Mid day awards presentation photos?

I have a family member who will be receiving a lifetime achievement award for women's sports. The presentation will be in the infield prior to a state championship softball game at 4:00 p.m., so likely pretty bright sunlight (unless cloudy). I can shoot from home plate with the presentation roughly at the pitcher's mound.

Any suggestions to help mitigate the probable bright sunlight? Ceremony is on July 23.

Thanks.

I'd try to get closer if they will allow it and use flash to fill a bit. Hopefully you will get lucky on the direction of the sun.

The note that I received said that the presentation would be just in front of the pitcher's mound and that any photographs would be from home plate. Probably too much distance for fill flash?

First, tell her not to wear a hat. Whatever else happens, from that distance, you'll end up with a very nice picture of the hat. I doubt that's what you're going for.

If the sun is straight overhead, you're screwed. Not much you can do with that. But you mentioned 4:00. By then there should be a little tilt past the apex. Figure out where that is and work from there.

Most ballparks are laid out so the pitcher faces somewhere between west and south. That puts the sun behind the batter, behind the photographer at the plate. You can probably expect her face to be lit. 4:00 in the summer isn't ideal, but your camera should have enough DR to handle it no problem. You're not making a portrait of the queen.

So first 2 things. Find your light. Figure out what it's doing to faces.

Probably more than 1 person in the shot. Pay attention to what happens when they turn their heads or get into each other's shadows. There's nothing you can do about that, but along with pleasant expressions and open eyes, you need to be ready for those moments of synergy when everything in the picture gets turned to the right angle. They don't come often. You don't want to miss any.

See if you can line up a dark background. At the very least, look for something plain. You don't want an infield tractor in the shot, even with great bokah.

I wouldn't worry too much. They put the ceremony at the pitcher's mound and the photographers at the plate because that's the direction the team photographer and the league photographer and the local news photographer like to shoot. You'll be fine.

Thanks. It is more about capturing the memory than the "perfect shot" anyway. My mother has cancer and this will probably be her last public event.

Good luck. You'll do her proud.

Here is nothing you could do about light and distance. It seems. Choose, rent L zoom of appropriate focal distance.
With matching hood. L never gave me dull colors.