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Velocity Unleashed

There are times when life throws a curve ball... That night in July 2024 was one of those times. 

There are many highs and lows in life. Even in the highs, there are lows. Even in the lows, there are highs. However, a totally unexpected high was sent my way that day.

That summer my husband and I took a trip to Ohio to visit his family and to shoot an IndyCar race at the Mid-Ohio track. Traveling back to his uncle's house that evening, my husband/photography partner and I discussed about how exhausting the weekend had been and what we wanted to do the next day. Originally, we planned to go home two days later but the more we talked about options of things to do on Monday before leaving, we realized nothing sounded better than simply being home.

Then, I happened to check my email and saw something that literally made my jaw drop. I had to look at it several times to believe it. 

It was an email that said Travis and I had been approved for press credentials for a Cleveland Guardians (formerly Cleveland Indians) game!

Baseball is Travis' love language (with IndyCar a close second). His favorite team, by far, is the Cleveland Guardians (Indians). From the time he picked up photography as a hobby, one of his absolute biggest dreams was to shoot a game at their home field. In the meantime, he moved to Florida, then Alabama. Visiting Ohio happened less and less and he rarely got to go to see a game live. Getting credentials to shoot one was so far out of reach it was barely a dream.

When I first started researching how to get credentials for an MLB game, all I found was that it's almost impossible to do. I would research for a few hours - then give up. Then I would decide to try again later - and again give up. This happened off and on for a couple of months.

Then my work paid off - and I was entered into the MLB credentialing system! That was amazing enough... and though I almost immediately requested credentials for the game that corresponded to when we would already be in Ohio, I really thought it would end there.

The game was the following night and as of just a few minutes before, we still hadn't heard anything. I assumed we hadn't gotten in. I even took the game off my calendar and archived my research notes.

It was a total shock when I saw the email that we were in. My cheeks literally hurt from smiling and Travis was physically stunned. 

This was a definite high. 

However, I never take anything at face value. I just about always assume the worst - and it was coming.

The approval email mentioned replying with questions if needed. So I did.

And then...

...I got a reply that called into question whether or not we would actually get in - at least the way I read it the first time. I know it seems dramatic, but I almost panicked. This was such a big dream and I was nervous that the disappointment would really affect him.

I replied with a carefully worded response - and held my breath while I waited for a reply. 

It was one of those good-news/bad-news replies. 

Yes, we were still in. In fact, we had press box access (which is what I like the best). However, all of the areas for field-level photography were filled. Travis wouldn't get to shoot the game after all. 

We were told that we could shoot at the concourse level, which is about 25 rows back and maybe 10-15 ft high from the field. That's still a lot more than fans get to do since we could bring our professional cameras there, but it's not what Travis had hoped for. But that night we were at at Progressive Field, looking out of the press box (4th floor - an amazing view), waiting for the fans to be let in and for the game to start.

Is this all we wanted out of this night? Nope. Are we still very glad we're here? H*ll, yeah. We get to see things that very few of even the most devoted fans get to see. We get to watch a game live without having to pay for tickets (though the parking expense almost made up for it). We get to say that we did it... got credentialed for an MLB game.

Sometimes it's all about perspective. 

Note... these photos are pf the Birmingham Barons. Travis and I were credentialed for that AAA team for a few years and got to shoot several games. This is one of Travis' favorite shots.

            (The first three images are by Travis Frontz; the others are by Tracy Riggs Frontz)


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The images above aren't available to order, but we have many other gallery images available as custom prints, fulfilled by a professional lab, at https://NovelPhotos.Instaproofs.com.

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