Need a play

"Alex Cora #13 of the Washington Nationals slides into second underneath Jose Reyes #7 of the New York Mets in a double play in the ninth inning at Nationals Park on September 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. The New York Mets won, 7-3."

I often find it amusing when people are jealous of my job - especially when photographing professional sports. They think my job is easy and that I have the best seat in the house.

While I cannot deny the latter, it's not easy. Of recent, a lot of the baseball games I've been shooting have been really lacking in the action department, as well as, images that tell the entire story in one or two images.

While to average reader, this means nothing. But as a photographer, you know you're really reaching for something great when the world seems to stop, go silent and all you can hear is camera shutters clicking when there is a play at second base - even more so when it's in the ninth inning.

The game the other night was nothing but pop-flys and plays at first. We really have to put ourselves in unique positions to get something great. I rarely move batting images or plays at second because they are so standard, but I had no choice against the Mets during the first game of the series.

That's the way it is some games.