Scoreboards
A good glowing scoreboard in the background? One of my favorite motifs that I reuse from sport to sport.
Play at Second
Usually around the third inning and beyond in the seven year old and older games I would work first behind first base and later behind third base. In addition to a good vantage point for the batter, I could get a great view of plays at second base.
I didn’t see any 4-6-3 or 6-4-3 double plays this season – but did see some close calls, especially with the seven year old Reds.
Light and Shadow
One of the best tools in a good photographer’s toolbox is the use of light and shadow to help accentuate the subject, or create interest in the viewer.
I love the opportunity to take advantage of the light, or the shadow and create dimension to the photo. The three photos in this post all have their own lighting situation.
With the sun moving from third base, across to first base in the late evening, a left-hand pitcher gets lighting on the face as he opens up to deliver to the plate. With the sun being directional, the outfield and backdrop are in the shadow and much darker than the pitcher, and essentially fade to black.
Pitchers…..
I’ve enjoyed photographing pitchers since I started photographing Baseball. Even from a young age, there’s a lot to pitching a Baseball game – it’s a mental and physical challenge for the player on the mound.
At the youth level, the position also offers a lot of opportunities for capturing different “looks” at the position. Beyond the straight-on shot as shown above, moving to either side of the plate gives a different appearance. Having the reach that a long telephoto lens gives a great isolation on the Pitcher as he delivers.
Depending on the orientation of the field, and the hand with which the pitcher throws, the moving sun can create a great isolation of the pitcher on the mound as well.
With a steady hand on the part of the photographer, and a smooth delivery on the part of the pitcher, a slow shutter speed creates a great effect.
