Boston Red Sox Photos: Monday, September 19, 2016 vs. Baltimore Orioles.

The Red Sox continued their winning streak last night, taking the first game out of a four game series in Baltimore. Our Red Sox photographers are traveling with the team throughout the rest of the season, and I’m back in my home town of Baltimore to shoot the series at Camden Yards. Here are some images from last night.

 

 

A Baseball Byline.

"An Umpire's Attendant picks up a foul ball during a Major League Baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland Friday, September 18, 2009."

I just wanted to make a quick post to document a new byline I’m adding to my portfolio. This time, it’s from Baltimore Magazine, which I’d never been published in before.

This is a photo gallery to accompany an article about the 20th anniversary of Camden Yards. The link to the gallery is here.

I shot photo numbers 20 and 24, and I scanned and edited the old, classic photos of Camden Yards from the Orioles archives season. 

I must admit, it’s been a bit strange not working in Baltimore for the start of the season, as I had shot the past three Opening Days there. That being said, I’m so ready for the Red Sox to come to down for Opening Day at Fenway Parks this Friday. 

Reflections: Year two at the Baltimore Orioles

"Baltimore Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis hits a home run during a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians Saturday, July 16, 2011."

I’m here at the yard for the last day of my second year as a photographer for the Baltimore Orioles. What can I say? It was another amazing summer consumed by two of my favorite things in life: photography and baseball. 

I did a lot this year. Since I got here in mid-June, I shot 30 home games. I also traveled with players to various community outreach events throughout Baltimore City and County. Many of my photographs were published in this year’s third edition of Orioles Magazine, as well as several Baltimore newspapers and community publications. I also worked tirelessly on the Orioles photography archives, which are in the ridiculously long process of being categorized and converted to digital format. Over these past several months, I scanned, in their entirety, the files of 60 players dating back to 1954. In total, I scanned over 4,000 images, but likely closer to 4,500. I also fulfilled image requests from other departments, local media outlets, and other teams throughout the league. 

It’s a little bittersweet now that it’s over. I love every second of being out there on the field right where the action is, and for me, shooting the games never gets old. At the same time, though, this job is intense, and can be extremely time consuming. Needless to say, I’m excited for a bit of a break after lots of hard work. I also know that I won’t miss much action during the offseason (besides the annoying sound of the scanners next to my computer all day long.)

What I will miss, of course, are the people who make this such an incredible experience for me. I owe my most sincere thanks to Todd Olszewski, the team photographer, for calling me back this year, imparting his photo expertise on me, and constantly inspiring me with his work. I also owe thanks to all the photographers I work alongside at each game for making work such an enjoyable place to come to every day, and for their advice and wisdom about this profession. 

I’m not quite sure what’s next, but I know something great will come up. Until then, here’s to two seasons!

Baltimore Orioles Photography: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 vs. Boston Red Sox

"Baltimore Orioles first baseman Mark Reynolds is tagged out at home by Boston Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Baltimore."
"Baltimore Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis looks on in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Wednesday, September 28, 2011 in Baltimore."

Here’s two that I liked from Wednesday night’s dramatic final game of the season. These were taken, of course, before the ridiculous 9th inning walk off win, which I’ll show in a separate post. 

A broken bat shot.

"Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters breaks his bat in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Tuesday, September 27, 2011 in Baltimore."

I’ve been waiting all season for one of these to happen. Go figure it took me until game 161 to get it. I wish the bat had broken more, because I was all over this at-bat. This doesn’t look like much as far as broken-bat shots go, but I’m still happy I got one. 

Baltimore Orioles Video Highlight Reel: My Time

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Here’s my first video work published for the Baltimore Orioles. This video ran on the scoreboard at Camden Yards between innings throughout the last month of the season. 

I owe a special thanks to Ben Epstein of Orioles Productions for his killer editing of this reel. Not all of the clips that appear in this video are mine, but most of them are. It’s a combination of footage I shot handheld with my Canon 7D and footage shot by the television camera crew. 

As for what to look for, I shot about every photo that appears in the opening montage, and my video clips have a more handheld look and play with focus and depth of field a lot more. I’d say they make for about 80% of the video. 

It feels great to have gotten some video published this season, and it was always wild to see my own work up on the scoreboard during games. 

