Hi Everyone

Just had a good couple of days photographing the Deer Park Masters annual PGA golf tournament in Livingston.  I really enjoyed it, although the weather did present us with some challenges, however for the professional sports photographer in Scotland, this can also provide you with some unique photography opportunities, the lone golfer picture attached demonstrates how bad the weather was at some point and play was abandoned not long after this point due to thunder and lightning.  However we had play for most of the 2 days and as a freelance event photographer operating in Edinburgh and around Scotland, I can now add golf to the list of sports that I enjoy photographing.  Here are the challenging aspects of photographing golf listed below:

1. Although a fantastic sport, it can be difficult to make it look interesting in photos, as the participants are not running or moving fast, so you have to keep thinking how to get creative.

2. It is difficult to get the ball in all shots and you shouldn't worry if you don't for every shot, it's good to include it if you can, so fast speeds when you can and take more shots of pitching and putting when it is easier to capture the ball.

3. As with all sports, positioning is the key, so get in the right place and keep moving if you are permitted.

4. The main thing when you are close to the players is shutter sound, so put it on silent if possible, and if you are close do not click the shutter until the ball has been hit, otherwise you could seriously end up in the bad books of the players.

5. Weather can be an issue for golf photographers, with little shelter available.  Trees are good, but not this week when we had some serious thunder storms.

The above just added to the challenge and it is a sport I love to photograph.  I even managed some sport infrared photos as part of my infrared photography in Scotland project.

Anyway, until next time

Kind Regards

Colin

www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk

www.edinburghphotographer.com