Inside the art of photographing Padres games at Petco Park
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Claire's attempt at sports photography. Photo: Claire Trageser/Axios
Petco Park sure is pretty, but it can be challenging for the sports photographers who shoot games there.
The big picture: I got this insider knowledge from famous sports photographer Jean Fruth, who recently showed a group of reporters and photographers what it's like to capture Padres games with Sony cameras.
- "It's a fan-friendly ballpark," Fruth told Axios, "but for photographers, there are some challenges."
How it works: There is only one reserved space for photographers down the first-base line, so it can get crowded when there's a lot of media, she said.
- And you have to really pay attention there so you don't get hit by a foul ball.
- They also shoot from what they call "the basket," a section on the first base side on the upper level.
- Up there offers a different perspective, but you also have to shoot through netting, which Fruth gets around with a long lens.
Inside the stadium: When Fruth shows up to photograph a game, she's looking for stories, she said.
- She starts at batting practice with small details, like a glove, a bat, a ball, or a player's hand.
"Then, of course, the game begins, and we have game action and reaction," she said. "So game action, a home run, or a play at second. Now who's reacting? Maybe it's the player who created the action celebrating, maybe it's the opposing team, or maybe it's the fans."
Between the lines: Deep knowledge of the game is essential, Fruth said. The more you know the game, the more you will get the pictures you want.
- "If there's a man on second or third, and there's no out or one out, you're going to point at home plate," she said.
Flashback: Fruth started shooting sports when she took over coaching her son's little league team. Now she's shot in every major league stadium, but continues to document baseball at all levels.
- Fruth co-founded Grassroots Baseball, a nonprofit that promotes baseball around the world, including women's baseball.
- She published a book and directed and produced a documentary, "See Her Be Her," that showcases women's baseball.
- She's also a "Sony artisan," which means she shows off what their cameras can do.
I met Fruth at an event to show how Sony cameras are used inside Petco. Other experienced photographers were invited to try out Sony cameras and get a chance to shoot on the field.
- "Experienced photographer" definitely does not describe me, but I did my best, shooting action during batting practice.
By the numbers: There are also nine Sony cameras around Petco that capture the action during the game, according to spokesperson Mara Redican.
- That includes Sony's Hawk-Eye Technology, which Major League Baseball now uses to check umpire calls.
- It can also tell velocity, spin rate and spin direction of pitches, exit velocity, launch angle, bat speed, swing path, attack angle and contact point for hits, and speeds of runners and fielders, even down to catch probability.
But remember, even with all that technology, it's most important to love the game, Fruth said.
- "Because of the storytelling," she said. "The stories around the game and how deep the history runs."
