…they all ate

For two years I worked part-time as I.T. Manager at Rowan Helping Ministries and I continue to volunteer time as a photographer to them whenever needed.

Last week the organizations held their annual volunteer appreciation banquet — where a few moments are taken to honor and say thank-you to the “army” of daily volunteers which keeps the place running and makes it all possible. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 volunteers were in attendance.

I usually try and convey the scope of an event whenever it’s a positive depiction.  My efforts towards accomplishing that goal for this event was the above panorama comprised of three rapid shots taken from a raised stage. Each shot was taken handheld, no flash, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/100sec, ISO800 and was combined in Photoshop CC. The horizontal line midway up the walls was of great help in trying to keep each shot as level as possible and I learned long ago they don’t move around much when they’re eating! :-)

This was the first true test of my recently shutter repaired Nikon D600 and it worked very well. Knowing many of the people who are in attendance, I’m always being asked to partake in the events but I never do — I always feel I’d be missing some key shots.

I’ve come to count on these large indoor events to be an unevenly lit, overhead florescent “photographic nightmare” and so far I’ve never been disappointed.

One additional bonus of including a panoramic photo such as this is that it gives everyone a chance to play “Where’s Waldo.”