It’s Been Awhile

Well, I must say I have neglected this site for too long. But the countdown is on. Over the next few weeks I am going to go through and clean out some older stuff and put in some updated content. I haven’t been idle with my photography, I have just not been giving this site much priority. The passion for me is in the creating and not so much the showing off the final product. Once I post photos, they are in the rearview and I am on to my next vision. So, what have I been up to. Oddly enough I have been doing a lot. I have visited local sites and even helped shoot a wedding. May be more of those in the future. Naturally, sports has not taken a back seat. It’s just about time to hit the start of the 2023 baseball season. I will be shooting my 13th season of professional baseball. Excited for the Blue Crabs going into their 15th season. I will also be getting to Bowie for a few Baysox games and I am planning on getting out more to cover for Milb.com this season. Keep your eyes open for updates to my page.

The Off-Season Begins

Another baseball season in the books. After two years, one with no baseball, due to the pandemic it felt like a normal season this year. The Blue Crabs had an amazing run. There’s always a sting when the last game is a loss but the spring will bring a new chance. Probably time to start making connections for crossing things of my bucket list. I am going to work on setting up some collaborations that I can challenge myself and be creative in ways I normally don’t have time to work at. There is Navy athletics ahead and AWA wresting and also some boxing ahead this off-season. Roller Derby is also returning in October. Looking to get to some shows as well with the time off. I hope the winter moves as quickly as the spring and summer did this year. Never sit still.

Play 9

Well, the first half of the season ended on July 4th. This season has been one for the books. Fewer than 5 losses at home. Only 1 series loss, and a .727 winning percentage a new league record. Along with that comes a first half championship and a place in the playoffs. Can say we have never had a season like this. I’m just enjoying the ride and capturing it all.

Life Update

The summer started with shooting a charity golf event. It’s fun when you shoot with friends and for a great cause. I got a group of photographers together to shoot a Beatles Tribute Show. I continue to find ways to give my gift of photography to friends. The baseball season is in full swing and nearing the mid-way point. The Blue Crabs easily clinched the first half championship and I was able to be there on the road for it to happen. I thought going to New York would provide a lot of great photography opportunities. Weather has a way of putting great ideas to rest. I have some ideas going forward that include some portraits possibly and yes, even nature. The summer is just starting to heat up.

Back Where I Belong

After a couple of seasons, we started this year on time and without restrictions. The Blue Crabs have many new players with a few returning. It was an amazing first month. The team wend 22-5. They had a 13 and 7 game win streaks and only 2 losses at home. They are by far the tops in the Atlantic League so far. This is the best start I have seen and it has been an amazing time shooting the team this season.

Always Learning

Well, the baseball season is under way but this last weekend I was shooting a family wedding. Now, this is far from what I am at ease shooting and not something I go out of my way to do. I like a challenge and doing weddings is that indeed. The editing style is a huge difference from the style I am used to doing for sports. I had to do a total reset in my mind as I was working on the photos. It’s good to learn things that you aren;t at ease doing. I don’t think we really learn much when we stay in our comfort zone.

Never Stop Dreaming

Sometimes spring brings bitter cold and sometimes it is a time to make dreams come true. This week brings spring training and the start of my 12th season as a Blue Crabs team photographer. Today was the annual tryout day. Rarely does this event really provide the opportunity for anyone to make the roster. That doesn’t mean that anyone should let go of their dreams. Sometimes the opportunity presents itself and you can’t take an opportunity if you are sitting home on the couch. This guy has the passion for making a dream come true and today may have been his day. As for me, age is catching up. My passion for shooting baseball is going strong but father time is in my neighborhood. I don’t think people really understand the hours I put in each season and each game. All the hours after the game took a toll on me mentally at the end of last season. First time I really felt worn out in all the years I had been shooting baseball. I will need to shoot smarter and be far more selective this year to avoid the late nights and early mornings going to work.

Making an Impact

So, we just had a huge gallery show at the Naval Air Museum this last weekend. My friend Jack and I brought 30 photographers together for a month long exhibition of work. The culminating day gathered the photographers together with some of our local music community. Part of the day was to bring attention to suicide prevention. Jack and I had been effected by the loss of a local music talent and a few days later we witness to the passing of a young women on a local bridge. Jack and I decided to create an image of home and healing for anyone who has a connection to suicide and suicide prevention. The image conveys healing in time and a light of hope. It signifies reaching out to anyone who just needs someone. This was an amazing collaboration. Nothing to this point has been so emotionally draining yet satisfying. The image was printed on glass and we presented it to the local suicide prevention group. We are sharing it to all who may see hope and comfort in it.

