El Paso Strong: Chihuahuas photographer artfully captures beauty,… – La Vida Baseball
Jorge Salgado can usually be seen at Southwest University Park, where he serves as the El Paso Chihuahuas’ team photographer.
Southwest University Park is his happy place, and that love of baseball shines through the pictures he shoots for the San Diego Padres’ Class AAA affiliate. He’s bilingual like most of El Paso, and his language skills have made it easy for prospects to ask him about photography.
When he’s not at a Chihuahuas game, Salgado is a photographer for El Paso Inc. He showcased his versatility with news and feature images in the aftermath of the mass shooting that killed 22 at a Walmart in El Paso earlier this month.
Salgado spent the early part of his childhood in Chicago, where he became a fan of the Cubs before moving to El Paso. He still roots for the North Siders, especially Javier Baez.
He shared his story with La Vida Baseball, taking time to tell us about El Paso and the Chihuahuas.
Jose de Jesus Ortiz: How has baseball impacted your life?
Jorge Salgado: From a young age, baseball always kept me out of trouble. I’d love going to practice. I’d also just sit and watch baseball on TV. The Chicago area has two baseball teams, and it was always easy to find a game on TV. We also used to play baseball with our neighbors, and it would take up our whole day. As an adult, I interned for the old El Paso Diablos here, and that was my introduction into the sports world. The El Paso Chihuahuas have also given me a great opportunity as the team photographer and helped me build my career.
JO: How is Latino baseball different in El Paso than Chicago?
JS: Latino baseball differs from El Paso to Chicago in the sense that Chicago is such a bigger place, and being a huge baseball market. Chicago has more attention on it. Also, football always reigns supreme in Texas, as you can imagine. But El Paso has seen some talented prospects come out of it.
JO: What do you love most about being the El Paso Chihuahuas’ team photographer?
JS: I love the atmosphere and the people. I truly enjoy being around the staff and the fans every night. El Paso fans are into the game no matter what the score is. The staff is incredibly passionate and hard-working. They truly care about the community. They care about making it the best experience possible every night. I’m proud to work with them.
JO: In the aftermath of the mass shooting in El Paso, what is the mood at Chihuahuas games?
JS: The mood is still energetic. People are doing their best to get back to an everyday, normal routine. The energy at games will always be high. The fans love their baseball here and the passion will always bleed out of the stands. The team could be down 20-1 and the remaining fans would try their best to help ignite a rally.
JO: What would you like fans to know about El Paso?
JS: El Paso is such a beautifully unique place. The hospitality is constantly praised by everyone around the city. People are always willing to help you. I’ve met some of the nicest, most inviting people across the city, and it’s inspirational. The generosity of people never fails and everyone is friendly here. It’s probably one of the most misunderstood places in the U.S. El Paso has a lot to offer and is worth coming to see. You’ll make life-long friends instantly, like I did.
JO: How is El Paso different for minor leaguers compared to other towns that may not have such a Latino flavor?
JS: El Paso is different because of the hospitality I mentioned before. But it’s also different because a lot of the community is bilingual. Whether you only speak English or only Spanish, you’ll find a way to communicate and get around. Particularly, the Latino players may find more food or cultural options that appeal to them and really knock down the language barrier. Being able to talk to people when you’re on the road as much as they are is key. I think the players find a lot of comfort in that.
JO: Do players ask you to teach them how to take pictures?
JS: So far I’ve had two: Luis Urías and Austin Allen. Luis had been telling me he’d been looking at cameras for his vacation and traveling, so he asked me for advice on what camera to buy. Austin had told me his brother does some work on music videos and some other photography work and he also asked for similar advice. I’ve also had both pick up my cameras and shoot a few frames which is super fun too. Austin had fun with my camera at the Triple-A All-Star Game.
Featured Image: Jorge Salgado Instagram
Inset Images: Courtesy Jorge Salgado
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