Photo: American League Wild Card chase – Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles.

"Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon celebrates after recording the final out of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday, September 27, 2011 in Baltimore. With the 8-7 victory, the Boston remained even with the Tampa Bay Rays atop the American League Wild Card Standings with one regular season game remaining."

I’m still trying to accept the fact that the most important games in baseball, or perhaps in all of sports right now, are being played in Baltimore. Last night, the American League Wild Card race continued at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, where the Boston Red Sox held on to an early lead to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 8-7 and remain tied with the Tampa Bay Rays atop the Wild Card standings. 

This race is so close that it’s literally going to come down to tonight’s game, the 162nd and last of the season. It could even require an extra one-game playoff to decide the winner. 

I shot lots of good action from the game last night, but decided to only post this photo of Papelbon celebrating a Red Sox victory, as that’s the main story line right now. I don’t want to post too much until this series is over and we’re able to see where everything stands. Regardless, this is the closest thing to playoff baseball Baltimore has seen in awhile (even though it’s not for the home team), and I loved the energy out there last night. 

Tonight should be more of the same. ESPN is in town to broadcast the game, the phones are ringing off the hook here, and the photo pits will be packed. So, here’s to my last game of the season (maybe)!

Baltimore Orioles Photography: Monday, September 26, 2011 vs. Boston Red Sox

"Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero tips his helmet to the crowd after hitting a single in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Monday, September 26, 2011 in Baltimore. This was his 2,587th career hit, moving him past Julio Franco as the all-time leader in hits by a Dominican-born player."
"Baltimore Orioles outfielders (L-R) Matt Angle, Adam Jones, and Nick Markakis, celebrate a victory over the Boston Red Sox Monday, September 26, 2011 in Baltimore."
"Baltimore Orioles second baseman Robert Andino reacts after receiving a shaving cream pie to the face after defeating the Boston Red Sox Monday, September 26, 2011 in Baltimore."

We’ve reached the last three games of the 2011 regular season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. This is always a busy week around the stadium, but there’s a particular buzz in the air this time around. The American League Wild Card chase is on, and the Boston Red Sox, in the midst of an historic end-of-season collapse, play their final three games in Baltimore. This year’s playoff scenarios are coming down to the wire, and I’m pumped at the possibility of them being decided in Baltimore. 

The Sox were unable to beat the O’s last night, moving them into a tie with the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL Wild Card spot. I’ve got lots of good photos from last night, but I want to be careful about what I post, as there’s still lots of baseball left to be played. 

Last night’s game had a bit of everything: Playoff implications, a Dominican baseball record broken, a drunken fan running across the field, an inside the park home run, and a pie in the face, to mention a few.

This game’s “Thing I Learned:” Last night’s lesson will carry over for the entire week. Big time games call for big time photos! I shoot better pictures when there’s something at stake. I like the added pressure. 

Time for game two!

Baltimore Orioles Photography: Sunday, September 18, 2011 vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

"Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy warms up in the on deck circle in the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Sunday, September 18, 2011 in Baltimore."

I’ve gotten the chance to go through all of my images from this weekend’s three games, and I’ve realized that I really didn’t have a great stretch shooting-wise. I managed to get some nice features, like this one, as well as some portraits, but when it came to action, I was a bit off for one reason or another. 

That doesn’t bother me much, though, which brings me to this game’s “Thing I Learned:” Like anything in life, in photography there are going to be days where you don’t shoot as well as you set out to. It’s just a part of it. I take it in stride and move on!

Baltimore Orioles Photography: Saturday, September 17, 2011 vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

"Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters stands on home plate during the National Anthem before the start of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Saturday, September 17, 2011 in Baltimore."
"Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero jokes before the start of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Saturday, September 17, 2011 in Baltimore."

Again, there wasn’t much high action to be shot during last Saturday’s game, so I fooled around a bit and tried to look for something new.

This game’s “Thing I Learned:” After I take pictures of whoever is singing the National Anthem before each game, there’s always an awkward minute or two where I’m caught behind home plate with nothing to do but wait for the anthem to be over. So, this time I decided to make myself useful and try to make another picture to avoid yet again standing on the field doing nothing but awkwardly staring at the ground.