you try to get your shot with the bright daytime sky behind the torch, you probably won’t be able to see the flame.
The UT Seal — It’s not the emblem that will make your photo special, it’s what your person in the photo is doing. Try an “airborne” photo that you snap just as your subject jumps into the air.
The Rock—It’s really more about what’s on the Rock than the Rock itself. Keep your eyes open for some classic Rock art or get up early and design your own backdrop.
Planning to try out our tips? Share your photos on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #beautiVOL.