LIttle League Shots

[TxLerman]

This is my 6 year old's baseball team (coach pitch, 6-9 year-olds). They play 8 games over 4 weeks and there are no practices. These kids play their hearts in 95+ F heat (Houston humid heat that is). Any suggestions for making a better collage are always welcome. With so few games, it hard to get enough pictures of each kid to find really good ones, so I focus on the action at the plate. Oh the score of the games? Who knows, no one keeps track. The end of inning is either 3 outs or 5 runs and each kid gets 5 pitches at bat. This is through the YMCA..all kids are winners! C/C is always welcome.

[DwightMcCann]

There are apparently software packages for making collages/montages but from the little I've seen of them they mostly add frufru rather than enhance the content. I shoot Live Performance images and do a collage for each concert. I have several styles, all done in PhotoImpact (would be the same in CS, which I also have), that you could browse. Here's one example where I used a blank background, added some color effects, put a central image and added individual images. I would suggest that as a central image you shoot the ball diamond, maybe with the team playing ... then add the individual shots. Show it around and keep asking ... that's how we all learn. I'd be real interested if you come up with any ideas! Anyway, here's my collage:

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/ChumashCollages/Starship5010-collage-1000.jpg

Also, this gives you space to put text like the team name, players names, coach name, dates, URL or whatever else would enhance what you are trying to effect.

Back again for a third or fourth edit: get a little closer ... you don't need those feet! You need more face! So get the head, bat and ball and don't worry about the waist down ... we want to see those facial expressions ... kids are magnificent, eh?

[pcasciola]

This was my first poster, which I did this year for the 9-10 year old little league champions in my town. I had it printed at 12x18 with metallic ink which gave it a really nice effect. I kind of rushed it a little, but I think it came out ok. There are some packages you can buy for like $50 that will give you some nice looking backgrounds, and they already have the layers defined to drop the pictures right in. I didn't use them for these, but I've been thinking of trying a package from these guys: http://www.artisticaction.com/

http://www.casciola.com/pics/dodgersSmall.jpg

[BottomBracket]

Tx, I can certainly relate to you, my son is almost 7 and he is in a league for 7-9 years old. The thing is, they have their own pitchers and the coach pitch league is for 6 and below (at least in my part of NYC). I would rather have the game be coach pitched myself, it means more hits and more fun for the kids. It's amazing how kids can stand up to the heat and play their hearts out. Keep those pics coming!

[DwightMcCann]

Nice job, Philip!