Recently, I’ve gotten into recording even the most mundane aspects of my life. Whether it’s a fun video diary of me talking about my day, a time-lapse of me studying or a photo of my newly decorated dorm, it makes me feel like a main character of a 2000s movie. I was never someone who remembered to record or photograph a moment, and this realization hit me last summer.
I enjoy scrapbooking and making collages of my month or year. A lot of them will never see the light of day, but it helps me look back on parts of trips or events I nearly forgot. Getting to re-live these moments puts things into perspective about how the ups and low moments pass just as quickly as they come. Metaphorically and physically zooming out on my 20s really helped me appreciate how fun life can be.
While channeling my inner film bro, I’ve found some places around campus that I love and don’t notice people often use. Here’s a list of five places that you may have not thought of. They could be great places for things like photography, first-day photos, film backgrounds and more.
Florida State University (FSU) looks incredibly beautiful at night. The staircases leading to the Wellness Center lighting up at night is a small detail that makes a big difference. If you catch them in foggy darkness, the light hits the camera in a fun way. I lost the photo to this but trust me, it is great B-roll footage for a college montage.
Next, Traditions Parking Garage was an accidental discovery. My friends had a funny photoshoot in the middle of the rain when everyone had left campus for winter break. The ramp leading to the rooftop barking could be a great background for a dance video.
The benches that rest in between the Global Scholars Building and the Career Center are in front of this nice cluster of greenery. Not only is it a good spot to just sit, but the background does most of the work for you if you’re into photography.
In addition, the lawn near Magnolia Hall and across from the Sweet Shop is often forgotten since most people go to Landis. But I much prefer this area to Landis just because of the bonus of a statue to look at and thicker trees.
The area around Dodd Hall, especially at dusk, is incredibly beautiful. The trees and streetlights follow the sidewalks up the hill like in an indie movie. It was nice to see this area in freshman year when it was nearing dark. Inside, Dodd Hall’s stained-glass windows are incredibly beautiful so if you want to take a photo, then try stopping by an area where others aren’t studying to get the full dark academia experience.
Rain or shine, these places tend to be somewhere I like to take videos and photos. There are many more parts of campus that I haven’t mentioned that’ll make you feel like you’re inside a campus brochure. Have a look around campus in your free time so you can really soak it in, especially if you’re an incoming student.
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