Press Democrat staff and freelance photographers published 434 commencement photos online this past weekend. Before the online world and photo galleries, the paper would publish maybe 10 photos from the entire graduation season. There simply was not enough space in the newspaper for all the high school and college graduations. Now there is a ton of space on the web and even less space in the paper. This week will be no different with 13 different graduations to be photographed between Wednesday and Sunday.
Click these links to view the online galleries. Santa Rosa, Maria Carrillo, Rincon Valley, Piner, Montgomery, Mesa, Ridgeway/Nueva, SRJC, Petaluma, Casa Grande, Rio Lindo, Cardinal Newman.
I covered Santa Rosa High School’s graduation on Friday. In my nearly 30 year career, the kids at Santa Rosa probably had the most fun out of any school I’ve ever photographed.
Prior to SR’s commencement, teachers and administrators searched graduates for graduate paraphernalia, ie; tortillas, beach balls, silly string etc..
Diana Kingsbury is searched for graduation related paraphernalia prior to the Santa Rosa High School graduation, Friday May 25, 2012 at Bailey Field on the Santa Rosa Junior College campus in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2012
I had to chuckle, no sooner had the kids settled in to their seats, a dozen or so tortillas were frisbee’d in to the air. From that point the flood gates opened. Respectfully though, the teens refrained from throwing anything during the speeches and musical interludes. I did manage to get one of the early tortilla’s hurtling over graduates in the photo below.
Santa Rosa High School graduation, Friday May 25, 2012 at Bailey Field on the Santa Rosa Junior College campus in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2012
Michael Mondragon graduates in style from Santa Rosa High School, Friday May 25, 2012 at Bailey Field on the Santa Rosa Junior College campus in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2012
Ednie Congress Afamasaga carries his cousin Silivaai Aiono after his graduation from Santa Rosa High School, Friday May 25, 2012 at Bailey Field on the Santa Rosa Junior College campus in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2012
Jessica Wysocky, 18 and Nick Chuba, 18, celebrate their graduation from Santa Rosa High School, Friday May 25, 2012 at Bailey Field on the Santa Rosa Junior College campus in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2012
Robert O'Brien finds a semi private space to relax prior to the Santa Rosa High School graduation, Friday May 25, 2012. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2012
Beach balls, balloons and tortillas were the order of the day during the Santa Rosa High School graduation, Friday May 25, 2012 at Bailey Field on the Santa Rosa Junior College campus in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2012
There were a few attempts to corral the beach balls floating hither and yon. Eventually though, school officials just let it ride.
Santa Rosa High School graduation, Friday May 25, 2012 at Bailey Field on the Santa Rosa Junior College campus in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2012
Until the next graduation…
-Kent Porter
