Photos: Red Sox Outfielder Darnell McDonald visits Fort Devens.

I was sent to Fort Devens Army Base in Devens, Massachusetts this morning to photograph a visit from Boston Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald.

I really had no idea what to expect going into this. I’ve shot lots of player appearances, but I had never done a military related one up until now. 

I had a great time shooting, and it was interesting to listen to some of the conversations that took place. I realize the “athletes as soldiers” metaphor is cliché and probably overused, but there’s no doubt that there are some similarities between the two, particularly within the realm of team sports. The camaraderie, the travel, and the grind kept coming up as topics of conversation throughout the morning.