Yannis Malevitis

Category: School photography

Photographing student life

I had the opportunity to photograph student life and sports a number of times at the Millbrook school. Photographing student life is one of my favorite genres of photography. It involves a number of skills and requires an extensive range of equipment. In this post I would like to describe the range of lenses that I have used to capture authentic moments in an artistic way.

Architectural lenses – tilt and shift lenses

I have used both Canon 17mm TS-E and Canon 24mm TS-E lenses to show the exterior and interior design of buildings. The 17mm focal length provides a super-wide field of view, making it ideal for tight interior spaces and expansive architecture. Unlike standard wide-angle lenses, it minimizes distortion, keeping lines straight and natural-looking.

In addition tilt and shift lenses allow the creation of a panoramic image by stitching together three frames in the digital darkroom. Having tried also a multi row panorama platform, it is my preferred gear for such a technique, when I am able to use a tripod.

One row panorama using the Canon 24mm TS-E lens and stitching together three frames.

Extreme wide lenses

Sometimes even a 11mm lens is necessary to emphasize the size of an area. My favorite lenses in this category have been the Canon 11-24mm f/4 and the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 lens.

Ultra Wide prime lenses

I appreciate the usefulness of a Sony 14mm f/1.8 or a Sigma 20mm f/1.4 lens. They allow twice the amount of light to the sensor compared to a typical ultra wide lens like a 16-35mm f/2.8.

Normal lenses: 35mm 1.4 and 50mm 1.2

These are my favorite photographic tools to capture authentic moments in the classroom.

Medium telephoto lenses: 85mm f/1.4 or f/1.2

This is my favorite focal length as it has allowed me to differentiate my work by capturing moments with a unique rendering both inside and outside the classroom.

Long telephoto lenses: Canon 200mm f/2 and 135mm f/1.8

These two lenses are my favorite for capturing action and sports.

Sometimes the 200mm f/2 creates a unique perspective.

Super telephoto lenses: 300mm f/2.8 or 400mm f/4

Even though they are mostly used for outdoor sports, I have captured a few beautiful portraits from a distance.

Photographing student life offers so many opportunities to be creative and capture moments in an artistic way.

February 12, 2025
Photographing a school event

The A. Fantis School of Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral organizes every year a Breakfast with Santa. The school invited me this year as well to photograph the students and capture joyful moments. Photographing a school event is a great opportunity to show how children interact when they approach Santa. In my photography career I have photographed a number of events for the Millbrook school.

As an event photographer specializing in photojournalism, I aim to show people’s feelings and reactions. I try to be unobtrusive in order to be able to capture authentic moments. I don’t want the guests to notice my presence, change their facial expression and look at the camera. For such events I work with two camera bodies and two to three prime lenses. Sometimes the longer focal length is a normal 50mm 1.2 lens. Other times I feel that I have to maintain more distance. In such a case I use an 85mm 1.4 lens.

Key moments to capture

a) Atmosphere and decor
I capture wide shots of the room, decorations, banners, and other details to set the scene.
b) Speakers
I document the key figure performing for the children.
c) Audience reactions
I show the students’ energy, including applause, laughter, and engaged expressions.
d) Candid moments
I photograph parents interacting naturally with friends and cheering.

Important techniques

a) Framing
I use creative angles to frame the subjects, such as shooting through foreground elements (e.g., balloons, crowds).
b) Depth of Field
I use a wider aperture (e.g., f/1.2–f/1.4) to isolate subjects and create a soft background.
c) Action Shots
As I use only available light my shutter speed is faster (e.g., 1/400 or higher) for active moments.
d) Group Photos
I bring two light stands with soft boxes to light the group appropriately.
e) Lighting
I avoid harsh flash that might distract or discomfort young students.

Photographing a school event requires careful preparation and a respectful approach to capture meaningful moments while adhering to privacy and logistical considerations.

December 16, 2024