As thousands gather in Arizona for Spring Training, baseball fans and art lovers alike will also have the opportunity to view the amazing photography works of one of baseball’s greatest players.
Beginning February 23, the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will showcase photographs taken by former professional baseball pitcher and longtime photographer Randy Johnson that will be on display throughout the Spring Training season. The exhibition, “Storytelling with Photographs,” will run through April 28 and showcase many of Johnson’s works that capture the scenes and wildlife of African Safaris and other environments that the athlete has encountered throughout his travels.
Known in the sports world as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, Johnson earned many accomplishments throughout his 22 seasons in Major League Baseball, including winning the World Series in 2001 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and later becoming a Hall of Fame pitcher.
While the all-star athlete led a career in baseball for two decades, sports wasn’t his only passion. Johnson is a longtime photographer and studied photojournalism from 1983 to 1985 at the University of Southern California where he had a full athletic baseball scholarship. Upon retiring from his baseball career in 2010, Johnson re-dedicated his time to photography and traveled the world, capturing everything from motorsports and major musical artists to majestic wild animals, such as the one displayed in his “Gentle Giant, Amboseli National Park, Kenya,” photograph that can be seen in the Scottsdale exhibit.
“Photography has taken me on an amazing journey, but it’s only just beginning,” Johnson said in a statement. “I look forward to visiting places I’ve never been, shooting things I’ve never seen and getting better each and every day.”
Johnson’s photography encapsulates the same intensity and dedication to his craft that can be seen throughout his baseball career. His works have been featured in multiple publications, including Rolling Stone, Spin and Metal Hammer, as well as in concert tour programs, posters, books and websites.
The “Storytelling with Photographs” exhibition featuring Johnson’s works will be located in the Center Space gallery inside the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts starting February 23 through April 28, 2024. Guests can join Johnson himself for a free opening reception event at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, February 23 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Click here to RSVP for this event and learn more about the exhibition.
