NLDS Game 1: Cardinals @ Dodgers

Posted on October 14, 2009

Skip Schumaker of the St. Louis Cardinals makes a defensive play against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 1 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

 

There is nothing like shooting postseason baseball, and last week I had the opportunity to photograph Game 1 of the National League Division Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium for Sports Illustrated. I was assigned to shoot with the great SI staffer Robert Beck. Robert is so much fun to work with and he would be shooting from a super cool spot inside first base that he just owns at Dodgers Stadium. It is an awesome spot that is very small, and he was lucky to be able to share it with our good friend David Benzer, who was operating the TV camera there for TBS.

Since Beck was going to be down on the field and there are not many on field photo positions at Dodger Stadium to fit everyone who needs one, I was assigned to shoot from an overhead position. I decided to shoot from the first base side on one of the risers they had set up on the concourse just past the bag at first base. From this position above the field I had a clean angle on all of the action on the field down below, as well as a good view of the Dodger Dog concession stand behind me.

Before I went upstairs to get ready to shoot the 6:37 pm first pitch I hung out on the field to shoot some batting practice in the pretty light. Shooting BP during the postseason is much more difficult than regular season as there is so much more media hanging around and getting in the way, but I was able to get a few pictures I liked of some of the big names on both teams.

I love shooting overhead! Once the game got going I was excited at the blank canvass below me, just waiting for all kinds of action to happen in front of my camera. The Cardinals started out loading the bases with nobody out in the top of the 1st inning. I was ready for plays at the plate, great action on the bases, all kinds of cool stuff! What I ended up with was not much as the teams combined to set a post season record by leaving 30 runners on base in a game that lasted almost 4 hours. The Dodgers ended up winning 5-3 in a game that had no action. The game seemed like it would never end.

The great thing about baseball is there is usually a game the next day to shoot, meaning you get to come right back and try again and hope there is some action. I was happy that I had the chance to shoot the Red Sox and Angels play in Game 1 of the ALDS down the road in Anaheim the next night. You can’t beat fun at the ol’ ballpark!