Need Advice - Shooting a Golf Tournament

[ukcatfan]

I volunteered at work to take pictures at our annual United Way golf tournament this weekend. It runs from 7AM until about 1PM.

While I have played golf many times, I have never taken any pictures of it. Aside from the obvious advice like watch out, be quiet, wear sunblock, etc. does anyone have any advice on shooting a golf tournament? I will have my K100D, 18-55mm, 50mm, and 80-210mm. I am also going to bring along the S2 IS for any quick need of tele so I do not have to switch lenses too often.

There will only be two of us taking shots, so I believe that we should go in with a game plan. We also have a goal to try to get a shot of every group. The one hard part about that is that there is a shotgun start. I am thinking about one of us hanging out the entire time at the #1 tee which also happens to be right by the #18 green to get the group shots. The #1 tee faces south, so I should be able to keep the sun out of everyone's face and get the hole as the background for every group even though it will span over five hours.

Thanks in advance,

Kevin

 

[dburg30]

Just dont click til they make contact with the ball . That's the biggie.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Please take this as completely unprofessional advice (as I neither play golf, nor have ever shot a tournament), but any time I've ever seen golf photography in magazines, the most striking images always seem to be the ones taken across the green with the hole/flag in the "middle" so you can see the golfer and the trajectory of the ball and what they're aiming at.

You could probably play around with the DOF, some, getting sharp golfers and blurred flags/blurred audience.

Also, IMO, golfers tend to look more "natural" at the start or end of a swing rather than in the middle (where the impact of club and ball would make a pretty cool pic).

It also looks great when someone's getting out of a sand trap when you freeze the spray of sand....

 

[Golf4food]

Just dont click til they make contact with the ball . That's the biggie.

Unless they give you permission or you are far enough away with a strong enough lens that it doesn't matter.

For a scramble with a bunch of amateurs who probably are bad golfers anyway, I would think most would be willing to allow you to photograph them in their swings, etc. so you can get backswing, impact, follow through, etc. Just ask.

Playing with DOF is nice for shots from behind the golfer as they line up for a shot or just after impact where you can show their follow through and the direction the ball might be going with a blurrly background, or a blurry foreground and focused target. Same effect can be done on the green with putting, etc.

 

[Anewman]

I really think the most important thing here is trying to get a shot of every single player, I would hate to miss getting a shot of person that helped the cause in a big way.

Maybe each shooter scout and claim a spot and pretty much stick to it, and knowing that every golfer has to pass by makes things easier(but maybe boring). Find a spot at said where you can get tee shots from one hole and finishing shots on the other, and maybe group shots as they walk from one to another. Just dont set up between to par 3s cuz play might be a little to quik there.

As others mentioned sand traps make for good shots, I like the golfers head sticking out of trap looking right at the flag pole(also in frame). And golfers lining up putts are also gimmies cuz you know where they will be looking and can line up your shots with plenty of time, plus shutter noise is not that big a deal at that time.

 

[Geoff_M]

I agree that if it's important to get every player, stick to the same hole. Pick one that'll offer the best light over the course of the five hours. Move around the hole so the picture don't look "cookie cutter" from one pairing to the next.

As for shots, Darren Carroll is a free-lancer that specializes in golf: http://www.darrencarroll.com/galleries Check out some of his galleries for composition ideas.

 

[ukcatfan]

Thank you for the suggestions. I really like the sand trap and green ideas. The other guy does not know the layout of the course, so he may end up being the one to stay in one place. I found out today that we do get a cart to roam around on.

If I do the posed shots, I believe that I will use the 50mm to get a sharper shot at wider apertures. It is a large tee box, so there is plenty of room for me to get far enough from them to get everyone framed correctly. Standing four across, I plan to get the right and left people's faces as close to the thirds spots as possible. I am also thinking portrait orientation to fill the frame more. I might use a tripod to keep the spot I shoot from and the level consistent. Anyone see any holes in my plan or have a better idea?

Kevin

 

[orchjoe]

Play around with the shutter speed to show some motion in some of the shots. I would try both freezing shots and some with motion to mix it up.

I would also maybe try practicing so that when it comes down to the day you have an idea on the settings you want to use.

Also if your camera has a sports setting you could get some nice sets of shots. I also like to take pictures of people talking (with my 300mm lens) and not posing (try taking pictures with people laughing.. it will show the good time they are having).

 

[Josh125]

As mentioned, you might want to think about not shooting at the moment of impact. I've had mine taken at the moment a few times, and it's not pretty. I don't have one digitally to show you, but it is violent for lack of a better word, espcially with longer irons/woods and not something I would like to display.

One neat shot to try would be to stand behind and catch the golfer in his/her finish with the ball flight in the distance. Also, have the group stand together and get a picture. People usually golf with their buddies and who wouldn't want a professional pic with good friends.