Safe at Home!

In today’s world of youth baseball, it’s not always easy getting shots of your grandson in action. High chainlink fences wrap around the playing fields wherever we go to watch him play. I surmised that there are practical reasons for that. They serve as barriers between the spectators and the playing field, where only the players, coaches, and umpires are permitted.

The fences are an impediment to photographers who want to get the best shot possible of their children or grandchildren. In this case, I photographed my grandson batting. I used manual focus to blur the mesh fencing. When he hit a sharp liner to center, the ball skipped by the diving outfielder and rolled all the way to the outfield fence.

Our grandson raced around the bases and slid headfirst into home. The powdery red dirt ubiquitous in Virginia went flying. He was safe by a whisker for an inside the park home run.

“Safe at Home!” is my Photo of the Week.

Author: Bruce Stambaugh

Writer, marketer, columnist, author, photographer, birder, walker, hiker, husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, township trustee, converted Anabaptist, community activist, my life is crammed with all things people and nature and wonder. My late father gave me this penchant for giving and getting the most out of life, my late mother the courtesy, kindness, and creativity to see the joy in life. They both taught me to cherish the people I am with. I try and fail and try again. View all posts by Bruce Stambaugh

8 thoughts on “Safe at Home!”

Jennifer Gonzalez says:

August 16, 2018 at 8:17 am

I shoot my daughter playing softball all the time. I just position myself close to the fence and shoot through it. Or sometimes I bring a ladder (depending on the field) and move out towards the outfield and shoot over the fence.

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1. Bruce Stambaugh says:
  
  August 16, 2018 at 8:57 am
  
  Wow, Jennifer, you are serious about getting pics. I do often move to where I can shoot over or through the fence, especially when Evan is playing in the field. I’m afraid neither my wife or my daughter would let me bring a ladder. They think I’m over the top with pics already. In this case, my long lens wouldn’t fit through the spacing in the wire fence. So I did the next best thing.
  Bruce
  
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  1. Jennifer Gonzalez says:
    
    August 16, 2018 at 8:58 am
    
    I think your photo is great! Sometimes adding the fence can work out nicely. I just try to get photos for the other parents and the coach. It is fun to try and capture an exciting moment (I usually miss them).
    
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melodiemillerdavis says:

August 16, 2018 at 8:23 am

How happy happy you must have been to get that photo!! Perhaps try submitting it to the DNR?? I don’t know if they use freelance photos or not but I love it plus your description of how hard it is to get a really nice (with a special moment for you as grandparents) shot. 🙂

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1. Bruce Stambaugh says:
  
  August 16, 2018 at 8:52 am
  
  Thanks, Melodie. I doubt they would use it since the pic is from earlier in the summer.
  Bruce
  
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ksbeth says:

August 16, 2018 at 8:29 am

wonderful! what a keepsake –

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Joanne Cuny says:

August 16, 2018 at 10:01 am

Amazing action shot Bruce…the fence actually adds to the appeal for me 🙂

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1. Bruce Stambaugh says:
  
  August 16, 2018 at 10:29 am
  
  Thanks, Joanne. I thought the same thing. The fence acts as a kind of frame for the action.
  Bruce
  
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