My Son’s Graduation (Owen), Montana State University, Montana – Image 2724

I love shooting photojournalism and don’t get much of an opportunity to do it any more. I took my son’s graduation as a opportunity to shoot a news event. I had no idea what he was going to do. I staked out my position and waited through about 500 graduates shuffling across the stage. The graduates moved across the stage at a rate of about one every five seconds. Everyone shook the university president’s hand and then exited off stage. I had expected my son to do the same. He was one of the last ones to receive his diploma, and I was getting tired waiting. He came up and shook her hand, then grabbed the president in a hug, and then exited with his hands raised in joy. The president is in the background laughing because the hug almost knocked off her hat. Later he told me that when the president stuck out her hand, he told her that where he comes from this is how we congratulate someone…hug. He was the only one I saw to give the president a hug. If I was working for a newspaper this would have been the front page photo for the graduation coverage. Maybe because I am his dad I like this photo, but I also think it is a pretty good job of capturing a unstaged decisive moment. Enjoy the photo and thanks for visiting. Once again as a reminder, I will be leading a small boat photo cruise in Glacier Bay National Park this coming summer with Dolphin Charters (www.dolphincharters.com), July 6-12, 2011. Come join me for a week-long cruise in the bay exploring Alaska. Camera body: Nikon D300, Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm, Digital capture, ISO 2,000, fill flashed© Mark Kelley