NCAA Baseball: Central Washington at CSUEBFebruary 04, 2013; Hayward, California, USA; Eren Miravalles (5). The Cal State East Bay Pioneers defeated the Central Washington Wildcats 5-2 at Pioneer Field. Recently, Robert Hanashiro put together Make The Big Time Where You Are (a phrase he borrowed from the great Rod Mar)- highlighting his work from the College of the Canyons.

I am so lucky that in my effort to make the "big time" I live in region where that allows me to cover the "big leagues" like the San Francisco Giants. At the Giants vs Angels game the other day, I got this photo of Luis Arraez (1) sliding to third base. (One of many opportunities to get sliding photos during the game)
MLB: Los Angeles Angels at San Francisco GiantsJul 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez (1) slides safely to third base against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
I liked the way his legs went perpendicular and I thought it might make portfolio, but as I debated is it stronger than this, I decided it’s not. It might look “cooler” because it’s MLB instead of college, but something about the East Bay photo I still like better. Maybe it's capturing a bit of the face that makes it it feel somewhat mysterious and yet revealing. Maybe it's that the helmet is shinier so the sky reflects a bit. Maybe it's the hand on top of the base that gives a little more context to the slide. Maybe it's the minimalism of PIONEERS and EB on the helmet not the airwallex patch. Maybe it's that the background is the grass and a natural vignette (I love a vignette!) instead of the bradning of BANK OF which is decent bokeh and minimalist. Maybe it's that I frame it slightly off center in appealing to my sentimient of "Give Them Somewhere to Go/Look" as though seems to give space for the slide to continue beyond the base. Maybe it's just my own sentiment and the Giants one is actually a better image after all! But in spirit of Making the Big Time Where You Are, I’ll keep the East Bay on it in my portfolio, for now.

Though I am inspired to look back through the archives for perhaps something better, where’s the eyes are visible. Or perhaps the best is yet to come!

MLB: Toronto Blue Jays at Oakland AthleticsMay 9, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics second baseman Jemile Weeks (19) steals third base against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE
As I close out the chapter with Cal, I look forward to the handful of "big time" (Signing Up for All of the 49ers Home Games This Season) but I also look forward to more of covering my Big Time kids!

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It's easy to say "make the big time where you are" when my regional market is the San Francisco bay area with MULTIPLE major league teams to cover.

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What's your big time?