“Best spot” to view Oath ceremony?

So this June 27th will be our 4th IDay. Try as we did the first year, we couldn't find our Plebe marching in. So the next two years, (and this year) we pre-arrange an easy to find shady area to meet after the oath, stake our claim to that area about an hour before the oath, then wait somewhere cool and comfortable until just before the oath starts. We then either congregate by the walls next to the bleachers, or go under the tunnel and view the march on. Once they've marched on, we head to our designated area and sit and enjoy the ceremony in the shade from afar. You can still hear everything pretty well, especially the "I Do". We get lots of pictures when our Plebe approaches the designated spot, and take several during the brief time they have with us, but we don't worry about pictures of the actual oath ceremony, as the Alumni Association and others will post a ton of pictures to pour through when you return home from IDAY. When they march back in, we always try to get a picture or video of the doors slamming shut on Mother B.

We always had a blanket, drink, and subway sandwich (both kept in small cooler lunch box with icepack), but never brought folding chairs, as we didn't feel like lugging them, but we may change that up, now that we have those Tommy Bahama backpack chairs with a cooler attached, lol.

Do NOT be surprised if your normally jovial, easy going kiddo is suddenly "shell shocked". Completely normal, so expect it, but don't worry- they'll snap out of it and soon you'll find pictures of them actually smiling during plebe summer!
 
MathProf said:
Last June there were bleachers set up and we were able to get shady seats an hour before ceremony. Agree on the chair / blanket for plebe to sit on afterwards. Ours was starving, thirsty, and worried about getting dirty. After ceremony, there are signs with letters along Stribling and plebes are told to go to letter matching their last name to meet families. Least crowded is the XYZ sign - tell your plebe to go there.
Click to expand...
For those of us who are actually in the XYZ group, I don't like this advice :) Happy I-Day everyone!
 
Norfolk

If you see my post earlier in the thread, your picture is the vantage point I was referring to. My Plebe summer room was about 3-4 rooms to the right (viewing down like the photo-toward the Wing 3) from where that photo was taken !
 
Old thread, but it seems that the best chance to take a pic of your Plebe in formation is when they are marching in for the Oath, and then when they are lining up for the Stribling Walk. Can someone suggest good spots for that?
 
It was my experience that you will find plenty of spots. It is crowded - but plenty of opportunity to take pics.
 
newtonsapple said:
Old thread, but it seems that the best chance to take a pic of your Plebe in formation is when they are marching in for the Oath, and then when they are lining up for the Stribling Walk. Can someone suggest good spots for that?
Click to expand...
Quite honestly, I don’t think it’s worth it to scratch and scramble for a spot to photograph your plebe as they enter T-Court for the oath. The best spots are taken very early, are under the glaring sun, and are still not very good for photos. Instead, put your faith in the Alumni Association and the “unofficial but awesome” photographers who hang around I-Day. They’ll post great photos that include just about every plebe.

Standing along Stribling is indeed a good spot as the plebes march into Bancroft. My advice: Take a few photos while they await the order. Then, when the music starts, put away the camera and just enjoy the splendor of it all. With all due respect, I don’t understand why so many people choose to watch monumental events through a tiny lens. Instead, take it all in with all five senses. That’s the best memory.
 
newtonsapple said:
Old thread, but it seems that the best chance to take a pic of your Plebe in formation is when they are marching in for the Oath, and then when they are lining up for the Stribling Walk. Can someone suggest good spots for that?
Click to expand...
It also depend which ‘side’ your plebe is on. Or perhaps they are in the middle. So the vantage point changes.

If you subscribe to photo services, they capture each mid coming in for the Oath. One of my fav pics.
 
justdoit19 said:
It also depend which ‘side’ your plebe is on. Or perhaps they are in the middle. So the vantage point changes.

If you subscribe to photo services, they capture each mid coming in for the Oath. One of my fav pics.
Click to expand...
How do I subscribe for such a photo service?
 
newtonsapple said:
How do I subscribe for such a photo service?
Click to expand...
We did the USNA Alumni https://www.usna.com/parents
and
the free https://www.flickr.com/photos/unitedstatesnavalacademy/albums/with/72177720308708305

Also, Bob Peterson is an amazing photographer who takes thousands of pics and post them on his Facebook page free of charge.

