I arrived at the field at 2:30pm. I met up with one of the New University Interns, Lee, who wanted to assist me and check out the 400mm lens that I rented. I picked up my credentials and headed over to the media workroom with Lee where we brought all my equipment. Below, Lee hangs out in the media workroom after helping me carry my equipment.

Today my equipment consisted of:

• Canon 1D Mark IIn
• Canon 5D
• Nikon D300
• Canon 400mm f/2.8
• Canon 15mm f/2.8
• Canon 50mm f/1.8
• Canon 17-40mm f/4
• Canon 70-200 f/2.8
• Nikon 70-200 f/2.8
• 2x Magic Arms
• Several Super Clamps
• 3 Pocketwizards
• Macbook pro
• portable hard drive
• card reader

I got set up in the workroom and then headed over to the field with my equipment. I was able to get Lee a temporary credential to get into the media workroom but we had to return it so he ended up not being able to assist me for the game.

The first game I was just trying to get shots of Stephan Strasburg for a site that the current New University sports editor has started, called The King of Swagger. The ballpark was packed and everybody was there to see Strasburg pitch. I started out shooting in the third-base photo well because Strasburg is a right-handed pitcher. More than half of the photo well was occupied by the ESPN television camera. There were also a ton of photographers there just to shoot Strasburg, like myself. Below, a photographer and the ESPN camera are on my right while I am pressed up against a wall with another photographer right behind me.

It was a tight squeeze but we made it work. Here are my shots of Strasburg:

I didn’t just limit myself to shooting Strasburg. I knew that I was going to need to get warmed up for shooting the whole weekend, so I made sure I got some practice in during this first game.

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 400mm, 400iso, 2.8, 1/1000th

This was the first time that I have shot baseball with a 400mm. I’ve also never shot a batter from behind. A combination of the two gives a very tight and powerful image, as you can see the force put forth by the Fresno batter.

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 400mm, 400iso, 2.8, 1/1000th

The two photos above were shot from behind home plate. Below, is a shot of where I was shooting from.

At about the 6th inning I had gotten enough shots of Strasburg and decided to head back to the media workroom to upload my images. I hung out there, edited my photos, and ate dinner as I waited to shoot the UCI game at 8pm.

Before going out to the field I saw Stacey, one of the UCI Communications people. I asked her if I could set up a remote camera and she said she would have to check with the NCAA people and ESPN. So for today remotes were out of the picture.

I started the UCI game in the first-base photo well, because our starting pitcher Daniel Bibona is a lefty. From there I usually get pretty good shots at first, second, and home. Below, UCI’s Jeff Cusick gets tagged out as he slides into second base.

Nikon D300, 70-200mm @ 200mm, 2000iso, 2.8, 1/640th

Sometimes I’ll shoot a whole game without ever going over to the first base photo well. But if I do go over, I’ll always have shots from both. Below, Casey Stevenson gets tagged out as he slides into third base.

Nikon D300, 70-200mm @ 200mm, 2000iso, 2.8, 1/640th

Below, UCI’s shortstop Ben Orloff throws across the infield to get the batter out at first.

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 400mm, 1600iso, 2.8, 1/800th

Below, UCI’s shortstop Ben Orloff throws across the infield to get the batter out at first.

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 400mm, 1600iso, 2.8, 1/800th

Below, starting pitcher Daniel Bibona winds up before throwing to the Fresno Bulldogs.

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 400mm, 1600iso, 2.8, 1/800th

Below, starting pitcher Daniel Bibona winds up before throwing to the Fresno Bulldogs.

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 400mm, 1600iso, 2.8, 1/800th

Below, Ben Orloff makes contact with a pitch from the Bulldogs.

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 400mm, 1600iso, 2.8, 1/800th

Below, Ronnie Shaeffer gets hit by a pitch. If you look close you can see the ball buried in between his chest and stomach.

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 400mm, 3200iso, 2.8, 1/1000th

The main reason why I rented the 15mm fisheye was to get a shot of the ballpark. I had rented the 15mm before, but had never used it on a full frame camera. Using it on a 5D, I was finally able to see it at its full potential. Below, Cicerone Field is packed on friday night for UCI vs Fresno State baseball game.

Canon 5D, 15mm, 400iso, 2.8, 1/60th