Winter in the Rearview Mirror

I think I was completely worn out before winter raised it’s ugly head. Over the winter I had the opportunity to focus on some goals I had been keeping in the back of my mind. Organizing the show for so many photographers was a great experience. Next weekend will be the culminating event. It was great to create and amazing piece of art to support a cause close to me personally. The last few weeks I have been able to shoot some baseball. Opening night in Bowie is just a couple of weeks away and spring training with the Blue Crabs is just around the corner too. This weekend I went out for my annual flower shoot at Lowes. So much easier just crossing the street than going all over to find some flowers. Going to do a bit of a flashback tomorrow and planning on going to SMCM to shoot a baseball game. It’s been many years since I shot anything there. It will be interesting to see how going back for a day feels. Maybe it will be a feeling of closure.

Make it a Reality

Well, if you have a dream don’t just sit on it. Go out and make it a reality. I had an idea to get a gallery show together with photographer from all over my area. I shared my idea with another photographer and before you knew it we were knee deep in the biggest photography show ever in our area. We set up this weekend in a local museum that gave us the whole month to show our work. We have over 25 photographers as well as a photography class from the local high school participating. We range from 12 years old to me, probably the oldest at 63. The idea was for this to not be a competition but the exact opposite a collaboration. it is turning out to be exactly that. There was such excitement with us all setting up. We talked about doing projects together. We are bringing each other into each other’s worlds. Our big show is going to have some of the biggest musical talent in the area and they are performing for free as a favor for us. We are having an auction to donate proceeds to local charities. It’s showing what a great community of photographers and people we are all a part of. Everything is possible when you stop jut dreaming about it.

A New Season

Well, it’s not spring yet but this weekend I will be starting my baseball season with the first home game at the Naval Academy for 2022. Oh it will be cold but it’s great to be back with baseball. Lot’s of other great moments this last few weeks. I got to share my passion of sports by taking my friend Jack to shoot an Army/Navy Track and Field meet. He captured the photo above. Still hard to believe it’s me when I see photos with all my ink. This next month is going to be crazy. What started out as just an idea Jack and I had is becoming a reality. We have to gallery shows in March. One at a local art council and a second that he and I have organized. We have gathered 25-30 local photographers together to show Southern Maryland the great work that can be found here. We wanted to gather photographers together with the idea of collaboration and not competition. We thought maybe we would get a weekend and could maybe get 5 photographers together but a local museum was excited about our idea and vision that it has become a month long show with nearly 30 photographers ranging in age from 12-63. I’ll take the oldest, at least I believe I am. We are incorporating some of our friends in the local music community as well in our meet the artists night. This show isn’t about the two of us but a way for us to put a light on some great photographers who deserve to get exposure for their work. It’s an exciting time for me creatively right now and I am looking forward to my busiest sports season ever.

Change it Up

It’s not my favorite time of year but I have a hard time not having things to go out and shoot. So when it snows and even though it’s early and bitter cold you get up and go out to shoot before everyone stomps around in the snow. My first idea was to go shoot at a local historical plantation. Had good ideas of what I wanted until I rounded the bend and police had blocked off the road due to a power line down. Could have gone home knowing I had boxing to shoot that afternoon but I thought I would drive to a local lighthouse. I like the feeling that I can be flexible and change things up at the last minute. Plans should be subject to change. Don’t get pinned down to one thing. An opportunity is always waiting if you will just be willing to have an open mind. So much in the weeks and months ahead. I have some track and field, swimming championships, and yes, starting in a couple of weeks Navy baseball. There will be more pro wrestling before opening day for the Blue Crabs and Baysox. Time to clean the mind and get creative.

Looking Back and Re-editing

Well, it took a year and a half but COVID officially bit me. I tested positive this week. Feels like a case of bronchitis but you have to add total isolation from the world. So today I went back to when I first started shooting and did a re-edit of some old Jpeg files. Yah, I wasn’t even shooting in RAW then. I didn’t discover anything I didn’t already know. I had a lot of bad shots back then but there were a few that were ok. It’s kind of fun to think what I would have done differently if I took the shots today. I have a lot of photos I should go back and revisit and I am sure with having to isolate for another 3 days I will look at some more. It’s good to see where we came from and focus on where we are going.

