My roommate, Kerry, has created an online outlet for some of her pics until Beta Elephants in Oakland is up by Opening Day (or you all can tell me what a failure I am). Kerry is studying photojournalism at The Academy of Art University and has only owned a camera for about a year.

Go visit
http://www.eioimageskerryhaas.blogspot.com/

Her first camera came a few days before Spring Training last season. By the time we got to Phoenix last year I shuttered at the thought of hearing about anything that was remotely related to a camera. Pun intended.

Kerry's first attempt at photography came as sports photography which is a little like trying to learn how to ride a bike by jumping on it as it is rolling down a hill. The first step was to get her to stop focusing on the player's butts. It didn't take long. After a few minutes she was screaming at A's hitters to stop swinging at the first pitch.

She got some good shots at a Cubs game at Hohokam where Mark Mulder and Greg Maddux went head-to-head. Justin Duchscherer ended up giving a pinch-hit, solo shot to Scott McClain in relief (against a guy no A's pitcher could get out; he was 7-for-9 at one stretch with three doubles and three homeruns) and the game ended 1-0. Eric Byrnes smacked Maddux around (funny what happens when you look at a pitch or two), but also made a blunder on the base paths.

But, the best images she got all night were of Peter Gammons and trying desperately to get a shot of Bill King in the booth. But, Bill's just wasn't tall enough to get a good shot. But, we know the top of that head is Bill King. That's good enough.

Spring Training is good for moments like those. Triumphs, failures, almosts and futility. It's all part of learning.

Kerry will be photogging and phoblogging the entire season and you'll be surprised at some of the shots you can get, even in the cheap seats.