Day 139 - Project 365

Today while browsing the internet I came across a few sports type shots. I figured that what better night then local little league night to get a shot of a youngster playing a sport. I had a very specific lighting and pose in mind and was determined to get just that.

I set out just after dark and headed to the local playing fields. I wasn't set on just baseball.

I was open to just about any sport being played. I had already captured basketball early on in the project and just recently depicted Ultimate Frisbee. Tonight all that was being played was baseball. Naturally because there was only baseball being played the choice was made for me. Baseball it is!

I figured that if I were to just set my lights up next to the field that I'd attract enough attention to reduce my "cold call" approach. It worked as not more than a minute in an inquisitive woman volunteered her son!

Now, of course I wasn't short any test subjects because where there are lights and kids there are sure to be hams! I was able to test exposure and lighting on a few young baseball players before the main star was ready.

The boys had just finished a game and the couch was giving them a long winded post game speech. I waited a few minutes and out came Alec Fricke, A 12 year old shy boy with glasses and an unsure look. After 5 years of playing the game, it was naturally his time to be in the spotlight. He was sweaty and undoubtedly tired from the game but I assured him it wouldn't be a problem. His mother didn't ask, she simply told Alec he would be posing for me and boy did he look… Un-excited! I love when my mom would volunteer me for things without asking! I assured him it would be easy and maybe a bit fun. He grabbed his glove and followed me over to my make-shift studio.

I had setup two AB800s with Medium softboxes at both 9:00 and 3:00 each with equal power. I had Alec stand in the middle and get into a baseball position and stare out at the make believe field. He did this pretty naturally and with a look of confidence. I totally understand how kids can be so good at make believe - especially baseball players.

I remember when I would get stuck in the outfield. Not center field and not even left field. Nope, I'd get stuck way out in right field where your more likely to catch a meteor than a baseball. I would daydream so hard that an inning would be over in a split second. Problem was, during the 2 times a season someone did muster up the strength to knock one my way, I'd be so deep in Aliens vs He-Man that I'd be more likely to get knocked out with the ball then catch it. You really don't hear anyone including the parents of the other team screaming at you when you're fighting aliens in your head! Anyway, I understand baseball players!

So I captured the shot and not a moment too soon! The humidity was just about to start making me uncomfortable. I gathered up my gear and made my way back home. Editing was simple as there is no fancy background or crazy graphics. Just a boy on a black background posing as if he's playing the game he loves or fighting aliens - Who knows!

Today I started looking for further representation as I'm ready for a larger set of clients. This, however, is extremely difficult because the market has become SO over saturated with photographers that getting noticed is like trying to find Waldo. Those damn books frustrated the crap out of me! Anyway, we'll see how that goes.

944 Magazine with the utmost political correctness apologized for the "oversight," fixed the miss crediting on the web and said "I do apologize for the mis-crediting on the web, but that is the result of a data entry mistake, nothing more as we were never under the impression that (ms.photog) took that shot. We do apologize and hope we can correctly run and credit some of your pieces in the future. Thank you for you're understanding."

Well, I don't understand how you can be so careless. What I do understand is I won't be getting any further retribution without possibly tarnishing my reputation. I'll leave it at that and start being more of a dick up front about crediting.

Lighting:

AB800 Med Softbox 1/4 power at both 9:00 and 3:00 Triggered via Cyber Syncs.

I felt like editing another shot and since this young man was nice enough to help me test lighting, I figured I'd hook him up. Its a great shot and I like the ribbon effect I learned from Matthew Coughlin, a fellow 365er.

Images from Day 139 including outtakes and alternate shots can be viewed, downloaded and purchased at Day139 - Project 365