Breaking barriers

I created this portrait of Kelsie Whitmore because I wanted the empty stadium to become part of the story. Her journey in baseball has been pretty unique, and at times I imagine it has probably felt pretty lonely. She isn’t just stepping into spaces where women haven’t traditionally been, she is pushing through those barriers and changing what those spaces can look like for the people coming behind her.

I kept the lighting really simple, using one AD300 with a small octobox. I wanted enough shape and separation to pull her out of the rows of empty seats, but I didn’t want the lighting to overpower the idea. The repetition of the stadium seats helped create that feeling of isolation, while the ball in the air gave the portrait just a little bit of movement and reminded you immediately who she is. For me, the image is really about standing alone in a place you have earned the right to be, and refusing to let that stop you.