So I finally uploaded all of my ballpark images onto the site for all thirty major league teams. This completes all thirty teams. There are still a couple of newer ballparks I have not hit (Target Field and Globe Life Field), and there are a few parks that my images are scarce and/or dated, but for better or worse, I have completed my collection of MLB ballparks in the 21st century on the website. Again, thanks to Jerry Reuss for allowing me to post some of his work from the 1980s and 1990s, the previous generation of ballparks that are also highlighted for each team on the site. That era, an era of cookie cutter and aging ‘jewel boxes’ were the parks I remember as a kid; parks that still stood before I started snapping rolls of film and endless digital images with my canon series cameras. In my first post, I discussed some of the types of shots I take when I go to a game. In this post I will discuss 5) concessions; 6) interiors; 7) baselines; and 8) outfield walls.

So why capture some of these more obscure intricacies of the modern MLB ballpark? For one, they are different at each ballpark. Concessions sometimes reflect the culture and cuisine of the area or city. Yes, everywhere you can get a hotdog and popcorn. But highlighting Boog’s BBQ in Baltimore, cuban cuisine in Miami, or garlic fries on the west coast makes each ballpark feel like its own. I try to record a few shots at each ballpark to display the food option diversity. Now, I will bump my ISO to around 3200 or 4000 for these shots, and will adjust my color temperature due to the lighting. I need to remember to return my camera settings or the ballfield gets too blue or blown out. Sometimes, a small bit of research beforehand will point me where I need to go for the shot. These opportunities, as well as the interiors, I look to photograph before the light is best on the field and most likely even before the game begins. For the concession shots, I try to highlight the restaurant/stand with customers and workers in a pleasing lineup, preferably in team colors or appropriate apparel. Some shots are better than others.

For additional interior shots in the ballpark confines, I look for defining features that distinguish a particular ballpark apart from its counterparts. At Yankee Stadium, the indoor section feels like past Yankee greats have built a giant hall of heroes that loom over spectators. At Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, limestone materials bring a local intimacy that invokes a ‘hometown’ ballclub. Brick and steel workings at Wrigley and Fenway are classic charms from a turn-of-the-century era of ballparks while an art-deco feel in Miami brings a Cuban/South Floridan twenty-first century twist.

In my first post, I described photographing certain angles that present ballpark images found on most calendars, post cards, and coffee table books. Additionally, baseline and corner shots can present angles that are visually pleasing to the baseball fan, albeit only displaying a segment of the stadium and not the full thing. Both first base and third base lines can be good and usually depend on where the sun is setting to determine which part is front lit. Corner shots usually have the foul pole in the foreground to give deep perspective and then gradually trail off to the diamond, press box and main seating.

Moreover, outfield corner shots can be taken from the foul pole at either an elevated or field level vantage point for different effect. At some places in some ballparks, you will only be able to capture one of these two alternatives. Good luck shooting this next ball season and pray for no lost games!