One of my favorite days of the year, is the day when Major League pitchers and catchers report to spring training.
Today is that day, for my favorite team, the Boston Red Sox https://www.mlb.com/redsox.
My favorite local team is the Hartford Yard Goats https://www.milb.com/hartford , which plays in the Eastern League. They are the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.
In 2017, I was asked to create 360 degree panorama photos of the the brand new Dunkin' Donuts Park. A view that I took behind home plate and from the third base line are below. Dunkin' Donuts Park is one of the most beautiful minor league parks, and has one of the highest attendance. The Goats drew 405,403 fans in their 2018 season, making them the first minor league team in Connecticut to draw more than 400,000 in a season.
I am looking forward to opening day, when all 30 Major league baseball teams will play on March 28, the earliest opening day in history, excluding international openers. The Red Sox home opener is April 9th. The Yard Goats home opener is April 11th.
Life is pretty dull in February without football or baseball. I'm ready for spring. Play ball!
Now that January is here and snow is in the forecast; I would like to brighten your day by sharing a few photos from my favorite season...summer.
Over the years I have had the privilege of photographing many custom designed swimming pools.
Here are a few outdoor designs:
and indoor designs:
These photo assignments remind me why I love this job. Stay warm, summer is just around the corner!
Now that the winter solstice will be here tomorrow; the day with the shortest amount of daylight, I'd like to look back on a photo assignment that I did in the middle of last June. This was one of the few days in Connecticut that I would describe as a perfect day, with just enough warm wind for the flag to fly.
Every once in while I get a photo assignment that makes me ask myself "am I really being paid to photograph this beautiful place, on a perfect day, without a cloud in the sky"? Harbor One Marina, on the ocean in Old Saybrook, Connecticut provides slips for beautiful yachts, has their own restaurant, a large picnic ground, and a gorgeous swimming pool for their members.
In addition to still photos, I also took 360 degree panoramas: https://goo.gl/maps/2LvqLRPmZyk for Google and Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/3cWm5CyXKHz.
Although it has been very gray and cold in Connecticut, and we have received about 16 more inches of rain than normal this year, I am looking forward to the daylight increasing a little bit each day, and to more perfect days. Only six more months to Summer!
Tim Becker
Creative Images Photography
901 Main St.
Manchester, CT 06040
tim@2cimages.com
I was 21 years old when I got my first look inside a manufacturing plant. This is where raw materials become useful products. I have been fascinated by the entire manufacturing process ever since that day. I always find great opportunities to produce amazing photos in factories.
Sometimes I am elevated in the bucket of a forklift truck to get an interesting angle. If I get really lucky, there is molten metal, a fiery furnace, or a welding process that produces sparks. The excitement of making really cool industrial photos never gets old.
I always bring along my own professional lighting to get the most out of each situation. From time to time I use a colorful gel over my light to help make the image pop. These are cast iron blanks that are eventually machined into hydraulic tappets for motors.
I was doing an Industrial location assignment when I saw strands of metal going into this furnace. I told the client "I'll be right back" and photographed this scene with a variety of lenses. I don't know if the client was ever able to use this photo, but it has been in my portfolio ever since!
I also really enjoy producing industrial product photos. I thought of the reamers above as amazing pieces of sculpture, and I got out my black Plexiglas background, to make the reflections. I am thankful that manufacturing is alive and well in Connecticut. I have my own hard hat, day-glo vest, safety glasses and steel-toed boots; and I can't wait until I get my next opportunity to photographing more sparks!
Tim Becker
Creative Images Photography
901 Main St.
Manchester, CT 06040
I am writing this blog post to keep in touch with the people that I have crossed paths with over the years, as a photographer, member of the Manchester Chamber, Manchester Lions Club, Manchester Town Government, or just by living in beautiful Manchester, CT. If you wish to be off the list, just use the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of this message. Otherwise, I will be occasionally sharing interesting photo assignments and events with you.
One of the reasons that I love my job as a commercial photographer is the fascinating businesses that I get to visit, and the amazing business owners that I get to meet; while on assignment to produce visual content for their on-line and print marketing campaigns.
In September I had the privilege to photograph a brand new Ford Dealership in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Marcotte Ford is a third generation family owned business, that has a showroom like no other that I have ever visited; because it includes their own restaurant: https://goo.gl/maps/MeRGW3sixFP2. The Lugnutz Cafe at Marcotte Ford offers omelettes, salads, burgers, sandwiches, and pizza, making their dealership a travel destination. What better way to wait for your car to be serviced, than to enjoy a nice meal. Through my marketing agency Instant 360, I did a 30 panorama Google virtual tour, that allows you to virtually "walk through" their front door by clinking on the Xs on your computer, or the white Vs on your smartphone: https://goo.gl/maps/jRTZGpouP552 .You can look in all directions by holding your mouse button down, and rotating the image, or by simply swiping the screen on a smartphone. As a Google Trusted Photographer, I get to visit many different and unusual businesses. If you have a business that will benefit from more visual content on Google and Google maps, let me hear from you!
Tim Becker
Creative Images Photography
901 Main St.
Manchester, CT 06040
860-528-7818
tim@2cimages.com
