Golf Photos (C&C Needed)

nsinnott · Apr 23, 2013

Trying to improve my photography skills in general, but really need direction on improving golf photography. Any comments would really be helpful (good, bad or find something else to shoot)! Thanks in advance.

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ronlane · Apr 23, 2013

To me #1, 3 and 5 are the best shots because you show action with the swing and the ball and then #4 follows closely behind them to me. #2 just doesn't do much for me after seeing the others.

amolitor · Apr 23, 2013

#1, #2, and #5 are fantastic, with #1 being a clear winner. You've got the ball in flight, you've got the spray of sand beautifully in the frame, and the golfer is leaning in to it all giving that string sense of right to left motion.

#2 is just a classic, and #5 has a good sense of action but without #1's monstrous compositional strength.

#3 is a good idea, but it wind up just feeling all off balance to me, and #4 would be nice if the frame gave the golfer a little more space to breathe, and didn't have the crummy looking building in the background.

Again, #1 is just a monster. Even the path/road in the background is working with you here. Well done.

gregtallica · Apr 23, 2013

I think they're all pretty good, #1 is awesome. I actually like #2, but I think you could possibly crop it a little tighter and maybe straighten it out. I understand the green may be slanted, but makes me feel like he's going to fall out of the frame.

Otherwise, they all look good. Maybe a lower aperture for a more shallow DOF. I'd like to see less of the background. What lens are you using?

Good shots!

KmH · Apr 23, 2013

nsinnott said:
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View attachment 42927

Getting the ball in the shots is a big plus. Well done.

He's heavily back lit in #2 and fill light would have helped a lot.

A quick and dirty edit:

imagemaker46 · Apr 23, 2013

Nothing wrong with any of these, frame 5 is the best one, it has all the elements of a really good golf picture. Nice colour, good separation from the background. Just a good solid set of images.

nsinnott · Apr 23, 2013

Thank you everyone. I am quickly learning the challenges of golf photography with the bright mid-day sun, heavy shade patterns, and everyone wears either glasses or a cap that shades their face even more.

Ron: I agree with you that #4 would benefit from having the ball in the frame. I'll ask my wife if its ok to get a D3x.....

Amolitor, Gregtellica & KmH: Thanks for your keen eyes on #2. After looking at photos all day, sometimes you glance over the simple fixes like getting the frame level. By the way I was using a 70-200 2.8, wide open.

Imagemaker46: Thanks, hope it warms up for you in Canada soon. (Thumbs up for the RCMP this week)

Thanks again, more photos to come....