06/04/2026
Omg, what a great picture!!!
This morning I had the opportunity to photograph Anneka, who made the trip down from Calgary, Alberta. It may actually be the first time I've photographed an athlete from another country.
Anneka unfortunately missed the Montana Rampage team shoot on Sunday, so she and her dad made the journey down for an individual session this morning before continuing on the road. Next stop is Spokane for a tournament this weekend, followed by Rexburg the next. That's a lot of miles together, but honestly, some of the best memories are made on those long tournament weekends.
Watching the two of them reminded me of the years my daughter and I spent traveling from tournament to tournament. Countless hours in the truck, weekends away from home, ballfield meals, and conversations that probably wouldn't have happened anywhere else. Those father-daughter softball trips are memories I'll always treasure.
Because Anneka traveled so far, I wanted to create something a little extra special for her. The Montana Rampage mascot is a rhino, so I built this custom composite around that theme. The athlete image was photographed this morning in my garage studio, while the stadium environment and dramatic background elements were created with the help of AI. From there, I blended everything together, matched the lighting, adjusted the mood, and worked to create the gritty, cinematic feel that I love in sports composites.
Annika is a catcher and middle infielder, and I wanted this image to reflect the toughness and intensity she brings to the field.
Thank you, Anneka and Dad, for making the trip. Safe travels to Spokane this weekend, Rexburg the following weekend, and good luck the rest of the season.
Enjoy.
Jason