Pitcher Darren O'Day of the Baltimore Orioles walks off the field during a MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sept. 16, 2014 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland.
Using the surroundings can often help and sometimes hinder your imagery.
A busy background can lead to confusing images while a clean background can really help make the frame.
The frame above was a matter of good timing and a little luck. Frantically changing my shutter speed to match the boards frame rate all while O'Day walked closer and closer to the last O'Day on the out of town scoreboard.
Luckily for me I was able to get one frame that worked.
Until next time, take care.
Anticipation was high during Tuesday night's Orioles home game against Toronto.
The chance to clinch the division at home was there and we were ready... well eventually.
Running remotes, setting lights up in the clubhouse and getting ready for the impending shower of alcohol was on my to-do list.
Thankfully everything went pretty well and we were able to come home with some exciting images.
I left a little gallery of some of my selects, hopefully as I continue to do a few more second edits of the 6000+ images I took I will find a few more frames and post them here.
Now we can just hope for more excitement come postseason!
Until next time, take care!
Parishioner Michael Robertazzi of Laurel poses for a photo at Resurrection of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church in Laurel, Maryland on August 29, 2014.
Approaching a shoot with off-camera lighting can often lead to new and dynamic imagery.
Trying to find a balance between the artificial light and the ambient light can be a challenge.
With these run and gun style shoots having a game plan can be very helpful. Unfortunately those game plans often get thrown out the window.
But in the end it always seems to work out.
Until next time, take care!
Rev. Mark Bialek of Laurel poses for a photo at Resurrection of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church in Laurel, Maryland on August 29, 2014.
When on a shoot you need to always work the environment.
For the majority of a recent Baltimore Sun Media Group photo shoot I used augmented light to help create dramatic imagery.
Naturally, one of my favorite images came from some good old fashion window light.
When I approach posed imagery I often like the subject to take some of the control. Letting them have input on how they are photographed will often result in the more natural image.
The image above was taken as a test shot, no posing just what the subject felt like doing at that exact time.
Until next time, take care!
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Chris Davis makes the throw to first during a MLB game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 26, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Recently I went through a big transition.
I made the switch from Nikon to Canon.
Normally, I hate gear talk. It is dry and boring and frankly at the end of the day isn't the most important thing. But at the same time I spend almost everyday of the week with this gear, I should like it.
Although the switch is not quite finished as I pick up the last few things I need, I am pleased to say I am extremely happy with the Canon gear.
The 1D-X is a helluva camera and I am excited to see what images I make with it.
Until next time, take care!
Dave Brosch of University Park participates in his first year as a juried painter at Paint It! in Ellicott City on July 12, 2014.
My favorite part of photojournalism is all the people I get to meet along the way.
Every interaction is unique and allows me to interact with many individuals I would never have the opportunity to spend time with if I wasn't on assignment.
Getting to photograph them is just the icing on the cake. Each person has a story and telling that story is something I hope I have the opportunity to do for the rest of my life.
Until next time, take care!
Maddie Fields of Atholton tees off at hole 3 during a golf match between Atholton and Mt. Hebron at Hobbit's Glen Golf Course in Columbia, Maryland on August 21, 2014.
During a recent assignment for the Baltimore Sun Media Group I decided to approach a golf match from a different view.
When covering golf you often have to stay far away from the athletes and shoot them with big glass.
I took a challenge to make images with a wide-angle lens. Before the assignment I took a "virtual tour" online of the course to get an idea of what I was getting myself into, and scout out any potential vantage points.
Hole 3 stood out to me with a great set of trees on both sides of the tee.
Getting as close to the athletes as I could I shot the course from behind and loved the way the trees wrapped around her.
I was very excited to get out and cover a golf match and I am definitely hoping for me this season.
Until next time, take care!
As the Orioles grow closer to October post season is becoming more realistic.
This really puts the pressure on to make outstanding imagery.
The last home stand was full of opportunities and hopefully this one will be just the same.
Until next time, take care!
Cynthia Stele of Germantown celebrates as she crosses the finish line at the Iron Girl Triathlon in Ellicott City on August 17, 2014.
Assignments can require late nights and early mornings.
Recently I was assigned to a triathlon. Naturally I was excited, races are one of my favorite subjects to shoot and a triathlon can lend itself to some great images.
Getting out on the road before it was light out in always a sign of a great shoot. Beautiful early morning light can make for dramatic imagery.
The inflatable finish lines always make for a nice internal frame so I like to shoot some wide shots as finishers cross over. Luckily this time I had great celebration from one of the participants.
Until next time, take care!
Chef Julian Maruccin of Pazo poses for a photo inside the restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland on July 23, 2014.
Recently I have been shooting a lot of portrait assignments from Baltimore Sun Media Group.
Augmenting light and working one-on-one with subjects has been a great experience. Most of my work lies in candid imagery that allows me to blend in with my environment and be apart of the experience. When shooting posed portraits I have total control of the scene.
Although different I find that both allow for great images to be made.
Until next time, take care!
Wesley Wood of Campus Hills uses an intercom system to say "Crime is Not Welcome in Towson" during National Night Out in Towson, MD on August 5, 2014.
Summer assignments for community news can be some of the most enjoyable of the year.
Recently I had the opportunity to go out and cover the National Night Out where local neighborhood watch members get together to celebrate the reduction of crime in their respective communities.
