Creating a Photograph

In September of 2006 the Community Trust Bank and Pendleton Art Center sponsored an art competition with a tennis theme.  The competition was in conjunction with an ATP tournament in Ashland, KY.  I invite you to listen to my podcast in which I discuss my observations on my participation in the art competition.  The podcast presents the artistic motivation, vision, and outcomes from participating in the competition. 

The photograph was truly an evolutionary event.  My vision involved telling a story of "Power and Grace."  The realistic world of two tennis players in competition was not intimate enough for me and so I began to visualize a studio constructed image with two players representing "power" and "grace,"  respectively. 

After capturing the images and going through the initial stitching process I found the background lacking in impact.  So I took a casual walk around the Ashland Tennis Center and discovered an empty court with the ambiance I felt would compliment the two players locked in a battle at the net. 

So the photograph evolved into a merger of six separate exposures into one story, the combat of "power" vs. "grace" in the great game of tennis. 

  I hope you enjoy the depiction and invite you to get a more complete explanation of the experience by tuning into Jeff Ball Photography Podcasts.  How did the print finish in the competition?  You will find out in the Podcast!

Below are the 6 individual exposures combined to tell the story of "Power vs. Grace."