The Man Behind The Lens

 (Scotiabank Field Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - Every artist needs a muse and for Canadians team photographer Mark Steffens, that muse is baseball. What started as a hobby, one day simply became a job and for the last two years Mark has been the man behind all the captured action here at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium.
"I love baseball but I have a short attention span and I found it was easier to follow along if I kept tabs with the camera."
For as long as Mark can remember, photography has been a passion of his but quickly adds that baseball is where all the action is.
"I work really hard at it, it's a passion and a craft."  
When asked what his favorite kind of shot is, he replied "Anything from behind home plate or third base." Mark says his focus this year has been toward pitchers, specifically when they kick, fire and release the ball. He says he likes to be able to pin point what type of pitch has been thrown by capturing how the fingers of the pitcher are when the ball is finally released. "It takes a lot of predicting to get the right shot, but I love the rhythm of baseball for that reason."
Every photgrapher has his or her "favourite" and out of all the photos Mark has taken in his time with the C's, the question had to be asked which photo has he been the most proud of.
"The photo itself wasn't the best image but it was Chuck Ghysels from 2013 shortly after the Canadians locked down a victory. The moment that was captured is actually the par tthat I'm most proud of, it had so much energy."
The picture was later featured on the cover of the Canadians Program Book the following season. Closer Chuck Ghysels was known to beat his chest in a tarzan like fashion after striking out a batter and completing a game for a win.
Mark's favorite moment here at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium was in the summer of 2012 when the team made it to the Northwest League Championship for a second straight season. Steffens was asked by former Canadians photographer Miles Clark to help shoot the victory celebration.
"I was a kid in a candy store!" Mark remembers taking pictures on the field after the win and then being invited into the clubhouse for the postgame celebration. "It was so much fun to be a part of a professional celebration and to hear the skipper and coaches give victory speeches." During that particular celebration, Mark says that former Toronto Blue Jay and current Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar was there to speak to the team and it's a moment he'll cherish forever." It's exciting to get to spend time with people who I really admire."
All the photos you see on www.canadiansbaseball.com can be accredited to Mark and although his main passion is shooting baseball, the range of his talent and creativity are vast.
If you would like to view more of Mark's work you can visit fotoguy.org to see just how talented the man behind the lens really is.   
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