Shooting golf--help/hints/etiquette

[joe20d]

so i am gonna take pictures of a golf team this fall, playing, not posed pictures.
i have never done it before, anyone have any tips, etc.

not really sure what to expect, i just dont want to get hit.

-joe

[liza]

Not much to it really. Play around with burst mode to get a nice series of the swing. Photograph some of the guys on the green sizing up a putt. Things like that.

[gmen]

Golf photography is all about following the correct etiquette.

If you're shooting competitive golf, the first thing to remember is NEVER shoot on a player's backswing...

Read this for some other useful tips:

http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/148

---- Gavin

[Croasdail]

I have only done golf a few times... and I will be honest with you... with the 20d you are really going to need to be carefull. It is a LOUD camera. You will need to be sufficient distance away that your whac-whac-whacing doesn't disturb. Look at investing in a 1.4TC for you zoom. Also, I have seen where at least one SI photographer uses a Point and Shoot camera for swing shots as it is silent - no shutter. My personal preference is for shots is either wide enough to see the beauty of course and size of crowd or tight enough to capture the emotion of the player. In between is hard. Also, get low, or high, but standing up shots just don't have impact. The setting, condition of the course, everything like that is critical to the story with golf. Do the greens look fast or slow. How deep is the rough. Are the traps aggresive. These are all things that only show up from the two extreme angles...... at least for me. I have jabbered along long enough.... post what you get... should be fun.

[allyv]

If your looking for photographs try www.gettyimages.com/sport (http://www.gettyimages.com/sport) the photographs will really inspire you, I know thay did for me. Don't click on the back swing or make sure thay can not hear you. and Enjoy it! :)

[BigG]

Golfs my game, I've worked in governing body and venue management all my life and there are some absolute golden rules.

You won't be allowed to take shots at a pro event, they will have press accreditation requirements. This might also apply to major college meetings so check in advance.

As everyone says don't take any shots during the backswing, in fact it's best that you don't take any during the swing at all. Believe me the player WILL look to blame someone if they hit a bad shot, and even if you start a burst in the follow through you risk getting the wrath of the player.

If you really want to get swing shots look to do it on the range before or after they play.

Be vary careful when standing directly to the right of the player when they stand over the ball (confusingly this is call behind the player in golf language) as this can catch their eye, unless you're a good distance back and better if you're in a crowd - single people stand out and the player will expect you to move....leading us back to point one about blame!!

Naturally you don't want to stand in the direction the ball is going to be hit as this will hurt......but also on or around the green be very careful about standing on a continuation of the line they are hitting beyond the hole for the same reasons as standing "behind"

Now the good news.

Golf is not that fast moving and so you can take a bit of time to scope out what will work.

For "action" shots stand ahead of the player and to the right of the line of play (if right handed, left if left handed). This will give you a good face shot at the end of the follow through.

Look for players focusing before a shot as you will get great head and shoulder shots.

On the green look for reaction to shots after the ball has just missed or gone in.

Play from bunker is great 'cos you've got a massive natural reflector to light under the face.

Personally I love the greenery of a course and you can look to take some great atmospheric shots of the course really early or late to set a scene.

Also look for players in the team interacting before or during play (if they go back out to watch a team mate). Often this gives nice shots that they could use for their publications.

And finally (I could go on and on) look at the fans/family/friend watching as this can also set a nice scene.

Other than that go for it and have some fun.

Hope this helps