Photographing a softball or baseball catch requires almost perfect timing, but is a terrific sports action shot.
The Photo
Because fielders making catches in softball and baseball provide some of the best action pictures of these sports (along with plays at the bases), I spend the bulk of my time watching and photographing the fielders. Softball’s bigger ball and smaller field often give you more close-up photo opportunities than baseball, making it one of my favorite sports to shoot.
Colby College was outplaying the University of Southern Maine (USM) in this intrastate softball match, making a number of strong defensive plays and holding USM to only two hits, so I had multiple chances for great fielding shots. On this play, the USM batter hit a foul popup deep to the 3rd base side. The nearest Colby fielders at 3rd base and shortstop hustled in tandem as fast as they could to make the catch, although initially it didn’t seem like they’d get to the ball in time. I was ready to photograph a diving catch attempt by one of the Colby fielders, but they both got to the ball quickly, and the 3rd base(wo)man was able to make a great over-the-shoulder catch on the run, although the shortstop probably could have reached it in time, too. I photographed the ball in the air just before the catch, with the two of them stretching for the ball and the shortstop’s intense concentration showing on her face.
3 Tips
1. The best photos of softball or baseball catches have the ball in the air just after the catch the ball is not as visible.
2. Capture the player faces as well as the ball in the air just before it hits the glove because it shows the peak moment of action.
3. Softball often provides stronger pictures than baseball because the ball is larger and much more visible in the photos, plus the field is shorter so you get more close-up shots.
