SUMMARY
Sports photographer Patrick Smith of Getty Images transformed a heavy rainstorm during a Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles game into an opportunity for unique mid-game portraits. Instead of shielding his gear, Smith allowed raindrops to gather on his Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM lens, using stadium lights to create dramatic flares and bokeh. He captured striking images that resembled creative portraits more than traditional sports shots, utilizing apertures like f/13 for defined bokeh and f/2.8 with a fast shutter speed to freeze rain droplets. This approach follows his previous work using challenging weather, like snow during the Winter Olympics, as a creative framing tool.
TAKEAWAYS
Patrick Smith created dramatic portraits of baseball players during a torrential downpour.
Raindrops on the lens were used to create bokeh and lens flare effects.
The photographer used a budget-friendly Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM lens and a weather-sealed Canon EOS R1 camera.
Smith has previously used adverse weather conditions like snow to enhance his sports photography.