To remind you that no photography includes you?

[persee]

We went to our daughter’s graduation ceremony yesterday. She was getting her PhD from Oxford. The ceremony is a solemn/traditional one. At the beginning of the ceremony, they said no phones please and no filming or photography. There was a live video being recorded that you can obtain online. It also said this in the degree ceremony handbook.

Why is then, that some people think this rule does not apply to them? A woman in front of us stood up numerous times to video parts of her child’s graduation. Another chap was taking pictures, texting, and had his phone go off loudly.

When dd was up front for her bit in the ceremony, the woman in front was on her phone again. The screen was distracting from being able to focus on the degree ceremony.

Surely the 6 years' worth of fees should be enough for the Oxford coffers.

@BoredZelda the Sheldonian does have a painted fresco on the ceiling though, so that could get damaged?

@Tinpotspectator 6 years of fees? A PhD/DPhil takes 3-4 years. And I have never heard of anyone at Oxbridge paying fees to do one!

Its annoying but typical of this age of capturing moment of life though a lense.
I was on holiday visiting an attraction where it clearly stated no photography, a lady on our tour started snapping away, the guard promptly stepped forward snatched the camera popped open the back and pulled the film out in strips. The woman started bawling about her holiday snaps and the guard said nothing only pointed at the sign. I just laughed inside, justice done.

You are just bragging.

The issue with things like OU graduations (attended two for my wife), is that unlike Oxbridge, they have a lot of people to get through. With reading name, walk across stage, shake hands then off again, not much time per person. Loud group cheers, graduands pausing or waving etc adds to the time. If evetyone did it, we'd never get out the hall. If the idiots in front of you stood to cheer/take photos/release balloons or whatever nonsense they are not supposed to do, then you might miss your loved ones name being read out. The only way to get through in a reasonable time is if people obey the rules, and then have the option on the official handshake picture which is tonnes better than any you could take.

Mind you I also think the graduation rings etc are crap, but I do like the official framed photos, but they are expensive. But a crap phone photo that disturbs others isn't the solution.

As regards Oxbridge, if I as a graduand have to off mortar boards, grasp the praelectors fingers, whilst wearing the correct gown/socks/underwear, then don't see why the audience can't obey 'daft' rules as well for the full experience.......

@dyslek

When my daughter graduated from Oxford I dont remember a no photograph rule? as far as I can remember many many families were taking pictures and filming? What college was she at?

Unfortunately, there’s a no photography rule now. And this is really about money. They make a video of the ceremony available TO BUY and pictures of the graduates available TO BUY now, so it’s not just about the video. They even make it clear the livestream will only be available during the graduation, and then afterwards, they’ll want money for a recording of it as well, so if you can only watch at home but might miss some for toilet breaks, find someone tech-savvy to record your screen or you’ll never see it again.

We’re absolutely talking about a money issue. Plenty of people at Oxford and every uni in the land come from poor families who can’t afford or just plain don’t want to pay for this graduation video and livestream download AND picture racket, so you’ll only see pictures of them with their family afterwards on other parts of campus. How many times have you seen graduates just posing in front of a nice uni building (since many unis do this) with mum and dad, but no photo of the graduation itself? Now you know why. Frankly, I think you should be allowed to photograph what you want IF you’re polite. Yes, people who use their phones/cameras should be discreet about it, shouldn’t block anyone else’s view if possible (though I think this may be acceptable momentarily to get a shot of just their graduate), and should never be talking on the phone. Basic phone etiquette, as far as possible.

See the complete Oxford bollocks in attached photo. They’re well set it up so you can buy the photos IMMEDIATELY after the ceremony. It’s just a business racket.

Nah, it's a graduation and parents should be able to take pictures. The fact that there is an "official" video says it all - just another money grabbing shitty rule that serves nobody apart from the universtiy.

@SethWho

Why is solemn- shouldn't it be a celebration?

I’m guessing it’s University of Oxford not Oxford brooks. But Uni of Oxford is steeped in tradition that it takes very seriously. Graduation is a very very formal affair, especially during presentation.

Congratulations @persee you must be so proud! A phd from Oxford! I was there yesterday too. It’s Annoying for sure when people don’t respect the rules and end up ruining it for other people, but don’t let it sully the memory

How many times have you seen graduates just posing in front of a nice uni building (since many unis do this) with mum and dad, but no photo of the graduation itself? Now you know why.

Or some people just 100% aren’t arsed at all about the photo on the stage? The family & friends shots in the campus are the best. It’s not as if it didn’t happen without photographic evidence. In fact, you can still graduate without even going to the ceremony itself.

How rude- the comment about Oxford Brookes. Utter snobby insecurity in full flow.

@Springleaves

How rude- the comment about Oxford Brookes. Utter snobby insecurity in full flow.

No, it’s not. I just can’t attest to an Oxford Brookes graduation as I’ve never attended one 😉

FTT I agree with most situations where there’s no photography/ phones/ cameras such as concerts and theatres etc. A graduation ceremony is completely different though - it’s hours long, everyone there is only interested in seeing their child/ relative and sits politely clapping for hours. One relative standing up, taking a quick snap of their graduating child really doesn’t bother anyone unless you’re one of the semi many people on MN who seem to delight in finding things to get pissed off abour.

