Athlete Portraits

In March I was assigned to shoot a portrait of a baseball player on a hitting streak. It is my job to creatively think of ways to take a portrait. Many times I like to sleep on a concept for a few days prior to the shoot. I have my best ideas when I sleep, and many times I forget them by the time I wake up. Bummer, if I could remember maybe I would be really creative!
So, on a whim I lit this kid "creatively." Or maybe not, I dunno.

Fast forward to this week. The sports editors decided to make the same kid Athlete of the Year. Needless to say his streak continued. I, once again, was assigned to this story. There is nothing like thinking of another "creative" idea based on the same exact concept with the same exact athlete. I mean, his Mom has to like the second photo even more, right?

My first thought was to shoot him through a smashed windshield or a crushed car. But, Longmont doesn't have a plethora of "auto salvage businesses." Don't call 'em "junk yards," by the way.

What we do have is an old sugar mill. The place is creepy and I have always wanted to take a portrait in the blight stricken building. Anyway, after lugging one generator, two lights, a soft box, a grid, extension cords and nearly stepping on a rotten fox corpse, this is what I came away with...Thanks to my co-worker, Brad for his help in carrying the stuff and being a second set of eyes. I'm just happy we have more time to work with athletes like Ben Packard for longer than 10 min. Can you see a pro player hanging around for two hours while things came together? If you don't believe the rotten fox corpse part, just ask and I will send you the photo. I lit that, too.