Shooting the spring sports is always the most difficult of the three high school seasons. This isn't because the athletes or sports are more difficut to photograph, but because school gets out shortly after the sports end and tracking down some of these kids can be a tough job, especially if they are seniors.
This time was no different. Things eventually worked out, but I did have to make some adjustments on-the-fly to get the following images.
I have always wanted to photograph a tennis play from above during a serve. Unfortunately there are no local venues where I can do this during a match. I figured that this would be my chance. I swiped a 10ft ladder from the custodiuan at the newspaper, strapped it to the top of my truck and headed to the tennis courts.I set up three SB-800s on lightstands. I made use of a set of pocket wizards to trigger the strobes and then positioned them around my subject in such a way that I could shoot from atop the ladder and get the image I envisioned. The best part was I didn't even fall off of the ladder!
Boys swimming is always a fun sport for me to shoot. I guess I feel that way as I am a former swimmer myself. Many photographers tend to shy away from the sport because it can be a challenge to photograph. I say it is a chance to do something fun.This photo was shot with the subject standing in the shallow end of the high school pool. I set up four SB-800s on light stands with pocket wizards to trigger them. Then the fun started. I gave the swimmer's mother a bucket and told her to toss water at her son while I photographed him. She was really getting into her part of the photo. The two of them were having a real tough time keeping from breaking out in uncontrolled laughter. Shooting swimming IS fun.
Then there was the girl golfer. I talked her into doing a sandtrap shot. I found that controlling the light and where all the sand was going was harder than I thought it would be.
I was lucky enough to get a subjet who was very patient and willing to have some fun while I was trying to control all the variables.I used three SB-800s on lightstands which I triggered with pocket wizards. I would have liked to shoot this photo either in early morning light or in late afternoon light but I rarely get to pick the time of day. I just work with the cards I am dealt and try to make the best out of it. This photo works because of the cooperation of the subject and a little luck.
Then there was the rain. Thank God for the rain!
I planned to shoot the high school hurdler on a local high school track. Fortunately that idea was rained out. A rare all-day rain kept me from shooting the photo I had planned to shoot. I had to scramble to find a place to shoot my photo of this athlete. I had to shoot it on this particular day and since there are no local indoor track facilities I was forced to improvise.I made a phone call and found that there was a building I could shoot my photo in at the Colorado State Fair. I let my subject know where to meet me on the fairgrounds and we walked into the same building where the 4-H kids show off their animals. The ladies working in the office were very helpful and told me to do whatever I needed to. The building has a dirt floor which at first I thought would make things more difficult, but actually it is what I think makes the photo so fun.
I set up three SB-800s with pocket wizards and we started photographing him going over the hurdle. I over-powered the ambient light with the strobes making the background go black. Then I noticed how he was kicking up the soft dirt on the floor of the Livestock Pavillion. How about that? I was playing in the dirt and getting paid for it!
Photographing a soccer player can be a challenge. I mean, afterall, how many ways can you shoot someone kicking a ball? I thought I had used up all the my ideas for a photo like this, apparently I had one more idea.Soccer season had been over a while and the grass on the pactice field was looking more like hay that needed to be cut than a grass athletic field. I was able to get the coach to leave a net in one of the goals so that I could set up for the photo I wanted. Originally I wanted to use a wider lens, but the backgrounds were pretty distracting requiring me to go with a longer lens.
I used two SB-800s on lightstands to light my subject. I also had her kick the ball a couple dozen times before I felt like I got what I wanted. Of course the image I used was one of the first I shot, but I won't tell her that. Shooting this photo was a real kick!
My photo of the playmaker for the sport of baseball was one that I had to make in a hurry as it was starting to rain. I showed up, set up the lights, placed my subject where I wanted him and began to shoot photos.
I used a lens-baby to make this image and also found one of those 5-gallon pickle barrels that baseball coachs sit on, to stand on as I find that I am vertically challenged when it comes to getting a good angle from above.I only fell off of the bucket a couple times and managed to get things packed up just before things would have shorted out due to what turned into a pretty heavy rain.
All in all my subjects were great kids. However I would have to say that the athlete who took direction the best was the girl lacrosse player. It certainly didn't hurt that she is also a singer and actress.
I wish that all those I photograph were as comfortable in front of a camera as this young lady was. She was a true joy to photograph. And she was very patient as I move her and my lights around the football stadium in search of the perfect background.Thanks to all my subjects. Congratulations on your selection as a playmaker. Each of you deserve the attention and much more.
