My last few months shooting photography part I
My Spring shooting started at mile 20 of the Boston Marathon.
I drove down from Swanzey, NH in a light drizzle. Hoping the whole time, that the rain would hold off enough for me to get some good shots of the G.O.A.T. of marathon running (Kipchoge). As well as the others in the Male, and Female elite packs.
Standing along the fencing at Heartbreak Hill Run Co. it was hard not to shoot all the goings on surrounding me long before the first Wheelchair racers came whooshing by. This event brings out fans, young, and old, to root on those pushing through 26.2 miles no matter if the run it fast or slow!
I called it quits just before 1 P.M. as the rain started to pour down in Newton Center, still thankful I chose to show up, camera in hand, and a passion for sports photography in my Heart.
My next trip to the area brought me to Fenway, America’s most beloved ballpark.
I joined the Phoenix multi sport recovery squad to Climb for a Cause, which helps fund Project Place Boston help those experiencing homelessness. We hiked the steps of the bleachers 5 times to also raise awareness that homelessness is far from a choice anyone would make willingly!
Having been close to being homeless in my past, it is a blessing to be able to help organizations like this to empower others, to learn to empower themselves.
Using my camera to capture this story helps me remember my own story, and that it’s far from over.
My next shoot took me back to Fenway for the Boston Red Sox, Hunt photo, Nikon, Sigma photo day.
Each year the Red Sox host local photographers who have tickets to that evening’s game, and allow them (us) to shoot around the ballpark. We broke up into groups and headed out to shoot the different aspects of a place we all love very much.
I tried to get as many perspectives of each area I was in, to really create shots we don’t usually see with our eye. These are a few of the images I was able to come up with.
I had never been in the Monstah seats, so that was quite an exciting moment for me as a fan, and as a photographer.
We are truly blessed to have this living piece of baseball history to watch games in, and to introduce to the next generation of fans to on such and intimate level.
The only place we didn’t get to shoot was in the Monstah which was a bit of a bummer, since it’s a place that houses so many cool things. Such as my grandfather’s signature, he played outfield for the Sox in the 50’s (Jimmy Piersall #37) Ted Williams said that nobody played the outfield like him. That’s quite a compliment form the greatest hitter of all time!
Being a photographer has helped me overcome my own mental illnesses, and get out into the world in a way that I can feel good, and create something worth sharing with the world as well.
I hope my view of the world is impactful in your life in a positive way.
I was blessed to shoot the grand re-opening of the Monadnock Peer Support center in Keene, NH.
They were looking for someone to shoot a couple events for them and it was an honor to donate my services to their great organization.
They help so many in the area with their Mental Health needs. Living with Bipolar makes it very important for me to hopefully help others battling mental illness, as well as the organizations that are there for them as well.
Life is a struggle, and we are stronger when we choose to find communities of support that create safe spaces for us to find answers, in our own time, in our own shoes.
Stay tuned next week for the follow up blog showcasing my high school sports work and a wonderful lantern festival.
~Alan
