I’m John Cascella, a sports photographer based in Phoenix. My work focuses on the moments within sport that capture emotion, intensity, and the split-second stories that define the game. I graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A. in Sports Journalism and a B.S. in Sociology. These two fields that deeply shape how I see and frame my images. Sociology pushed me to look beyond the action itself and understand the people, environments, and cultural dynamics. That curiosity led me to study abroad in Rwanda and now spend months living in the Dominican Republic.

My love for photography started with baseball cards. Growing up, my dad and I traveled to all 30 MLB stadiums, arriving early to catch pregame and hopefully a few ‘graphs.’ I didn’t realize it then, but staring with cards and later 8×10 photos, I came to understand basic composition before I knew what to call it. The Rule of Thirds, dramatic angles, the energy of a moment frozen in time… those early images shaped how I shoot today. What keeps me going in photography is the chase for the fleeting moment that tells a story.

As I’m writing this, I’m in the Zona Colonial of the Dominican Republic, volunteering at the hostel I’m staying at. During my time here, I’ve had the opportunity to photograph LIDOM games, MLB winter camps, and create social media content for Gato Colonial. With two months left, I plan to attend more LIDOM games and reconnect with players I’ve met to create deeper photo stories.

I want my work to reflect the things that drew me into photography in the first place: authenticity, connection, and the beauty found in all.