Finding imagery with local events can sometimes present a challenge. But when I spotted one of vehicles used in a later motorcade I knew I needed to include it in my take.
After running around trying to get all the identifications I needed I had a few seconds to run over and grab a few images of the vehicle shown above pulling away.
Fortunately for me I was able to get off a frame or two that worked.
Until next time, take care!
Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter looks up between innings during a MLB game against the Seattle Mariners in Baltimore, Maryland at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 3, 2014.
Recently I have been going at 150 mph all day long.
As we get closer to September the Orioles have kept us incredibly busy all while trying to get out and shoot for the Baltimore Sun Media Group as much as possible.
With no real end in sight I have to remind myself of how lucky I am. In a shrinking field I have the opportunity to go out every day of the week and make images for a living. Not many people get to say that.
Until next time, take care!
Members of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate after Manny Machado hits a walk-off during the 11th inning of a MLB game against the Los Angeles Anaheim Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland on July 29, 2014.
After a long two weeks the Orioles are back in town. Everything started off great with a late night walk-off from Manny Machado.
No matter how many times the Orioles hit a walk-off the excitement is always the same. I may not wish for a 4 hour game every night, but the celebration always makes it worth it.
Until next time, take care!
Reid Burch, 18, of Lutherville-Timonium returns a serve with a forehand from opponent Blaise Schuster, not pictured during the Columbia Junior Open in Columbia, Maryland on July 16, 2014.
Capitalizing on your environment can push your imagery to a new level.
At a recent Baltimore Sun Media Group assignment I was given some incredible dark green backdrops and harsh sunlight. The combination allowed the background go all the way to black and isolated the subject.
Obviously I moved all the images in color but the entire time I knew they would look great in black and white. A lot of the time I find color images to be stronger but a really nice black and white conversion can help an image.
I may try some more images in black and white in the future.
Until next time, take care!
Ushers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards look on during a MLB game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals in Baltimore, Maryland on July 9, 2014.
Sometimes over complicating something can actually hurt the final product.
During the last homestand I decided to venture out of the photo wells and walk around the park for a few innings and do a little mini feature hunting session.
The sky looked gorgeous so I found myself using it as a perfect backdrop.
I kept seeing a frame that included the vomitorium and the ballpark/ sunset in the background but I couldn't get it quite right.
A couple of ushers came by and "blocked" my view so I capitalized on the moment, got low and simplified my frame.
One of my favorites from the homestand.
Until next time, take care!
Steve Pearce, second from right, of the Baltimore Orioles lifts teammate Manny Machado into the air after he scores the winning run off of a single-RBI from Nick Hundley (not pictured) in the 10th inning of a MLB game against the New York Yankees on July 9, 2014 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland.
Deciding where to point your lens is an obvious part of photography.
Being able to anticipate where something will happen can be very difficult and often only comes after experiencing similar events in the past.
When the Orioles hit a walk-off I like to go to home plate very briefly and then follow the individual who made the last hit.
During a home game against the Yankees a few days ago I did just that except the reaction was so great at home plate I stayed longer. But in turn I missed some great celebration on the other side of the field.
It is impossible to be in two places at the same time but games like this I wish I could be in five.
Until next time, take care!
Members of the Baltimore Orioles grounds crew pull the tarp off of the field after the conclusion of a rain delay during a MLB game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland on July 3, 2014.
Recently I have been working on a few ideas to create a photo story showcasing the hard work of the Orioles grounds crew.
During the coming homestand I hope to spend an entire night with them documenting what a normal night for them would be.
I cannot believe I am saying these words but I really am hoping for a rain delay so I can show them in their hardest conditions.
I am very excited to start the project and will be updating my blog in the next few weeks with the beginning of the project.
Until next time, take care!
Baltimore Orioles pitching coach Dave Wallace walks through the dugout prior to the start of a MLB game against the Texas Rangers on June 30, 2014 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland.
Sometimes I like to find an environment and then wait for someone to interact with it.
Recently we had some great light coming into a small section of the dugout prior to a game and with a little bit off down time I decided to hang around the area and see if anyone moved well through the space.
Unfortunately only a few people even came close to the light, but I was able to grab one frame of the pitching coach Dave Wallace walking through the light.
A simple and quite moment before a very busy and high scoring game.
Until next time, take care!
Ben Zobrist of the Tampa Bay Rays slides safely into third base during a MLB game against the Baltimore Orioles on July, 28, 2014 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland.
Sometimes you do not have enough time to get the camera all the way up to your eye and properly watch the subject through your viewfinder. When that happens you have to resort to shooting from the hip.
This is something that I hate doing. It is a last ditch effort and often does not yield great results.
But sometimes you get lucky.
After making images from the upper deck I run down to the field in between innings and get down there during the middle of a big play. I handhold my big glass and shoot off one frame just in case without having time to look through the viewfinder.
The photo gods were on my side and I made an image.
Until next time, take care!
Baltimore Orioles second baseman Ryan Flaherty walks off the field during a home game against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 27, 2014 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland.
As I am doing my second edits for the games over last weekend I stumbled across the image above.
When I stopped shooting the Go-Pro on the remote I decided to shoot a little handheld as the sun was setting it see how it handled the conditions.
After some toning I think the image can hold up pretty well.
The more I play with these files the more I am falling in love with the Go-Pro.
Until next time, take care!
