Taking photos at the Open Championship

JoeWhitley

JoeWhitley

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Hi guys,

Just a quick one - I'm going to the Open Championship (arguably golf's most prestigious professional tournament) in Kent next week and I've got accreditation to use my camera.

It's not inside the ropes (that's reserved for Getty and the like) but I will have a good view of the players.

One thing I don't want to do is put them off by making noise with the camera during their swing. Is there any way to silence my Canon EOS 550D?

And also, does anyone have any tips on shooting live sport and/or some ideas that they think would look good?

Thanks everyone :)
Joe
 
I have a 550d and think the shutter is pretty noisy - it scares the cat sometimes.
It's an issue with most dSLR's though. One thing that you can do, is get a decent lens with USM and turn off the focus beep.
 
My fave angle has always been what I think of as the shanking angle. Ie, exactly where the ball would go if the player shanked it. Example
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52646046@N08/4847050666/in/set-72157624498469375

If you want to get shots of players mid swing my advice would be practice rounds (though obviously the crowds will be much smaller). Most players will be perfectly happy for you to take shots at any point during the swing, but ask them. Just had a peak at your flickr, see you've met Danny, he'll be amenable to it. His caddy (and best mate) Sam could be a useful way to say hi. Head down on the Sunday or Monday if possible, always a few players turn up early and you can just walk the fairways.

Fastest way to lose your accreditation will be to fire the shutter before impact during the tournament.

As for shots, Sandwich should give you some lovely shots in and around the dunes. Nothing like Birkdale, but enough for good images. It's right on the coast but you can't really see the sea. You're likely to get lots of opportunity to get players playing out of bunkers. Nobody does what Tiger did at St Andrews in 2000 and avoids all bunkers, at Sandwich you're going in a few whether your like it or not.


So, summary:
In practice rounds, just ask. Most players are friendly. When they say yes, go for it
In tournament, don't even think about pressing the shutter till the ball is in the air, unless you are so far away with a long enough lens that there is no chance they will hear.
 
I too will be at The Open (but I'm being paid to be there, so the masses can watch it on telly :D), and just to show how seriously they take not disturbing the players by the taking of photographs, everybody entering the course will go the through a security search, where unauthorised cameras and mobile phones will be confiscated until the spectator leaves.

Follow Squawk's advice. Don't press the button until the player's follow through. The problem with a long lens is you may well be a distance from player A, but you'll be near enough to player B to incur his wrath and have your accreditation withdrawn.

The withdrawing of accreditation isn't an idle threat either, they really mean it.
 
Good point Stratman. Easy way to fall foul of this is to shoot players from behind the green when the next tee is fairly close by. Been a while since I played Sandwich, but IIRC most of the green-tee walks are fairly substantial so that shouldn't be a huge issue.
 
Squawk said:
My fave angle has always been what I think of as the shanking angle. Ie, exactly where the ball would go if the player shanked it. Example
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52646046@N08/4847050666/in/set-72157624498469375
If you want to get shots of players mid swing my advice would be practice rounds (though obviously the crowds will be much smaller). Most players will be perfectly happy for you to take shots at any point during the swing, but ask them. Just had a peak at your flickr, see you've met Danny, he'll be amenable to it. His caddy (and best mate) Sam could be a useful way to say hi. Head down on the Sunday or Monday if possible, always a few players turn up early and you can just walk the fairways.
Fastest way to lose your accreditation will be to fire the shutter before impact during the tournament.

As for shots, Sandwich should give you some lovely shots in and around the dunes. Nothing like Birkdale, but enough for good images. It's right on the coast but you can't really see the sea. You're likely to get lots of opportunity to get players playing out of bunkers. Nobody does what Tiger did at St Andrews in 2000 and avoids all bunkers, at Sandwich you're going in a few whether your like it or not.


So, summary:
In practice rounds, just ask. Most players are friendly. When they say yes, go for it
In tournament, don't even think about pressing the shutter till the ball is in the air, unless you are so far away with a long enough lens that there is no chance they will hear.
Click to expand...

Thanks James, you make a lot of sense there. Wish someone could invent a silent shutter, though, so I could get a picture of the club crunching the turf at impact!
 
Stratman said:
I too will be at The Open (but I'm being paid to be there, so the masses can watch it on telly :D), and just to show how seriously they take not disturbing the players by the taking of photographs, everybody entering the course will go the through a security search, where unauthorised cameras and mobile phones will be confiscated until the spectator leaves.

Follow Squawk's advice. Don't press the button until the player's follow through. The problem with a long lens is you may well be a distance from player A, but you'll be near enough to player B to incur his wrath and have your accreditation withdrawn.

The withdrawing of accreditation isn't an idle threat either, they really mean it.
Click to expand...

Who do you work for?

I'm being paid to be there, too, but to write about it - not take pictures.

I'll take the advice on board and resist the impact-shot!
 
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