As I am a commercial photographer in Arizona, I often get the call to photograph baseball players during spring training. This work is unique and different from any other mid-season sports photo shoot -- including baseball. They are the kind that I cherish because of the calmness on set.
An original portrait of baseball legend Shoeless Joe Jackson that was taken around the time of the 1919 "Black Sox" World Series has emerged. One of the few pieces of memorabilia left from the 1919 season, the portrait is currently valued at $17,000.
Being a photographer for a professional sports team is a dream for most, but it does not come without challenges. With an owner-imposed lockout ending well after 2022 Spring Training was set to begin, Andy Kuno was faced with a condensed and chaotic Spring Training to prepare for the most important day of his season: Major League Baseball’s famed Opening Day.