Trial and Error

Not too much to say about this image in particular, just a frame that I liked.

Have been trying to get a good at-bat image of an Oriole but the design of the stadium always seems to make better pictures from the away dugout side. But after some trial and error I came away with something I liked. 

The biggest headache has been the large amount of signage that surrounds the park. I often find it to be a huge distraction and really take away from an image. Getting as low as I possibly could, I was able to dodge the advertisements.

All in all a fun, beautiful summer day at Orioles Park.  

Until next time, take care! 

The in-betweeners

The first thing I noticed about photography was that no matter what you were shooting one common theme was omnipresent. Waiting. This is no different in baseball, I know you are all so shocked, baseball and waiting? Crazy right?

In-between innings normally leads to lovely small talk with adjacent photographers and getting your gear ready for the next inning. Well, being too distracted by everything going on around me I normally just end up making more pictures.

Most of the time, fans or players interacting are my go to subject, but other times I like to focus in on the grounds crew. Most images of the grounds crew show them rushing a tarp across the field in the rain, but they do quite a bit more.

By playing with a combination of good lighting and lucky timing I was able to make an image that for lack of better words made one of the crew members look like a standard "bad ass."  

These type of images are always a good relief from the normal game action that I am surrounded by on a daily basis. If you haven't noticed yet, I am making a very concise effort to stay away from posting images of game action.  

It seems like recently the underwhelming influx of action photos have caused me to look for different pictures to make. This has been a great exercise for my photography but I feel like you guys may be seeing a good action photo coming soon. 

Until next time, take care!

Up close and personal

A wide-angle lens has two great qualities: to push your subject away and to bring your subject closer. The only problem is that the latter requires you to break into your subjects personal bubble.

Robert Capa's famous quote goes, "If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough."

Now I wouldn't say that I completely agree with this quote but it still holds true to a certain degree. A great dynamic image can be made when combining a wide-angle point of view and a close proximity to your subject.

Like most candid images this moment was gone in an instant, only giving me time to rattle off one frame. Fortunately for me it was in focus. 

Until next time, take care!

Luck of the photog

The day before I started blogging again the Orioles played a great game of baseball.  

Most of the time this sport can be incredibly repetitive, forcing the photographer to really make something happen for their images. Other times, the photo gods bless us and things just fall together. This was one of those times. 

In a long 13 inning match-up against the Red Sox, the O's managed to pull out on top with a base hit by Chris Davis out to left field. This brought home Nick Markakis, ending the marathon of a night. 

Sometimes I wish that more assignments were like this until I realize that the rarity is what makes them special and the job of the photographer is to be ready when that happens.  

Luck often favors the prepared. 

Until next time, take care!

Turning around

Today, I was out on a player appearance with Chris Davis. My assignment was to photograph his interactions with little league softball and baseball players.  

One of my photography professors taught me something that I try to never forget.  

Turn around. 

Although you may be somewhere to photograph one thing, that doesn't mean images do not exist elsewhere. When I am out shooting I always make sure to check what is going on around me, not just the obvious subject in front of me.  

When I was taking a few candid images of Davis I heard a group of girls shuffling behind me. I turned around to see what the commotion was. Their first game had started and they all hurried over to watch the first batter go up to bat.  

I snapped off a few frames before resuming my assignment and made the image shown above. 

Until next time, take Care! 

Baseball and skies

I feel like all of my images are of baseball and skies recently.

One reason has to do with only shooting baseball for work, and the other because it just makes more interesting images than the stadium by itself. 

Most of the time I decide to compose the image without any inclusion of the stadium. This time I felt that it could use a little bit. I really wanted to get the lights in it and the contrast between the dark stands and the well-lit warehouse made for an interesting space.

I wanted a player to cut the two areas in half, dividing the warehouse and stands even more. After a few at bats, I was able to grab the Indians third baseman Mark Reynolds in the right spot.  

Lets hope that the next blog post isn't baseball and skies ... but the odds aren't really in favor of anything else.  

Until next time, take care! 

ReEdit

One thing that I enjoy doing is going back and reediting an assignment. More often than not I find photographs that I had originally overlooked. It is a great exercise to help me continue as both a photographer but also as a photo editor.

Deciding which images work and which do not can be one of the hardest parts of being a photographer. And the worst about it, its all just one person's opinion. One person may think it is a great image and another may think it isn't. 

The image above is one that I had pulled from an assignment a few days ago but had easily forgotten. When I went back to look over the images again, something attracted me to it. The subtle quality of light on his hand, and the only identification being a Raven's Superbowl ring made up an interesting image.

What have I learned? Always take a second look at your work, you might find some unexpected things.  

Until next time, take care! 

Backdrops

Today was a beautiful day at Camden Yards. The nice blue sky lent itself perfectly as a backdrop. One thing I learned early on is to pay attention to your backdrop. When combining this with a great subject matter, a good image can be made.

As I was shooting near the away dugout, I noticed that when players were walking back the sun was illuminating only a part of their torso.

I prepared one camera exposing for the sky and waited. After Jarrod Saltalamacchia was struck out he walked back with his head down blocking the light on his face, but allowing his jersey to stand out.

Normally I am attracted to images that show more emotion on the subject's face, but this time I found that this image just worked. His posture was able to say everything.

I will be back out shooting the O's tomorrow.  

Until next time, take care!  

1st post

 For the first two and a half years of my collegiate career, I was an avid blogger. Posting any and everything I photographed. Well, I missed that. So I am back. I am gonna leave this first post short, but please come back and check up on the blog. Hopefully going to be posting at least once per week (will most likely end up being more). I will leave you guys with one image I made last night during a marathon baseball game between the Orioles and Red Sox. Take care!