Alright, so I figured it was about time I tried my hand at a golf photoshoot. Been meaning to do one for a while, just to see what I could capture, you know? It’s one of those things that looks easy until you actually try it.
Getting Started: The Plan (Sort Of)
First off, I needed a location. I didn’t want to just barge onto a fancy private course, so I started looking around for some more accessible spots. I remembered a local club that’s usually pretty quiet on weekday mornings. That seemed like a good bet. My main goal was just to get some nice, clean shots, maybe play with the early morning light.
Then, I thought about what I’d actually need. My usual camera, of course. I decided to pack a couple of different lenses:
- A wider lens for some landscape-y shots of the course itself.
- And a prime lens, something good for getting a bit closer, maybe for details on the clubs or the ball.
I wasn’t planning on using a model or anything, just me and the environment. Sometimes keeping it simple is the best way to learn, I find. I just wanted to practice composing shots and dealing with whatever light I got.
On the Day: Making it Happen
So, I dragged myself out of bed pretty early. You always hear that golden hour is the best, right? So, I aimed to get there just as the sun was coming up. Packed the car, double-checked I had my batteries charged – made that mistake before, not fun.
When I arrived, the course was beautiful. Really quiet, dew still on the grass, and that soft, hazy morning light. Perfect. I spent a bit of time just walking around, looking for interesting angles. I didn’t want to get in the way of any actual golfers, so I stuck to some of the less-used areas initially.
I started by trying to capture the sweep of the fairways, the trees in the background. Then I moved on to some closer stuff. I set up a few balls, my old set of clubs, and tried different compositions. Squatting down, lying on the grass – you know, the usual photographer stuff that probably looks a bit odd to anyone watching.
Challenges and Little Adjustments
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. The light changes so fast in the morning. One minute it’s perfect, the next the sun is peeking over a tree and creating harsh shadows where you don’t want them. So, I found myself moving around a lot, changing my angles, trying to work with it rather than fight it.
And then there were the sprinklers! Came on unexpectedly in one section I was eyeing. Had to quickly grab my gear and move. A good reminder to always be aware of your surroundings, I guess.
Wrapping Up and What I Got From It
After a couple of hours, I felt like I had a decent range of shots. I was starting to get a bit tired, and the light was becoming less interesting as the sun got higher. So, I called it a day.
Back home, I loaded the photos onto my computer. Some of them I was really pleased with! The early morning light definitely helped. Others, well, they’re good learning material. You see things on a bigger screen that you miss on the camera’s little display.
Overall, it was a really good practice session. I didn’t get any world-class, magazine-cover shots, but that wasn’t the point. The point was to get out there, try some things, and just enjoy the process. And I definitely did that. It’s always good to step out of your comfort zone and just shoot something different.
