How to combat midday/noon harsh lighting?

[hockeyplaya13]

I know (well at least I've heard) that midday/noontime is the worst time to shoot photographs outdoors because the sun is directly overhead and that causes really harsh shadows. Everything I've read says that it's better to shoot in the evening because the light is much softer. I work at a golf course and there was a tournament going on today and they pro's were out taking pictures of the members playing, but it was around 12-1:00. I starting thinking about it and I might start doing that at various courses as a way to make some extra $, but if the tournament is going on at noon, I have no choice as to what time to shoot. All that said, my question is what can you do to produce pleasing photos? Fill flash? Reflectors? I can't really be all up in their face since golf is a very quiet, calm sport.

[CosmoKid]

i think you have to be as discrete as possible and that the harsh sun is something that comes with the territory when shooting golf.

no way you can use reflectors or fill flash.

[bigland]

I can only imagine if a PGA Tour player got a huge shot of flash in the face during a swing.

Bad stuff . . .

[IslandCrow]

I'm pretty much a beginner myself, but I like to shoot a lot of sports and outdoor events, so I know exactly where you're coming from. The first thing you can do is make sure you're using a lens hood. This is going to cut down on some of the light entering your lens at shallow angles and eliminate some lens flare. Also, a polarizer can help increase contrast, and since you have no shortage of light, the couple stops of light it costs you really aren't a big deal on those sunny days.

All that said, I still bring a flash with me most of the time. Although you definitely don't want a flash going off in some golfer's face as he's about to swing, it can be used for posed pictures, like during the awards ceremony.

[number six]

I can only imagine if a PGA Tour player got a huge shot of flash in the face during a swing.

Bad stuff . . .

I saw that on TV a few years ago. Tiger Woods was putting at the AT&T Pro-Am, as I recall, when a clown took a flash shot of him.

He was annoyed and said so. At some length.

[WaltA]

Couple of things I wanted to add.

The weather will have some effect as well. Mid-day sun is not that bad if its overcast.
Might give some great effects.

And now a comment/question : In theory, you should be able to improve the images somewhat in PP. If you underexposed somewhat (and shoot RAW) you couyld bring out the shadows back on the PC.

I was in Beijing in the Forbidden City and the light was very bad, snow, ice, harsh sun - yet I was able to salvage quite a bit in Photoshop.

[PhotosGuy]

Some of Gavin's high ISO shots should give you a clue:
A Cricketing Compendium... (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=510320)

ISO 2500 looks great, too!
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=611093

Gavin on setting the exposure: Q&A Session with Gmen: Sports Photography (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1624268&postcount=414)