Basketball season is heating up as the 4A state hoops tournament starts next week and the 3A district tournament continues. The following athlete portraits are from recent feature assignments and all use a two-light setup in different configurations. More photos after the jump…Above the Baba twins have helped lead the Juanita Rebels girls basketball team this season. Being twins I wanted to make an image that is reminiscent of a mirror.

The Sammamish Totems have been an upstart program this year in KingCo 3A and won their opening game of district tournament play this week. The dark transition at the bottom of the frame is made in camera — the actual shutter closing — by setting it at a faster speed than the camera body can sync with the flash. I like to do this in certain cases to reduce a bright foreground and draw the viewer’s eye into the subject.

Not just high school hoops in the region, the Bellevue College program has had early season success with a  young team. Captains Marcus Tibbs, left, and Jordan Starr.

At left: The Bellevue High School boys basketball team has been top ranked in the state all season lead by captains, from left, Ian Gordon, Aaron Bright and Nate Sikma. As I post this, I see this is the only image that uses a three light setup — left, right and behind. At right: Another version from Bellevue College.