Tuesday 12th July 2022, 3.05pm (day 3,974)
I’d say ‘it’s that time of year again’ but this is the first mid-July since 2019 where there have been such scenes around campus. Ceremony does matter: it’s good to see these return.
Graduation photography
Being 42
Life, one day at a time
Tag Archives: graduation
Spring graduation (2022 only)
Tuesday 5th April 2022, 3.10pm (day 3,876)
We don’t normally do spring graduations. These are replacements for the ceremonies that were going to take place in December and then were cancelled at two day’s notice because everyone in ‘Authority’ had another outbreak of paranoia that — let’s look back and be honest about this — turned out to have very little basis in sensible judgments of risk. Anyway, I’m glad they finally made it. It offers a, hopefully singular, opportunity to picture the daffodil/graduation conjunction. And yes, the litter is there but let’s try to work it into the composition somehow.
Chimneys on the graduation marquee
Monday 9th December 2019, 10.55am (day 3,028)
I made it onto campus today, at least. I like this shot of the ventilation chimneys outside the tents set up to suppor this week’s graduation ceremonies; look at the top-right third of the shot and see how it is disorted by the heat coming out of the main stack.
On her graduation day
Wednesday 19th December 2018, 12.05pm (day 2,673)
When graduation ceremonies have appeared on here in the past they have either been those at Manchester or a couple in Moscow, back a few years ago. But this one, today, is at the University of Leeds — and I was not present through professional duty but personal connection, seeing as it was Clare who was celebrating the award of her (second) MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling. Well done to her and to everyone else there today — our C was at the front, far away from the camera, but these graduates nearer where I was sat capture the mood of the day just as well.
Waiting for the graduation ceremony
Thursday 20th July 2017, 12.15pm (day 2,156)
The twice-yearly graduation ceremonies give us the chance to dress up in our finery and enjoy some pomp and circumstance. Opportunities to do that are getting fewer in the world so let’s embrace them while they still exist. And as ever, congratulations to all the students as well.
Graduation balloons
Thursday 13th July 2017, 9.00am (day 2,149)
It’s that time of year again. It crossed my mind today that it’s now twenty years since I first graduated, in July 1997. Gosh…
Kim at graduation
Thursday 17th December 2015, 3.20pm (day 1,575)
Congratulations to all my students who graduated from the class of 2015 at today’s ceremony — and indeed to all students everywhere, who work bloody hard, you know.
Outside the graduation marquee
Tuesday 15th July 2014, 10.00am (day 1,055)
None of my students are present — they all usually graduate in December — but the summer graduation ceremonies bring a last burst of life to the campus before it really shuts down for high summer. Not that there were any attendees yet present this morning when I took this shot. Not much light in Manchester this morning but the seats have caught a dim flicker.
Graduation balloons
Monday 15th July 2013, 10.10am (day 690)
Congratulations to the summer graduates of the UoM, who certainly had fair weather to mark their achievement, although I was not present at this (or any) ceremony this year. Most of my students graduate in December. The shot also gets in because of the mild comedy value, you see what I mean, I’m sure. Or maybe it’s the Watchmen reference. I love Watchmen.
Fei at her graduation, University of Manchester
Wednesday 14th December 2011, 6.00pm (day 111)
Couldn’t take lots of photos at this happy event because I had an official role to play: it would not have done to have been snapping away from up on the stage while reading out the names of the many graduates celebrating their achievements this evening. (Reading the names out is a harder job than it looks, I can assure you.) This was the best shot to encapsulate the most important thing about the day however – it makes people happy.
I would say, somebody please tell our government that higher education remains a public good, but we have done so, and they don’t care. Very soon Fei, and I, will sod off to work and study in a country which still values the notion of higher education as something which benefits everyone, not just the student. And we will take all the expertise and economic gains that it represents with us. Their loss. I hope it never happens, but we teeter on the edge here in the UK system, right now.
Being 42 