photo by Samara Pearlstein
Not blue in a ‘look at these handsome blue high socks’ kind of way either. Wouldn’t that be nice, though? If all the Tigers were looking at photos like that and realized, hey, those kids have the right idea, that really looks sharp, I’m gonna wear my socks like that all season long… wouldn’t that be sweet? It would.
But that’s not what I mean. I mean REALLY BLUE.
Now, there is a fine history of ridiculous Spring Training Photo Day themes, which probably reached their peak with The Great Oakland Sunflower Seed Lulz of 2007. The Incredibly Blue Tigers Photos of 2011 are not a sudden departure from the solemnity of Spring Training Photo Day; they are simply another example of an already rich tradition.
They are also not the result of a photographer who doesn’t know what he’s doing. The gentleman responsible for the bulk of the Tigers’ Photo Day stuff this year was Getty Images shooter Nick Laham, who knows how to light a photo. He also shot the normal Photo Day poses which came out, you know… normal (to the extent that the thing currently inhabiting Daniel Schlereth’s face can be considered ‘normal’, anyways).
We are still left with the question WHY. I always thought that the portrait stations were supposed to generate stock-like images of the players that could then be used by the team (or whoever else had rights to use Getty or MLB photos) for a variety of different applications throughout the year. For instance, near the bottom of the Mothership right now there is a little image of Cabrera, Verlander, and Jackson. The shot of Miggy is from a 2009 Getty photog on Spring Training Photo Day (Nick Laham again, actually), Justin’s is from 2008 (also Laham), and Austin’s is from a 2010 MLB-licensed shooter. Stuff like this is what I imagined Photo Day was for.
But what purpose do the Blue Photos serve? For that matter, where in the world were those Sunflower Seeds shots ever used, or even last year’s photos with the giant Olde English D on the wall*– where were those used? What are they for? Have I totally misconstrued the point of Photo Day? Is there some SECRET PURPOSE involved, alongside the more easily-comprehended stock photo generation and head-scanning for video game modeling?
WHAT IS THE SECRET PURPOSE? I mean, does the team ask for these creative and, er, limited-application shots? Is it all up to the photographers? Is there a secret underground plot to turn Major League Baseball creative and artsy?? IF SO, WHY HAS NO ONE TOLD ME?
These are important mysteries to ponder, alongside the very serious question of what Miguel Cabrera’s absence from camp means in terms of Photo Day. He wasn’t AT Photo Day! Does he not get a Blue Photo? Turning Tigers blue requires a fair amount of equipment, and that’s a lot of set-up for just one cat at some unspecified future date.
I don’t know WHY the Tigers had to be blue this year, but if all the other starters had to turn blue, Miggy clearly has to be blue-gel’d too. This is what being a team is all about.
ETA: Oh ho! Now it comes out that the Phillies have been red gel’d, by the same photographer who blue gel’d the Tigers. What is happening here?
*Gregory Shamus for Getty Images was responsible for these.
Roar of the Tigers 
The Tigers are blue to symbolize their feelings on Cabrera not being here. ;_______;
I didn’t bother sifting through the other red phillies photos, but based on that one of Polly, it looks like he learned how to actually use the filter after doing a terrible job on all the tigers photos. I mean, at least you can see his face without putting sunglasses on.
They definitely seem less overwhelming. I think because the red light doesn’t overtake the unlit side of the face as much as the intense blue light did, like he changed up his angles after deciding he didn’t like what happened with the Tigs. The Tigers’ shots look like they were getting the colored light at only a slight angle, so it covers most of their faces. The Phillies seem to have gotten away with a lot more of this, where the un-gel’d side is both more distinct and facing more towards the camera than the red side.
Perhaps it’s an homage to Jeff Daniels’ “Life Long Tiger Fan Blues”. I imagine he’s adding a new verse about Miggy’s troubles as we speak.
But, really. What were they thinking?
That’s easy. The Phillies are evil, and, hence, are bathed in an evil red glow.
If I’m the Cleveland Browns organization, I’m not letting this guy anywhere near my Photo Day.
Oh, but he did some real nice work with Braylon when he was with the Browns.
answer: I used a photo or two with the old english D on the wall in the Tigers Annual because I got sick of all the photos looking identical.
Do not expect the smurfs to appear in Tigers Annual 2012.
So I can blame you and/or The Axis for everything? EXCELLENT.
Also: I C WAT U DID THAR
I didn’t rise to the top of The Axis by good looks alone, I have a few tricks!
Leyland does look rather Papa Smurfesque.
Oh dear, I fear this is related somehow to the ridiculous team-colored braided necklace nonsense from last season.
I think he’s doing something creatively with the team colors, bathing the tigers in blue and the phillies in red. But the question still remains why?