Oh god the "nice bit of campus" posing... bane of my life. The "nice bit of campus" happens to be outside both buildings my department tends to be focused in - so we all spend all graduation season dodging trying not to fuck up people's family photos while getting in and out of buildings!

Don't begrudge them - it's their big day but it's a pretty much constant flow of camera shots for the duration of the periods of time.

At least you're getting graduations this year though - poor students from the other year who got, from our uni, an instagram photo frame and template to cut out a mortar board to hold in front of them to take a selfie with!

@Sleeplessem it most certainly was because of your implication. I think you know that though otherwise you would not have brought the ex poly in to the equation

[quote Springleaves]@Sleeplessem it most certainly was because of your implication. I think you know that though otherwise you would not have brought the ex poly in to the equation [/quote]
🙄 never called it an ‘ex poly’. Think you might be reading into things a tad too much. Every degree is a degree well earned. Different institutions are for different people. 👍🏻

@toolazytothinkofausername

You say they were taking a video. Perhaps they were live streaming it via WhatsApp (or similar) to relatives abroad that couldn't travel.

It’s not something relatives travel to, like a wedding. You are only allowed two tickets unless you get lucky in applying for extras .

One relative standing up, taking a quick snap of their graduating child really doesn’t bother anyone

What about twenty relatives doing it for twenty graduating students? Fifty? A hundred?

How rude- the comment about Oxford Brookes. Utter snobby insecurity in full flow.

But all the sneering about Oxford is fine?

At one of my graduation ceremonies, a student had died between completing his degree and the degree ceremony. His name was read out and there was a moment's silence at the point when he would have walked across the stage. Situations like that are one of the reasons why people should behave respectfully at these events.

There are seven words in the OP that are entirely unnecessary if it's genuinely a post about people breaking 'no photography' rules at graduations.

I'm amazed that anyone's bothered engaging, to be honest.

[quote MyPatronusIsACat]@persee

I do agree that YANBU, but I don't understand WHY people can't take pics/video footage. This has happened at a few things we have been to - no pics/no filming - and once other people start it, we join in. Like fuck am I not going to take pics and film a bit of it, if other people are doing it.

I also agree with the posters saying the venue/uni whatever, are just hoping to make money themselves. We took our own pics at the Graduation Ceremonies of our DC, and never had the 'official' ones. Saved a fortune on them. They were asking £80 for the basic package. And the 'premium package' was £150.

They also had graduation 'teddies' and glasses, and 'plates' etc, that had the name of the uni on it, at exorbitant prices - like £40-55, just because it had the name of the uni on it! AND the hire of the cap and gown was about £50.

Absolute rip off. Someone, somewhere, in universities, is making an absolute killing from this shit. It's like schools; someone, somewhere is making a fortune (from parents,) from the massively overpriced school uniforms and P.E. kits etc, etc...[/quote]
Believe me, Universities really aren’t making their millions from Graduation ceremonies. The overall cost of hiring a venue, staffing it, hiring academic dress for all staff, etc adds up. The ‘cut’ from the video isn’t much - and mostly there’s no commission from the photographs. By the time the celebration/reception/whatever the university does, including friends/family is paid for, there’s not much being made from graduation ceremonies. In some universities, you’re looking at a week of 2-3 ceremonies a day. If you’re making a lot of cash off it, you’re doing it wrong, as the purpose is not to rip off the graduants/graduates.

Also, on average we do 450 graduands in 2 hours per ceremony. That can include an Honorary Degree award (with laureation/response), and a short speech from both the Chancellor & Principal (Scotland). So there’s definitely a rhythm to it, and keeping a pace. If people stand up, pause, want their ‘person’ to stop on the stage for a photo, it really holds things up.

That may sound unkind, but until the last few years, it wasn’t a ‘thing’ to get pictures of the actual ceremony. You just did the ceremony to schedule (graduands/graduates, staff, everyone) and celebrate afterwards, with photos, etc. I have no photos from inside the ceremonies of any of my three degrees, from different Unis. Doesn’t mean we don’t remember them.

the Sheldonian does have a painted fresco on the ceiling though, so that could get damaged?

Unlikely.

Some of you mentioned weddings:
www.today.com/style/photographer-hannah-stanley-shares-wedding-photo-ruined-phone-t158321
I don't want to witness an important event through the person in front's screen. Even worse that this person ruined the couple's own photograph. Put the phone down and enjoy the moment.

I don't know who needs to hear this but flash photography at a circus show endangers the performers.

Also annoys me when your favourite band comes on stage and you're in Standing and you can hardly see them over a forest of fecking phone screens. One twat in front of me at the Streets held up a bloody iPad.

@DdraigGoch

Some of you mentioned weddings: www.today.com/style/photographer-hannah-stanley-shares-wedding-photo-ruined-phone-t158321 I don't want to witness an important event through the person in front's screen. Even worse that this person ruined the couple's own photograph. Put the phone down and enjoy the moment.

Just read the article, intriguing, but one of the main issues i d say with just having one person photographing is that lots of little moments of details could be missed,