Collaborate

Maybe I am unusual but I am always looking for ways to be better than I am today. I am always happy to help others who are looking to learn as well. I believe in passing it forward. I have been blessed over the years to shoot along side some really creative people. I never saw it as a competition. I saw it as opportunity to be better and to collaborate. It never mattered who got the shot, as long as someone did. I’m not saying I haven’t been in the presence of arrogance. There have been several photographers, that for whatever reason, couldn’t stand that I was at the same event they were. To this day, I refuse to allow anyone to take the pleasure of shooting away from me. I will never be the one who will put down another creative for their passion. I will always welcome others at the same events I am at. I think creatives should find ways to collaborate and learn from each other. Photography is so diverse. There is so much to learn and there is probably no way of ever learning it all. Certainly no way to master it all. The thing is, that even if you are collaborating, each creative will always bring their own style to the project. Collaborating doesn’t mean you have to change your style. It can allow you to add to your style or you can simple feel that what works really well for one , may not work the same for you. I’ve had the pleasure to collaborate quite a bit this last year with Jack Nutter. We share a similar phylosophy. Collaboration can trigger creativity inside of you. It can invigorate you and keep you from falling into a rut. Everyone has aspects they are better in than others. You can learn so much if you stay open to the possibilities. It’s great to see photography through the eyes of another creative. It’s also great to be able to share your own perspectives as well. The photo for this post is one of Jack’s that he took of me when I invited him to shoot professional wrestling with me. We shoot a lot of the same local shows and he does a lot of portrait work. I do more sports action. Shooting promos of the wrestlers is a part of shooting wrestling. It was great to see how he got the talent to pose. I learned from that experience. He got to experience something he had never shot before. I think we are both driven by the challenge of something new. Collaboration also allows both people to try something new. Even if it doesn’t work it’s satisfying to try things you never gave thought about before. In the end it’s about growing as a creative. I will never stop growing.

Make it Reality in 2022

Maybe it’s something that comes with getting so much older, but I find myself taking chances on things I may have put to the side many years ago. Now when I have ideas I just say why not, and ok, who do I need to contact to get this project going. With that being said I am working with my friend Jack Nutter to organize a photography show of local photographers. I had thought that maybe a weekend with maybe 5 photographers would be a great thing. Well, things escalated quickly. Our show will run for several months and we have the backing of a great local museum and local art council. We already have nearly 20 photographers confirmed. Our idea was to foster collaboration and not competition. We want people to see what others are doing and maybe find ways to work together on projects in the future.

Closing Out 2021

Another year has come and gone. It was a rough start with very little of what I love to do open. Baseball did return even if it was shooting from the stands in Milb but we finally made it on the field though we had to be masked. The music community mad a big return with outside venues hosting shows. The Blue Crabs made the playoff in an extended season. Track and Field was open again and Navy Basketball was open to crowds and we are shooting from the floor. I joined Assault Wrestling Alliance as their photographer and It’s really fun to be joining the organization from the ground floor. Photo projects continued to be a focus as I added another book to my collection and it was accepted by the National Baseball Hall of Fame. There are more projects in the works for 2022. As of the writing of this blog another variant of COVID is taking effect and I won’t say the possibility of being shut down again isn’t there. One thing for sure is that I will ride the wave for as long as possible and if another shut down occurs, I will find ways to challenge myself and be creative.

A Return to the Yard

It had been a year since I had been able to shoot a sporting event on the yard at the Naval Academy. Another result of the COVID Pandemic. This last weekend I was able to shoot the Veterans Classic. It was awesome to be there again and see some good friends. There is such pageantry with events at the Naval Academy. I can’t wait to shoot more this season. It’s not all back to normal as we all had to wear masks the entire time but it was a major step.

Recharging in the off Season

I love shooting baseball more than anything. At the end of this season I found myself worn out and exhausted. It was the first time in over 10 years that I felt like that. Maybe it’s age catching up with me, or the loss of a season due to the pandemic. Either way the off season has always been a time to find new things to shoot and try new ways to become a better photographer. This year is no different. I am shooting with a new wrestling promotion and finding new ways to be creative. After not having time to shoot at the Naval Academy in over a year I am looking forward to shooting basketball and indoor track and field. I’m looking forward to working on my editing skills and possibly doing some portrait work. By March I will be eager to get back on the baseball field and ready to start another season refreshed.

Catching Up

Wow, it’s been awhile but it’s because I have been busy getting out and shooting. The baseball season is over and it was an exciting run to the playoffs but it fell short of the championship. There was little rest afterwards as I got to the Cornstalkers Trail Of Terror. A traveling Monster Truck show came to town and I was able to get access to that as well. I was asked to be a part of a new indy wrestling promotion and their first show was last night. I look forward to helping them build their following. My journey in ink continues. I currently have 118 and I completed my lower legs last week with a tag team ink session. The fall sports season at the Naval Academy is about to get under way. Roller Derby is having Boot Camp so maybe they will be ready to have their bouts starting again soon. I’m going to try and do some new things this winter if the time allows. I’m sure I will find a way to squeeze something new in.

7 Years Later

I guess I’ve been around awhile. 7 years ago Mickey Jannis was a member of the Blue Crabs. Today I was thankful for the opportunity to shoot his start in Bowie for the Baysox. I think it’s easy to say I am a much better photographer today. I have always enjoyed the relationships I have made with people I have shot and people I have had the opportunity to shoot with.