Capturing the Decisive Moments of Golf Tournament Play

Capturing the Perfect Golf Shot

As an avid golf enthusiast and sports photographer, I always look forward to tournament season. There's nothing quite like the feeling of excitement and anticipation as players prepare for that perfect swing or critical putt. When I'm behind the lens at a golf tournament, my goal is to capture those decisive moments that tell the story of the competition.

The Right Gear for the Job

I've learned that having the right camera equipment is key to getting pro-level golf shots. For most tournaments, I use a mix of Sony mirrorless cameras like the a7R III and a9 which allow me to shoot rapid bursts of images to catch every nuance of the golf swing. The fast autofocus and tracking abilities of these cameras are perfect for a sport like golf where the action happens in an instant.

Lenses are also an important factor - I like using a 70-200mm for tighter shots of players' expressions and emotions, while a wider 24-70mm lens lets me capture the entire scenic hole. A bit of zoom gives me framing flexibility so I can get right in on the action no matter where I'm positioned around the course.

Scouting the Course

To maximize my chances of excellent golf shots, I always make sure to scout around the course on practice days before a tournament starts. This gives me a chance to analyze lighting at different times and plan out some key vantage points I can return to when the action is happening.

Certain holes on the course also lend themselves well to photography based on elevation, obstacles, and hole layout. I make note of spots that will give clean backgrounds for teeing off as well as greenside locations that allow me to capture emotions after sinked putts. Planning my positioning in advance takes some of the guesswork out of getting those perfect golf frames.

The Moment of Impact

No doubt my favorite golf photo to take is the swing itself at the precise moment of impact with the ball. Whether it's a powerful drive, delicate chip, or curling putt, freezing the instant the club connects is both challenging and exhilarating.

To nail this shot, I preset my shutter speed to at least 1/2000th and fire off 30+ continuous high burst images per swing. This helps account for timing variations and ensures I capture sweet spot impact. I'll review the sequence on the camera after and delete out any unusable shots before a player's next turn.

Emotions and Expressions

Golf frames capturing raw player emotions are also fantastic storytelling shots. I watch my subjects' body language carefully after shots to spot elation, frustration, nerves or relief. Zooming in tighter on faces and reactions lets viewers connect with the psychological side of competition.

Some of my favorite player emotion images come from the final green when a putt means taking home the trophy. I'll camp out greenside and use a longer lens to isolate in on faces after putts drop...or lip out. The agony and ecstasy of golf is on full display at these moments!

Post Production Refinement

After a tournament wraps, I set aside time to review my images and process my selects in Lightroom and Photoshop before delivery. This gives me a chance to color grade for vivid hues, adjust contrast and shadows, and perfect my shots before handing them off to players and publications.

For high action swinging shots, I'll often stack and blend my burst sequence together to pull different elements like optimal ball compression, perfect club blurring and ideal body posture into one hero image that captures golf at its best. A bit of photo editing magic takes my photography up a level.

Continually Improving My Golf Photography

I'm always looking to push my golf photography further and set the bar higher for myself in terms of creativity and quality. Over time, I've come to better anticipate timing and positioning needs based on player habits and trends. I'm also experimenting with some fast strobes and remote triggering to truly freeze the incredible speed of a golf swing.

Without a doubt, golf is one of my all-time favorite sports to photograph because of its visual dynamism, emotion, and split-second action. As long as ambitious players keep swinging for greatness, I'll be there with my camera waiting to capture the next legendary golf moment with peak imagery! I can't wait to see what this next tournament season will bring for my golf photography!

FAQs

What is the best camera for shooting golf tournaments?

I strongly recommend using mirrorless cameras like the Sony a7R III or a9 for golf photography. Their rapid burst shooting, fast autofocus and excellent tracking keep up with the action. Longer telephoto lenses in the 70-200mm or 100-400mm range also help capture detail from a distance.

What camera settings do you use to freeze golf swings?

Very fast shutter speeds are key! I use a minimum of 1/2000th shutter to fully freeze impact and club head motion. High ISO around 1600-3200 may be needed to achieve these speeds if light is lower. Burst drive shooting also captures subtle timing variations in high action swings.

How do you get good angles at golf tournaments?

Scouting the course on practice days is huge. I determine optimal spots for lighting, background and positioning so I know my angles in advance when competition starts. Shooting from elevated areas can also help isolate golfers from busy backgrounds to get clean imagery.

What types of golf photos do publications buy the most?

Eye-catching golf swings at the peak moment of impact always attract attention for magazines and websites. Emotional reactions are also very popular, especially expressions of agony or joy after crucial putts and shots late in tournaments with hardware on the line.