Boston Red Sox Photos: Sunday, May 26, 2013 vs. Cleveland Indians.
Wow, what a game. What began as a really slow, dull game quickly turned into an unpredictable, crazy, dramatic ending, as the Red Sox rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the eighth inning to pull out a 6-5 victory over the Cleveland Indians. That’s what baseball is all about right there.
I shot all nine innings from the third base photo pit yesterday. Often, the best pictures are made when, by chance, you just happen to be in the right place at the right time. This was one of those times, as the Jacoby Ellsbury celebration photos looked fantastic from the third base angle. Here is what the reaction looked like from first base, shot by Jim Davis of The Boston Globe, and here’s a closer look from third base, shot by Winslow Townson for the Associated Press.
I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating because it’s important to remember. It’s days like these that remind you why this line of work is so special.
To me, there’s nothing sweeter than knowing you took a good picture. Nothing sweeter!
Photos: Red Sox Baseball Resumes After Marathon Attacks.
Sports have a way of bringing people together. In the wake of the tragedies of the Boston Marathon, I think the city has been itching to get back to normalcy.
What better way to do that than with a Red Sox game at Fenway Park? After a city-wide lockdown during the tail end of an intense manhunt extended into Friday evening, Friday’s originally scheduled game was postponed. Today, we’ve got a double-header to make up for that game, but yesterday’s game, the first home game since the attacks, was one to remember.
The pre-game ceremony was both solemn and comforting, and the game finished with a storybook ending – a late inning come from behind win off of Daniel Nava’s three run home run.
Here are my images from throughout the day.
Photos: Boston Marathon Bombings, Red Sox Win.
It’s crazy how things can change so quickly. On Monday morning, I photographed the Red Sox pull-out an emotional, hard fought walk-off win over the Tampa Bay Rays. In the afternoon, I was photographing the aftermath of two bomb explosions that rocked the center of Boston at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon, killing three and injuring scores of others.
To be absolutely clear and upfront, I put lots of thought and consideration into how to display these photos, if even at all. Thankfully, I was nowhere near the finish line when the explosions happened, but some of these are still a bit tough to swallow. I also debated whether to post images from the Red Sox game. At a time like this, it’s hard to be sure if sports matter at all. But the Sox are a huge part of Boston. This city breathes baseball at this time of year, and so I think, given their emotional, late-inning win on Monday, the photos are both newsworthy and in acceptable taste. I also find it important to see how upbeat the atmosphere at the Park was, and how that all changed so swiftly.
Below is my account of yesterday’s unpredictable and tragic course of events:
We rarely get day games in baseball, and we almost never get morning games. That’s one of the many things that makes the Boston Red Sox season so special. Every year on Patriot’s Day and Marathon Monday, fans from all over fill the stadium for an 11:00 A.M. game. It’s a treat for families and friends who have the day off from work. This year was no exception.
I roamed the park for the majority of the game. Days like yesterday are more about the scene than the action anyway, so I wanted to document all that was going on. It’s funny, because I remember thinking to myself in the sixth or seventh inning that this was one of the happiest, most lively crowds I’ve ever seen at a game. As you’ll see from the photos above, kids were throwing beach balls and stuffing their faces with hot dogs, and older fans were partying in the bleacher seats. One couple even showed up to the game in full wedding garb. They had been married just hours before.
After the top of the ninth inning when the Tampa Bay Rays mounted a comeback to tie the game up, you’d have thought they would have sucked all life out of the place. But such was not the case, and the crowd rallied around the Sox as Dustin Pedroia sparked a rally with a walk and eventually scored the game winning run on an RBI double by Mike Napoli. It was the Sox’ second walk-off win in three games.
It wasn’t until two fellow photojournalists and I were finishing up our game edits in the office when we heard the news. I sat there, dumbfounded as I watched the breaking coverage on television. I think I stared at the same caption I was working on, trying to complete it for five minutes and not getting a single word out.
After several more minutes, it collectively sank in that we needed to get out there. We were three capable, talented photojournalists with gear ready, so we began to make our way downtown.
We shot what we saw along the way, but quickly found that we couldn’t get into the actual scene of the explosion. We thought we should try to get a vantage point from up high, so we went to the top floor of the Westin Hotel in Copley Square. After knocking on a few doors, we found some guests who were there and graciously let us into their room to shoot pictures out the window. They had a vantage point of the sites of both explosions, which you can see above. After filing pictures from their room, we went downstairs and happened to stumble into the end of the press conference with Governor Patrick and Police Commissioner Davis.
When that was through, I made my way back home, shooting what I saw along the way, and called it a day.
I’m lucky I wasn’t close. I’m lucky I didn’t see what the photojournalists near the finish line saw and photographed. It’s impossible for anyone to prepare for a situation like this. Say what you will about how the media has covered this story, or others similar to it. The good journalists out there do it right, and it’s times like these that show the importance and necessity of this profession.
