KC Royals at Toronto Blue Jays - dome

I was at the game today. I had my 40D and 70-200mm f/2.8 IS mounted in my camera bag. They took a quick glance in the bag and let me through.

I was 19 rows behind home plate (behind the net), played with it a little bit and realized I was too far away to get anything, so I just put my camera away and enjoyed the game.

Nice shots.

Nice shots.
Were you a fan or in the press box?

Crunchy wrote in post #5590375
I was at the game today. I had my 40D and 70-200mm f/2.8 IS mounted in my camera bag. They took a quick glance in the bag and let me through.

I was 19 rows behind home plate (behind the net), played with it a little bit and realized I was too far away to get anything, so I just put my camera away and enjoyed the game.

Nice shots.

Thanks, tried the 70-200 on a couple shots but only 2 or so. I was lookin for a place to shoot behind home plate but didn't see anywhere.

Fade2 wrote in post #5590623
Nice shots.
Were you a fan or in the press box?

Not in the press box, it's on the 300 level and wouldn't reach - but was in the photo pits by the dugout

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #5590642
Not in the press box, it's on the 300 level and wouldn't reach - but was in the photo pits by the dugout

Tough life eh?

Great shots. You have a great eye for baseball.

Those are some really great action shots. How were you able to get dwon with all of the photographers?

dsul413 wrote in post #5592954
Tough life eh?

Great shots. You have a great eye for baseball.

Same thing I told a guy yesterday at the game, when your job is going to a baseball game you have no reason to complain.

Smad728 wrote in post #5593057
Those are some really great action shots. How were you able to get dwon with all of the photographers?

I cover baseball for profession, from 5-6 year olds to the majors.

*****

Sorry for the rushed response, just downloadin pics in the 6th inning for upload so doing this quick as they download

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #5593551
Same thing I told a guy yesterday at the game, when your job is going to a baseball game you have no reason to complain.



I cover baseball for profession, from 5-6 year olds to the majors.

*****

Sorry for the rushed response, just downloadin pics in the 6th inning for upload so doing this quick as they download

That is so cool. I hope i can get into that same exact thing when i get older.

Smad728 wrote in post #5595682
That is so cool. I hope i can get into that same exact thing when i get older.

Being in Fishkill I'm sure you get to practice on Hudson Valley.

MJ, I'm sure you are busy guy, but I'm curious to know how you got into sports photography? Did you start off with high school stuff and work your way up until someone noticed?

I've always wanted to do sports but have no clue how to start. My co-worker is a soccer coach for teens and I'll be starting to take pics of them every couple weeks....gotta start somewhere.

What should I be looking to do, or who should i be talking to?

Tyger wrote in post #5600698
MJ, I'm sure you are busy guy, but I'm curious to know how you got into sports photography? Did you start off with high school stuff and work your way up until someone noticed?

I've always wanted to do sports but have no clue how to start. My co-worker is a soccer coach for teens and I'll be starting to take pics of them every couple weeks....gotta start somewhere.

What should I be looking to do, or who should i be talking to?

*** Added Note: Nothing below is directed at anyone inparticular...just things I've noticed over the years as I know if taken the wrong way someone might get offended - not my intention **

It was basically an accident. I was playing college ball and shooting some pics for something to get autographed being a fan and collector. One day the GM of the local team asked to see some stuff after asking who I did it for (if anyone) since my dad and I were season ticket holders and I was there shooting a lot. Showing him some stuff he asked to use some in the card set as the guy they had been using was on there last nerve and they wanted desperately to get rid of him. Over the next couple seasons they fazed him out and I took over completely for that team to start.

After being hit by a drunk driver that ended my playing days in college thought to stay in the game by shooting. I did NOT try to get in with magazines or anyone else for about 4 years as I knew the pics weren't that great, spent that time trying to learn before contacting anyone. I think a HUGE problem with many people today is that they think they can buy a camera and bam, they're a photographer. It doesn't work that way, I can't buy skates and claim to be a hockey player. I've seen tons of photography businesses pop up and I sit there askin how they can even claim to be one when they obviously are just snappin some pics on full auto and not doing anything different than mom or dad could get with a P&S...but least it's nots tough competition to beat out, ha.

After spending those YEARS learning finally contacted some places and got turned away, until the same guy I replaced above got banned from a stadium and they needed someone to go up (this was back in film days when not everyone claimed to be a photog). I snuck in that way with one, then another called and another, so on. Like any business you just build your way up. Same thing still happens though, gettin turned away, even with a long resume you can call and get rejected, heck most the time you do for one reason or another (they dont want to change, they dont care, you're too expensive, there friend does it free, etc, etc).

Pro sports don't pay that great and I found my niche and stuck to it, expanded when needed, etc. Youth sports pays much better and I got into youth after about 7 years shooting pro sports because the money just isn't that good and those "dream jobs" people want are far and few in between. Just like a player making it to the major leagues it's tough for a photog as well to make it major. Not impossible, but tough. I might be in "low-A" this year after spending last year in "AA" of my photography career, still waiting for that call to the show, ha.

Use the local league to build skills, try new things, different things, see what works and what doesn't. Don't be afraid to shoot different sports but don't over commit yourself. Don't claim to be a great photog if you're not, bad reputations get around just as quick as good ones do. Work with people, research the hell out of anything new you're doing - if you've never shot the sport go find pics that look good and see what others are doing, ask questions. etc. It's a learn on the job kinda thing.

