A mother's anger

[Jim Bryant]

Just received a phone call from an angry mother, who's son photo appeared in the July 17th issue of the Kitsap Sun. There he was four columns wide on the sports page missing a throw to home allowing the base runner to safely score. She told me he was embarrassed and devastated. I mentioned to her that since their team lost the championship 17-2 by committing six errors allowing so many runs to score, the game story of the game was the errors.

Still she lambasted me, saying I should have chosen another photo to run instead one of her son missing the ball, FInally I said, "You know, I had plenty to choose from, unfortunately, most of which were of her son's inability to catch the ball.

I told her she sounded like the one who's embarrassed, not her son, otherwise I would received a call from him or his father. Rule number one: Don't piss off the photographer. A picture is worth a thousand words

[leonaashlee]

What a story....I used to coach my sons little league team and the only problem I ever had was the parents...Great shot.

[Kieran2009]

Maybe she should have spent the time and energy practicing with her son. Great pic!

[bcummings88]

Perfect!!! To get the catcher's reaction but also the runner's intent. Great capture. Plus, using the right aperture setting for the background (i hope i sound right), doesn't take away from the photo at all, at least in my perspective. As for the mother...just backhand her!?!?

[oldwolf]

great capture jim.

funny story too. some parents should learn to relax. it's a game. it's not brain or heart surgery. you are right though, she seems to be more embarrassed.

[gturner]

The photo is excellent and surely captures the story of the game, but I also understand the feeling she has of trying to protect her son from the ridicule he would have received at school.

When reporting pro-sport, highlighting an error is the price pro-sportman pay for getting paid for playing the game. When reporting kids stories I think you need to be more sensitive to what the results of your photojounalism will be.

A photo like this can force an overly sensitive kid (with the desire but without the talent) to give up a game they love.

Use it, don't use it, just another view on a not so simple process

[Jim Bryant]

Good point you made. Unfortunately, sometimes the photos that best tell the story put kids in the limelight, whether it's good or bad. It's the agony of defeat and the thrill of victory, which makes good sports photography.

It's an unfortunately fact these days that most parents also play the game in their children. But, that's life....a photo just reports and captures good and not so good events. Sometimes, the truth hurts.

[Rian Malynn]

Great photo. I agree with everyone else, the mom has the issues. If I were the kid, no matter what, I'd think it was cool to be in the paper at all, heck none of the other team had their pic there and it takes more then one person to loose a game that bad. Plus their kids, it is supposed to be about fun. Poor kid, hope that kind of pressure doesn't do any damage to him. Regaurdless, great action shot, and if I hadn't read the story it just looks like the ball might have clocked him in the face.

[WooD]

Nice capture.

I was contacted by a coach once to shoot a championship game his son was playing in.

After I had all the shots up, he calls bitching about me not getting a picture of his kid getting a hit. I told him it was because his kid never got a hit. Never heard from him again.

[SusanH1970]

Great story, Jim! And of course, a great photo to go along with it. Thanks for the chuckle.