Just Got My First Professional Photo Credit

Last week I started a new feature on my blog where I spent more than a few evenings/mornings browsing through the stacks and piles of funny, intense and often critical photos taken by those who hit the photo pits of a MLB stadium every night/day.

These collected photos included those same groups of MLB players we all gaze upon every day either in person, or through our television screens. Some of the photos show human moments both in error and in surreal action before, during or after an MLB game. Some of the photos bordered on the comical while other showed visual evidence of something amazing happening in front of the telephoto lens.

On May 28^th I took my usual spot down in the photo pit in front of the stage for the Rays/Hess Express Saturday Night Concert Series. I was really excited to see punk skater girl Avril Lavigne mix it up that night, and wanted to get a few specials shots of her sporting her trademark green streaks in her hair, and her neon green motocross boots.

Photographers for the Rays/Hess Express Saturday Concert Series only get a 3-song chance of getting that special photo, or action that might some day grace a major magazine, or a local publication. I had no idea that night one of my photos would eventually have a special spot for eternity on the Web.

I always try and upload all my Rays concert photos to my Flickr Photostream so that a larger audience can see more of the photos that did not make the cut on the blog post. Usually I get the usual comments and suggestions, trying to hone my craft a little more with every shoot. Little did I know this one concert set would produce my first photo credit as an amateur photographer.

When I first got the email asking for me if I was the original photographer and asking for me to give my consent to Wikipedia to use one of my Avril Lavigne concert shots for Avril Lavigne’s Wikipedia page, I was floored. I had a blog post of a late September 2010 Rays concert featuring Adam Lambert included on his International website, but my photo did not get a credit.

Here was a huge Internet factoid machine asking little old Renegade for his approval to use one of my photos. How could I say no. More or less, how could I not go screaming out into the night with excitement. Originally the photo graced the “Goodbye Lullaby” segment of the web page, but has now been elevated to the main stats box located on the top right of the web page.

The three biggest things in my life are baseball, music and writing right now. Photography is a new toy in which I am learning on the fly. For this to happen truly took my breath away. It has changed me a bit in that maybe I will partake in a few photo classes, get more versed in this art form that can visually tell a story without words.

I take my photos nightly hoping someone finds something they like within them. I do not do it for money like those who submit their work to Getty Images or other syndicated services, I take these photos for the pure sake of bringing that image to life without muttering a single word.

I might be a bit over dramatic and over zealous at this moment because these kind of things have not happened in a long time. Recognition from outside the MLBlogs World have been few and far between, and sometimes a pat on the back can re-energize you to push beyond the next limit with gusto. Right now I could take on Goliath, and possible get a unique photo in the process.

This is my first photo credit. My first introduction into an arena I have only dipped my toes into before. I am not diving in headfirst, just going to wade in a bit and enjoy this small bit of chance luck and visual acceptance. All with the help of a special punk rock Princess jamming on her black and white lacquered Telecaster guitar with the green hair streaming .

You always remember your first………. This first might just last a lifetime.