Now, this is gettin to long and todays game is done downloading Hopefully there's a little something in that rambling.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #5601373
*** Added Note: Nothing below is directed at anyone inparticular...just things I've noticed over the years as I know if taken the wrong way someone might get offended - not my intention **

It was basically an accident. I was playing college ball and shooting some pics for something to get autographed being a fan and collector. One day the GM of the local team asked to see some stuff after asking who I did it for (if anyone) since my dad and I were season ticket holders and I was there shooting a lot. Showing him some stuff he asked to use some in the card set as the guy they had been using was on there last nerve and they wanted desperately to get rid of him. Over the next couple seasons they fazed him out and I took over completely for that team to start.

After being hit by a drunk driver that ended my playing days in college thought to stay in the game by shooting. I did NOT try to get in with magazines or anyone else for about 4 years as I knew the pics weren't that great, spent that time trying to learn before contacting anyone. I think a HUGE problem with many people today is that they think they can buy a camera and bam, they're a photographer. It doesn't work that way, I can't buy skates and claim to be a hockey player. I've seen tons of photography businesses pop up and I sit there askin how they can even claim to be one when they obviously are just snappin some pics on full auto and not doing anything different than mom or dad could get with a P&S...but least it's nots tough competition to beat out, ha.

After spending those YEARS learning finally contacted some places and got turned away, until the same guy I replaced above got banned from a stadium and they needed someone to go up (this was back in film days when not everyone claimed to be a photog). I snuck in that way with one, then another called and another, so on. Like any business you just build your way up. Same thing still happens though, gettin turned away, even with a long resume you can call and get rejected, heck most the time you do for one reason or another (they dont want to change, they dont care, you're too expensive, there friend does it free, etc, etc).

Pro sports don't pay that great and I found my niche and stuck to it, expanded when needed, etc. Youth sports pays much better and I got into youth after about 7 years shooting pro sports because the money just isn't that good and those "dream jobs" people want are far and few in between. Just like a player making it to the major leagues it's tough for a photog as well to make it major. Not impossible, but tough. I might be in "low-A" this year after spending last year in "AA" of my photography career, still waiting for that call to the show, ha.

Use the local league to build skills, try new things, different things, see what works and what doesn't. Don't be afraid to shoot different sports but don't over commit yourself. Don't claim to be a great photog if you're not, bad reputations get around just as quick as good ones do. Work with people, research the hell out of anything new you're doing - if you've never shot the sport go find pics that look good and see what others are doing, ask questions. etc. It's a learn on the job kinda thing.

Now, this is gettin to long and todays game is done downloading Hopefully there's a little something in that rambling.

JUST SO IT'S CLEAR, I DIDN'T CLAIM TO BE... J/K

MJ, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply, in the midst of downloading your pics and working . Many people will simply as us curious folk to do a search, or google it which in some cases may help but sometimes it is often refreshing and educational to hear first hand from someone in the business.

I whole heartedly agree with you about people "claiming" to be a photographer simply because they might own an SLR and some decent glass. I've always wanted to learn photography since I was a kid, 4 years ago I started my journey. I enjoy it as a hobby shooting everything from sports to nature/wildlife. I've recently decided to focus my attention on "people" doing portraits, engagement pics and the like. Everything I know about photography, design has been self taught and I read a but load of stuff, whether it be books or the internet....so I'm all about that! I guess you can say I'm a jack of all trades type person so shooting variety is what I like, I'm still finding my niche!

Your input is GREATLY appreciated and again thankful for you taking the time to instill some insight to those of us who are curious and considering photography as a career/business.

For now I will continue to shoot what I love and hope that it will lead me to something greater.

Tyger wrote in post #5601807
JUST SO IT'S CLEAR, I DIDN'T CLAIM TO BE... J/K

MJ, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply, in the midst of downloading your pics and working . Many people will simply as us curious folk to do a search, or google it which in some cases may help but sometimes it is often refreshing and educational to hear first hand from someone in the business.

I whole heartedly agree with you about people "claiming" to be a photographer simply because they might own an SLR and some decent glass. I've always wanted to learn photography since I was a kid, 4 years ago I started my journey. I enjoy it as a hobby shooting everything from sports to nature/wildlife. I've recently decided to focus my attention on "people" doing portraits, engagement pics and the like. Everything I know about photography, design has been self taught and I read a but load of stuff, whether it be books or the internet....so I'm all about that! I guess you can say I'm a jack of all trades type person so shooting variety is what I like, I'm still finding my niche!

Your input is GREATLY appreciated and again thankful for you taking the time to instill some insight to those of us who are curious and considering photography as a career/business.

For now I will continue to shoot what I love and hope that it will lead me to something greater.

No problemo...last sentence is the way to do it, learn, shoot, grow.

IIRC, Nikon is the "Official" camera of Major League Baseball

IOW, Nikon paid MLB beaucoup dollars for the right to call themselves such...

I was at the game on Saturday as well. 14 rows up behind 1st. Got some shots but nothing spectacular.

You catch any of the first close play at 1st or any of the many broken KC bats?

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #5601373
I might be in "low-A" this year after spending last year in "AA" of my photography career, still waiting for that call to the show, ha.

So you are moving down in your photography career and not up Mike?