Grassroots Sports Photography with Jean Fruth | On Deck

Before the contracts, before the money, there’s the pure love of a sport during a grassroots game. Photographing amateur games allows you to practice your techniques in ways that you might not be able to during a professional one. Join Sony Artisan Jean Fruth as she captures grassroots baseball in the Dominican Republic.

Watch the series, On Deck

More from Jean Fruth

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Jean's Equipment in This Video

0:00 Why Grassroots?
3:01 Planning & Gear
4:23 Storytelling & Angles
6:00 Grassroots Baseball Women
7:01 How to Approach Games
9:15 Portraits & Candids
11:22 Sharing
12:14 Pick Up Game
14:21 Enjoying your Time

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[BandH]

Tell us the grassroots sport you want to photograph ⚾🏈🏒

[AnandaGarden]

There's tremendous value here for beginners, and enjoyment for long-timers as well. I shot grassroots sports from 1970 to 1976. It was a wonderful way to learn to take pictures of people, where they welcome you and where they are natural and happy. It led to a staff photographer's job at Runner's World. I also shot swimming, soccer, gymnastics, and bicycling. The lessons have served me well as a generalist photographer, still active at 82 shooting in school classrooms, events, wherever inspiration occurs.

[MikeAllen-vhcl]

Thanks Jean for sharing your experience and your motivation. This series has been a wonderful reminder to me to slow down, take a deep breath and enjoy whatever game you're shooting. In those moments you will capture some great photos. My current favorite sport to shoot is soccer. I have shot from the youngest (u5) up through Division 1. Capturing the action is always fun and it happens at all levels. I also try to capture the emotion as much as I can. During pre-game when they are looser and having a little fun is always a rich opportunity and I can catch some great laughs or smiles. As you have said, learn the game and you will know where to be to get the shots and that has been a big help for me. The players also have tendencies that you can learn and leverage if you shoot them multiple times. I also feel lucky because I have met so many wonderful photographers along the way happy to share their ideas and experience as well.

[enriqueacosta]

Baseball. For the love of the game. My boys have been playing for so many years and now I take more picture because of the inspiration you give me. I would love to take some of my pictures taking to a higher level. I keep watching and learning from you Jean. Thank you and B&H for this great series.

[savedbygracenh-susan]

Thank you for sharing. I shoot AA minor league baseball and this series has given me insight into so many of our Dominican players who attended the academy on the island in their teens. Some of whom have family that have never seen them play in the USA. Their life is baseball. Their personalities are exactly as you described, loving the camera, making peace signs, and loving the game. They play the game because they simply love to play…and they stand in contrast to some young American players who are seeking their dream of the MLB. Not that they don’t love the game as well, but the Dominicans love for the game is on a whole other level. I also found a passion shooting youth sports in the off season at no charge - a way to give back to the community. I love to capture the emotion of the game as well as the action and your teaching has encouraged me to plan and to consider the whole story surrounding the game. If you are ever in New England and want to shoot AA baseball let me know 😉. Thank you again.

[timothybrown]

MYself, my son and now my grandson are shooting kids Lacrosse. i shared this with my grandson who is 15 and is loving doing images for his friends and the school IG page. thank You for such a great series. enjoy every episode you do. not only are you a great sports photographer but you are also a great teacher of photography/

[stephenourada]

Enjoying the series. I have been shooting ski racing. Senior games with 50-80 year olds. High schoolers with aspirations to race on a D1 team. Kids in the ski club, some so young they have to follow their parents through the gates to stay on course. The common thread is they all have a gleam in their eye and a smile on their face. So do I watching the pure joy they get racing down the slopes.

[cramirez]

Hi there from Chile 🇨🇱. Thanks for sharing your experience. Down here I shoot basketball for my kids and their teams. And yes, all the kids love to be photographed and feel like a professional player. That makes me happy!! 😊

[jhphotos]

Such a great series! Thank you Jean, thank you B&H. I’m shooting kids’ lacrosse. It’s the sport my kiddos have chosen, and I’m learning more about it each season. I’d never seen it as a kid growing up in Kentucky in the ‘70s and ‘80’s. The youth love of the sport is still pure. Praying it stays that way for a while longer!

[k]

The show clearly shows your passion for grassroots baseball. Beautiful images especially when you are chasing the light. Well done.

[marioortiz]

I love taking pictures of my 10 year old grandson playing baseball. I had never taken outdoor baseball pictures. I have spent most of my time taking pictures of my son playing wheelchair rugby. He plays on a local team and we travel once a month through out the United States. Last ear, we got to travel to Switzerland for a tournament.

[theresamete]

Great video of Grassroots keep sending more we love it 😊

[suzytamimi]

So informative, thanks for all the details, makes me appreciate sports photography that much more. Well done!❤🙌🏽

[JohnPatota]

The best video I’ve seen in a long while. It puts into words what draws us into a good photo essay. I’ve learned so much! Thank you. Btw- my grassroots sport is amateur golf.

[alanbloodgood]

Thanks for sharing. Your videos are so helpful. I shoot ultimate frisbee in the DC area for both the men’s and the women’s teams in the area. It is a growing sport.

[kore]

Do you ever bring a portable printer to share the pictures on the spot?