On PPW he offered free family pics with your Plebe at T-Court. Ours was amazing, with Bancroft in background it made for a great Christmas card last year. For all his generous free pics, we wound up buying a print he took of the I-Day oath and framing it and giving to DS as a gift as well as a couple of his calendars. https://www.bob-peterson-photography.com/

Between those 3 and my wife's Facebook that others posted we saw plenty of pics with DS in them.
 
Just Dad said:
I'm with JDI19, I just don't think its worth the (likely)wait in the heat or the bother to get a "good seat". Plebes have their backs to you; no chance to influence that basic view of things by getting a "better seat". Invest your time on IDay finding a good shady spot to have a moment with your Plebe after the oath. I Feel Ya. That oath is a big deal, and I'm a guy who loves the view 20 rows up on the 50 yd line, but fact is there are no "great seats".

1) As long as we are talking seats get ahold of at least one folding chair for your Plebe to sit in when you get him/her back for those 30mins you will remember forever between oath and march in. If you are flying in, you can pick one up for $15 and just leave it behind, your Plebe will thank you.----Maybe not at that moment, maybe not ever,------------------------------------ but if they ever actually thought about it -----they'd thank you.

2) As long as you are talking pictures and viewing angles. The unforgettable moment for me as a parent was my daughter standing in formation waiting to walk into Bancroft. Picking up your picnic stuff can wait; grab the camera and hanky for this one; the looks your kid will shoot you from the ranks amazing. Hard to put into words, but its a mix of: Fear (holy sh* pht what have I done?); Gratitude (I just realized how cared for and protected I've been the last 18yrs); Sadness (I am moving on today without you at my side); Love (-----can't describe that one; but in my minds-eye I can see her face in that moment as I'm typing this).

Congrats
Click to expand...

Just Dad said:
2) As long as you are talking pictures and viewing angles. The unforgettable moment for me as a parent was my daughter standing in formation waiting to walk into Bancroft. Picking up your picnic stuff can wait; grab the camera and hanky for this one; the looks your kid will shoot you from the ranks amazing. Hard to put into words, but its a mix of: Fear (holy sh* pht what have I done?); Gratitude (I just realized how cared for and protected I've been the last 18yrs); Sadness (I am moving on today without you at my side); Love (-----can't describe that one; but in my minds-eye I can see her face in that moment as I'm typing this).
Click to expand...
Darn, onions! DS is just beginning the process. He may never get the opportunity to IDay, but I felt the emotions and fear reading this.
 
Amazingly enough, I got closer to the bleachers while the kids were all marching in last year than I would have expected to be able to originally. I thought I spotted my dude, and took a pic. Asked him later, and he said where he was sitting and where he marched in from, and I actually DID find Waldo! Checked my pic zoomed in, and it was him.

Got lucky. That isn't typical!
 
The following is the sure way to get as many shots of your plebe at the oath of office ceremony as you will want, likely much better quality than the pro photographers who are not specifically targeting your plebe.

1. Find out the platoon number of your plebe. Higher numbers line up on the starboard side facing Mother B, lower on the port side. I can speak only to starboard, from yesterday's experience.
2. Get yourself a camera with a 28-300mm zoom lens or similar. That will give you both wide angle and zoom capability. You will need it, things change quickly.
3. At least an hour before the ceremony, position yourself as close to the band as possible. That means right behind the six or so rows of chairs facing the band, on the little grassy area with some trees and bushes. The plebes will walk to their seats between these chairs and the band. You cannot go past these chairs, but right behind them is cool. Nobody will be chasing you, the whole place will be packed.
4. The plebes will walk to their seats single file, right in front of these chairs. Find your plebe and shoot away. You will get their profile pics. For a brief moment they will turn and face you, you will get their en face pics. With your zoom lens you can follow them to their seats from there, firing away, keeping in mind that once they sit, you will see their backs. So no shots with raised hands, etc. That is for photographers with access.
5. After the oath, use your zoom to fish for your plebe (you already know where he/she sits); lots of good pics to be had then.
6. Taking pics of the Stribling Walk is much easier. Just know where your plebe is in the marching column and fire away. Better yet, make a movie. A great scene, families going nuts, yelling encouragement, while stone-faced plebes march towards their destiny.
7. Mother B doors slam shut, and you have your pictures and videos to share with everyone.

I do not think I missed anything from the pomp and circumstance by shooting my plebe and filming the oath. Once they sit, you can take in the oath and reflect on the enormity of the situation for plebes and their families. And the pics you take of your proud plebe will be forever.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top