CAPTION: Last year River Hill center fielder Christian Laidley batted .448, leading the Hawks with both 30 hits and 27 RBIs. He also made the game winning hit in last year’s 2A State Championship game. He is photographed in the River Hill Dance Studio Saturday, March 27, 2010.

As some of you might’ve noticed, I prefer shooting on location. And when I’m on location I like to athletes to show off their athleticism. But for the Howard County Spring Sports Preview portraits I was relegated to the studio. …well, except for Christian’s. No sense in being all doom and gloom about it, right? I figure, hey, while I’m here, I might as work on upping my game. So, I decided to work on my light sculpting skills.

This might sound silly, but this photo series, admittedly not my best, sparked a love affair in me with grids and snoots. Here’s the thing, when I emphasize the athleticism in these kids, I need to make the lighting set up big enough so they don’t knock over the lights/hurt themselves, when they kick soccer balls at my face, for example, but tight enough so the light hits where it needs to. In the studio, these athletes aren’t moving, so I’m allowed to be as persnickety as I want. I credit this series with what I consider success in my most recent athletes of the year photos.

I figured while in the stagnant confines of Patuxent’s small studio, I’d also exercise my “subtlety muscles,” too. I’m really good making big, overt, and to some degree, epic, images. Subtle, quiet moments are usually too …well, subtle, for me to notice while I’m shooting, so, why not force it out of some teenage athletes?

hehehe. lesson learned: I haven’t quite figured out how to keep the kids from being bored in my pursuit of making quiet images. And kinda like how you hear a smile through the telephone, I think most people can sense uneasiness or boredom in photographs. And while the photos I’m showcasing don’t really exude those qualities, there are plenty of outtakes that do.

So, admittedly, I let the lighting do all the heavy lifting in these photos.

Marriotts Ridge center fielder Kelsey Fuller batted over .500 with the Mustangs last year. She also has one of the better throwing arms in the county, able to hit home from the center field wall. She is photographed in the PPC Studio Wednesday, March 17, 2010.

Glenelg goalie Alex Taylor led the Gladiators to the 1A state semi-finals last year. He plans to play for Salisbury University next Spring. He is photographed at the PPC studio Thursday, March 18, 2010.

Wilde Lake midfielder Beth Glaros scored 90 goals and had 10 assists last year. She will be playing for Maryland in the Spring. She is photographed at the PPC studio Wednesday, March 17, 2010.

Corinne Zahlis, junior, and J. Guzzone, senior, were fourth in the states for mixed doubles last year, second in counties but won regionals. Wednesday, March 24, 2010