I had the lens of the trusty Nikon pressed close to the fence near home plate and focused on the batter. As the radio
As the radio announcers used to say: “There’s the pitch, and there’s the swing.”
And there was a yellow blur as the softball flew off the bat and right into the lens of yonder camera.
It was a glancing blow, fortunately, but the combination of it, bad balance and the reflex of ducking sent me tumbling off the bucket I use as a seat at softball games.
Fortunately, there was no damage to the camera or to me, although anyone who saw me tumble off the bucket probably would have a hard time believing I used to be a bull-rider.
I often shoot pictures through the screen at baseball and softball games when the layout of the field prevents any better positions.
And if you get about 45 degrees from home plate, you can get some interesting angles for photos, such as the one of KayLyn Baker from Stroud that appears on Page 2C of this edition.
If you use a telephoto lens and put the lens hood against the screen, the chainlink disappears and it’s as if there is nothing between you and the action on the field.
Granted, if you choose that position, there is a chance someone will foul one your way.
But I figured: What are the real odds that a softball will hit the end of my camera?
And now I know. I started covering high school sports in 1978, so the odds are one in 43 years. Thus, I should be close to 111 years old before it happens to me again.
Driving home, I got to thinking about how people play the odds.
I’ve known that there was a risk in shooting photos through the fence a few feet from home plate, but I took the risk because I thought it was worth the risk to get better pictures.
I used to drive without a seatbelt, but eventually covered enough fatality wrecks that I decided it wasn’t worth that kind of risk. I’m a safe driver, but there are too many “hold my beer and watch this” kind of people on the road, so I click the seatbelt these days.
I knew there was a chance of cancer from dipping snuff, but I went ahead and did it for so long that all my jeans had a white circle on the left rear pocket.
Life is a continuing series of risk vs reward decisions.
No more snuff for me, no more driving without a seatbelt. No more bull riding.
But I think I’ll keep shooting through the screen.