Rookie photographer Stephanie Scarbrough recently joined the AP company after successfully completing a 10-month photojournalism internship in Washington, D.C. Now stationed in Baltimore, Scarbrough’s photography assignments range from sports and daily life to breaking news and presidential events.
The Baltimore Orioles faced a challenging period with a string of losses due to injuries and a hitting slump. They were up against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, Sept. 19, having lost three consecutive games. In the top of the ninth inning, the game was tied 3-3 when Giants’ Casey Schmitt hit an RBI single. Orioles’ designated hitter Anthony Santander stepped up to bat with two outs and fell behind in the count against Giants’ reliever Ryan Walker. After a tense moment, Santander hit a home run, breaking the tie and securing the win for Baltimore, ending their losing streak.
Scarborough described the match as the last scheduled regular-season game she was covering with a 1:05 p.m. EDT start time. To capture unique lighting, she moved to the 300-level section of Oriole Park at Camden Yards to leverage the shadows cast by the afternoon sun. Equipped with a 400mm lens on her Sony A9 III attached to a monopod, she could photograph the game action from a distance.
The specific photo of Santander’s home run required tight cropping to eliminate distractions like protective netting wires slicing through the frame. By focusing on the moment of celebration in the photo, Scarborough aimed to turn it into a narrative rather than just a fleeting moment in time.
The composition of Scarborough’s photo stands out due to its unique layout, emphasizing the action in the corners of the frame with an empty center. Viewers are guided from left to right, focusing on Santander approaching his jubilant teammates. The pouring water towards Santander further accentuates him as the focal point of celebration. The clean grassy background minimizes distractions, allowing viewers to grasp the significance of the moment captured in the photo.
