MLB Spring Training Troy Tulowitzki

Troy Tulowitzki is 27. I am 27.

The similarities stop there.

During the off season — my job does not have an off season (see, no more similarities) — Tulo was told by Todd Helton that the Rockies are now his team. That’s a lot of responsibility, but if anyone is qualified, it is Tulo.

Since breaking into the league as a rookie in 2007 and helping anchor the Rockies improbable run to the World Series, his star continues to rise. He is a two-time All-Star, Gold Glover and Silver Slugger. If he were a rapper, he would have plenty to be braggadocios about, but he is not rapper (though he likes Jay-Z, according to Wikipedia) — he is a young man on the verge of becoming a bonafide veteran captain like fellow No. 2, Derek Jeter.

For the past few years, his bat (.293 career average with an average of 30 homeruns per season) has spoken plenty. Now, Helton, and fellow veteran Jason Giambi, are encouraging forcing Tulo to let his words and actions join his immense skills as as a means to lead the identity-seeking Rockies.

At 27, I’ve only led myself to seconds, thirds and fourths at the Golden Corral buffet; at 27, Troy Tulowitzki is being asked to do slightly more than scoop banana pudding and fish sticks onto his platter.

If he wants to avoid my fate, he’s best served to take Helton’s advice and ignite this team. After all, this will be the Rockies 20th season and they are still seeking their first NL West division title. Banana pudding is good, but winning is infinitely more delicious.

Just ask Jeter.

To read more from Denver Post beat reporter Troy Renck: click here

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MLB Spring Training Colorado Rockies

Another day of MLB Spring Training 2012.

Ready to grab a bite to eat, so let us keep this brief.

Done.

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MLB Spring Training 2012, Scottsdale

Got a call Friday afternoon from my editor to fly to Phoenix for MLB Spring Training.

I love baseball, I love Phoenix in the winter, I love In and Out Burger.

No brainer, right?

Let me check my agenda, I said to my editor… nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, snack, nothing, nothing, daughter’s baptism this week… g.d. it!

So I thought for a couple seconds.

God owes owed me a solid for some pro bono work I did for him a while back.

See ya in hell, suckers.

P.S. My editor graciously arranged my travel to accommodate the Sunday dunking of child.

P.P.S. God still owes me a solid (and good light does not count).

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A Quick Shot of Billiards

On my way to a home and garden show assignment, I saw this guy and his pal shooting pool as the sun set downtown.

Stopped in, shot a couple frames and enjoyed the poolhall vibe before my immersion into the world of petunias and begonias.

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Stay Golden

DU’s Chris Udofia is nice.

Nice in terms of his game for sure, but genuinely nice in terms of being human.

The former gets your picture taken, the latter is what matters.

I wish I could qualify his presence with an anecdote befitting of Tim Tebow, but I cannot. Just take my word and the words of everyone I met in the gym who attested to his niceness.

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Just Because I Love Her

Taking a break from work-related postings to show a photo of me with my best girl in the whole world — Noa Magnolia.

God, I fucking love her.

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Slow Sunday

No more football, no more summer festivals, the Nuggets and Avs have been in short supply… so I drive around looking for stuff to shoot.

Took a while to get this. Not my best effort, but I was glad I found something before the sun went down.

Rookie mistake #322 when shooting last-second art: do not get your car in the frame.

F***.

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A Little Romney for the Ladies

Mitt Romney spoke to a crowd of supporters and a yawning teen.

I was there, too.

Here is an account as dictated by me via my mental notes:

Romney has nice hair.

Very strong jaw.

His pants were too high for my liking, but he looked comfortable.

Supporters of Romney cheered at the things he said.

He did not say much.

The speech was brief as were the underwear of choice in the gymnasium… based on a hunch.

Obama was fiercely disliked.

So much that the mere delivery of these three syllables — oh-baa-ma — were met with a 2,700 person scoff.

That’s a lot of hot air blowing at once, but the warmth was well received in favor of the frigid February air.

Romney is convinced he is Obama’s opponent. No mentions of other GOP hopefuls. Period.

The guy is confident.

The guy is charming.

The guy looks like he makes a hell of a stew.

But is he the next president of the United States?

Your guess as good as mine.

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A Quick Portrait Shoot With Missing Equipment

At my previous job, I shot a lot of portraits. Now, I shoot some, but not with great regularity.

Thus, I am often unprepared… more so than previously.

When shooting with a lighting setup requiring remotes, do not forget the remotes. Again I will repeat, do not forget the remotes.

I forgot the remotes.

Luckily, my strobes sync off of each other, so I had a couple lights.

Naturally, they did not sync.

Shoot… no pun intended, though they are ample in this instance.

One light, a big a soft box, a lot of balls, one custodian patiently waiting to clean the floor.

A few frames, a couple poses, etc.

I guess it works. Could be better. My mom will probably like it.

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An Ode To Chip Litherland

As I left a standard hockey portrait assignment at DU yesterday, I turned up University Boulevard and caught a glimpse of this moment. Immediately, I thought Chip Litherland. Though I am by no means a Litherlandesque shooter, I do admire his work a great deal.

Traffic was a nightmare and I could not make the frame from my car. Frantically, I sought parking. Naturally, there was none.

So… I parked illegally on top of an elderly couple and ran over to snap a couple frames. The girl only remained for a few minutes before her sister — the reason for her waiting — arrived and the frame was gone.

It all worked out in my favor. Made a decent frame and the elderly couple didn’t press charges. They understood my panicked rush job to make this frame. They must be Litherland fans, too.

Check out Chip Litherland’s work: www.chiplitherland.com/blog

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