My heart goes out to everyone involved with the Marathon.
Boston Red Sox Photography: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 vs. New York Yankees.
I felt like I photographed two different baseball games last night. After a tribute to lives lost on September 11 during the pre-game ceremonies, Fenway Park was as quiet, subdued, and peaceful as I’ve ever seen it for the first couple innings.
Yet by the end of the game, the park was well alive as Jacoby Ellsbury hit a walk-off single to beat the New York Yankees 4-3.
It was one of the better walk-off wins I’ve shot, and we got some really nice reaction out of the players. I’m quite satisfied with the first image I posted above. I love the umpire’s “SAFE!” gesture.
This game’s “Thing I Learned”: I’m starting to really like shooting wide rather than tight for these walk-off wins. From my angle last night, shooting with long glass wouldn’t have worked well.
From the archives.
Here’s one of my all-time favorites! I just came across this one as I was searching through my archives.
A nice, exciting, colorful jolt of energy to contrast the dreary weather we’ve had all week.
Baltimore Orioles Photography: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 vs. Chicago White Sox
Nolan Reimold lifted the Orioles to an extra innings win on Wednesday, hitting a two run walk off home run in the bottom of the tenth inning to beat the Chicago White Sox.
I had a great night shooting from start to finish, so that’s why I’m posting this many photos. I’ve been noticing the sunlight a lot as of late, so these are some variations on some of the other images that I’ve made recently.
Most importantly, though, this was the first walk off finish I’ve been at in which I’m truly satisfied with my celebration shots. This time, I stayed calm, didn’t try to shoot too many things at once, and came away with a nice set of images. It also helped that the players, particularly Robert Andino, went overboard with their reactions.
This game’s “Thing I Learned:” The camera I shoot with delays if you fire off too many shots in a row. Towards the end of the dog-pile at home plate, I wasn’t able to shoot any more because all the previous frame I had snapped didn’t load fast enough. So, next time I have to shoot that many frames, I’ll make sure to pace myself.
Scranton Men’s Lacrosse holds Goucher from winning second consecutive Conference title
The Goucher College Men’s Lacrosse team fell to the University of Scranton in the Landmark Conference championship game last Saturday. The loss prevented Goucher from winning their second consecutive Conference title. The full story, along with my photograph, is here.
As a four-year athlete for Goucher athletics, it was impossible to ignore my emotions while shooting this game. Such was the case last year as well, when I witnessed Goucher win a championship for the first time.
It was difficult to swallow us losing, and it was even worse being given the responsibility of shooting the official championship team photo of Scranton for the Landmark Conference. But, as Goucher’s Athletic Director, Geoff Miller, mentioned to me on the field as Scranton received their championship t-shirts player by player, “Everyone has their time in the sun.”
Despite how painful it was shooting the Royals’ celebrations at the end of the fourth quarter, there’s no doubt that these images stand alone as valuable additions to my sports portfolio. I shot lots of nice action during the game, but regardless of the score, the day was all about emotions and energy. These photographs demonstrate that from both ends of the sideline.
Goucher greets new year!
It’s hard to believe, but I’m already a Senior at Goucher College. It’s been an amazing three years, and I’m excited to round out my time at this wonderful place.
The start to the year was crazy, so I’m just finding the time now to get back onto Billie with an I.E. and reflect on the work I’m doing. This will without a doubt be the busiest year I’ve had here. I know it’ll also be the most rewarding.
I’m the Editor-In-Chief of The Quindecim, Goucher’s Independent Student Newspaper. I spent the summer making significant changes to all aspects of the publication, and we’ve already received nothing but positive feedback and encouragement from many people on campus and in the Towson area.
Throughout the year, I’ll also be writing an extensive Senior Thesis for honors in the Communications and Media Studies department. Because overseeing our newspaper is what I’m most passionate about (and what takes up a major part of my schedule), I’ve decided to focus the project on student newspapers on college campuses throughout the country. Specifically, I’ll be looking at the balance and interaction between college administrations and student newspapers.
I looked at some very impressive Graduate programs for Journalism this summer, and may decide to apply to them this Fall.
I’m one of the Captains of the Men’s Varsity Tennis team, which I’ve been a part of during my four years here. We’re several weeks into our fall season, and have approximately twenty matches, as well as a trip to Orlando, Florida, scheduled for this coming Spring. I look forward to leading the team in our longtime quest to reach the conference playoffs.
After living in the un-airconditioned, oldest, mostly freshman-filled dorm on campus, I’ve upgraded my living situation as well. I’m living in a spacious, airy apartment on campus with three of my closest friends here. I enjoy having company again after living in a single room for the past two years.
I’ll also continue being a statistician for the Goucher Basketball teams, take photographs for several offices on campus, and complete several other odd jobs that I get asked to do here and there.
And I’m taking three interesting classes.
Life is grand!