Pro photographer's Instagram view of pro baseball (pictures)

With several decades of professional sports photography under his belt, Sports Illustrated freelancer Brad Mangin has captured monumental moments in various World Series, All-Star, and Super Bowl games. When Mangin started using his iPhone to capture off-moments, however, it gave him a new lease on an old game. In Mangin's upcoming book "Instant Baseball: The Baseball Instagrams of Brad Mangin" (available in late April), the seasoned Bay Area shooter looks back at the 2012 Major League Baseball season as seen through the funky filters of the Instagram iPhone app. The book takes the reader on a stylish journey from spring training through the World Series, but we've also thrown in a few choice shots from Mangin's Instagram account.

In an interview with Crave, Mangin recalls his humble beginnings with the photo app: "I started using Instagram at spring training in February 2012, when I was on assignment for Sports Illustrated in Arizona. I was simply having fun photographing everyday objects in and around the game of baseball, as well as some of the players. I loved the social-network aspect of Instagram. Sharing pictures in real time with my friends and followers was fun for me. Being able to show people what is happening, right now -- just like Twitter but with a nice photograph -- opened up an entire new world to me."

In this image, two fans look over the roster for an early-March spring training game between the Brewers and the Cubs in Mesa, Ariz.

Baseball fans might recognize this pregame picture featuring Mike Trout (left) and Mark Trumbo of the LA Angels. After a breakout season, the multitalented Trout easily captured the 2012 AL Rookie of the Year award and many other honors. Trumbo also impressed with solid batting that year and joined Trout in the All-Star game.

"I could not resist photographing these two great young Angels players getting ready for a game against the A's in Oakland last year," photographer Brad Mangin told Crave.

"Sure there were many pros who laughed at me and gave me a bad time [for using Instagram], but that slowed down when people started seeing my pictures -- and especially in July of 2012 when Sports Illustrated published 18 of them (including this picture) across six pages in the magazine."

Brad Mangin captured the conclusion of a perfect game -- one of the rarest moments in baseball. This image shows San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain throwing his final out of the perfect game that took place during a bout with the Houston Astros on June 13. "I found myself sitting in my season ticket box seats as a fan when Giants pitcher Matt Cain threw a perfect game," Mangin said. "I did the only thing I could -- I shot the final out in the 9th inning with my iPhone and made an Instagram out of it!"

When shooting Instagram pictures, Mangin often favors the Lo-Fi, Earlybird, and Hefe filters.

"After the Dominican Republic won the World Baseball Classic in San Francisco, I had all I needed with my real cameras, so it was time to chase down a medal that I could shoot with my iPhone," photographer Brad Mangin said. "Pitcher Octavio Dotel paused for an interview, allowing me to get this picture."

Below, in an interview with the National Press Photographers Association, Mangin talks more about his motivations for creating a baseball book filled with Instagram pictures. Mangin also occasionally uses the iPhone apps Dynamic Light, Snapseed, and Camera+ for his impromptu pictures.