SoE: Tom SeaverOct 17, 2013; Calistoga, CA, USA; Tom Seaver. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports One of my favorite things about photography is that it puts me in situations I would never otherwise have the boldness to place myself and meeting strangers who let me into their lives if just for a moment. Though this was photographed in October the story just now comes out in December.

SoE: Tom SeaverOct 17, 2013; Calistoga, CA, USA; Tom Seaver. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports I got an email to connect with writer Pat Jordan to photograph a story he was doing on Tom Seaver. This would be through one of the Gannett properties "Sports on Earth" outside my normal scope of action or portrait and more of a feature editorial.

SoE: Tom SeaverOct 17, 2013; Calistoga, CA, USA; Tom Seaver. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports All the communication with Pat was done over the phone, even to instructions on Seaver's house. Instead of giving me an address, it was more like "go yonder pass the caution sign"... as the article tells, me and my Prius met them for breakfast and the rest is really worth a read: http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/64585192/

SoE: Tom SeaverOct 17, 2013; Calistoga, CA, USA; Tom Seaver. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports I love that I'm mentioned "She was in her 20s, tall, slim, blonde" haha. I suppose it's not completely objective, though I am indeed in my 20s, taller and more slender than the national average for woman, and my hair is blonde, the connotation certainly compliments!

SoE: Tom SeaverOct 17, 2013; Calistoga, CA, USA; Tom Seaver. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports I didn't really grow up with baseball as a kid, went to a game but never followed it. So at risk of wrath form Seaver/baseball fans and whether I'm "deserving" to document such legendary characters, I must admit I had to do a little wikipedia search on Tom Seaver. In a way, I think it's more humanizing. I did my homework so I walk in with the knowledge that Seaver is this legendary Hall of Fame pitcher, but without having followed his entire career and life, I meet him as a man who has a room full of memories, land full of grapes, yard full of dogs, spirit full humor, who is just as excited to share the photo of his wife and daughter at his 300th win as he is his knowledge of how to prune a successful vineyard. Though his struggle with the lyme disease was apparent in his repetition of stories in a way that was much more frustrating to him than it was obvious to us, he is living a seemingly happy life! It just happens to be a life that a broader audience is interested in because he will always be Tom Terrific, The Franchise, Seaver - and I'm fortunate enough to have this interaction and be given an opportunity to add photos to the story of his life!

SoE: Tom SeaverOct 17, 2013; Calistoga, CA, USA; Tom Seaver. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports