Ken Griffey: From Baseball Icon to Photography Maestro

Ken Griffey Jr. is one of the greatest baseball players of all time.

Did you know he was also a talented photographer?

I didn’t until recently discovered his beautiful photos.

He captures the beauty of the game which I like much.

So I went the rabbit hole and investigated his interest in photography.

It began when he was a child.

He would often take his camera to the ballpark and take pictures of his teammates and coaches.

After retiring from baseball in 2010, he decided to continue photography on a more serious level.

He took classes and workshops to learn more about the craft.

As you can see, his style is super dynamic and he has this rare ability to capture the emotion of the game.

He often shoots from unique angles, like from behind the plate or from the dugout.

He also uses his knowledge of baseball to anticipate big moments and capture them on camera - which, I’d admit, is a massive advantage!

His book “Junior: Griffey on Griffey” is a collection of his photos from throughout his career, as well as from his travels around the world.

What makes Ken Griffey Jr.’s photography so special?

• Unique perspective He has a unique eye for baseball, thanks to his 22-year career in the major leagues.
• Natural talent He has a great perspective on composition and timing. Moreover, he’s able to capture the excitement of the game.
• Passion He is passionate about photography as much as you and I are. He loves the game and taking pictures of it. What else? :)

What can we learn from his photography?

If you’re inspired by Ken Griffey Jr.’s photography, here are a few things I’d recommend you do to improve your own craft:

• Develop your unique perspective Always look for things that other people might not see as you do.
• Practice regularly The more you shoot, the better you’ll get at it. It’s a universal law that applies to everything. Practice.
• Be passionate If you’re not excited about what you do, honestly - why bother? We can sense it in your photos.

And That’s It!

I hope you enjoyed the quick read.

The combination of sports knowledge and photographic skill that made Griffey so effective also applies across sports photography, like Jerome Brouillet’s gravity-defying Olympic surfing shot of Gabriel Medina, showing what’s possible when a photographer truly understands the sport they’re shooting.

Until next time, happy shooting!

Hakan.