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Imagine That:

No boundaries, limitless space. You enter a tiny bubble and quickly rise above the ground with nothing to hold you down. You float into a cloud not knowing left or right, top or bottom, until suddenly you break out into a beautiful sunset against the Chicago skyline at 1,000 feet above the ground, staring at one of the world's most beautiful cities.

Collectors Series thrives by setting incredibly high standards, achieving superior results with a unique vision and quality images that have become our watermark on every print we produce.

We pride ourselves on our award-winning lithographs and custom creative ideas that set us apart from all the rest. Fortunately, some things never change.

Flying High
With Michael Gustafson of Collectors Series.

Michael Gustafson has been photographing ballparks and arenas from a helicopter since taking his signature shot of Wrigley Field during the first night game played there on August 8, 1988.  Since that game, the North Riverside, IL resident has captured 160 ballparks and arenas during his travels that have covered over 28,000 miles.  He has photographed nearly every baseball facility in the major leagues.

His most recent project was the Rebirth of a Legend: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI on Sept. 7, 2003. The stadium is the newly remodeled home to the Packers. See our Special Offers page for details on the Limited Edition lithograph associated with this project.

Quick Facts On Gustafson:

Aircraft frequently used for photo shoots:  Helicopters, Jet Rangers and Robinson R22s.
Height at which most photos are taken:  350 to 450 feet above the park or arena.
Cameras most frequently used: Nikon 35 millimeter and Hassleblad medium format.
Favorite ballparks photographed:  Wrigley Field, Camden Yards, Gator Bowl, Coors Field, Joe Robbie Stadium.
Most Difficult Shot: Beaver Stadium (Penn State). Forced to land on a highway en route to the photo shoot because of low cloud cover.  Continued on via a bus, boarded another helicopter in Happy Valley, PA, and got his photo.
Most Bizarre Shot/Angle:  Direct overhead shot of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Most Challenging Shot:  Shea Stadium. Dodging New York air traffic at nearby LaGuardia Airport.
Near Miss:  Waiting at BWI Airport to take the opening game at Camden Yards.  President Bush was in attendance, but left in the 9th inning, allowing Gustafson to get his shot.
Favorite Backdrop for Photo:  Cleveland, OH, when photographing the first Browns game played at the Cleveland Browns Stadium in 1999.


 

 

 
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