I'm enjoying this thread-play for fair reasons. Here are a few:
--Some may know, some may not, that I love to photograph courses even more than I love to play them (and I love to play them.)
--No one will ever confuseme with Joe Bausch or Jon, charter members of the inobtrusive brigade. When I'm shooting, you know I'm shooting. I move quickly, but I'm often swapping lenses (short, long, wide) and taking a few extra micro-seconds to complete a hole.
--I haven't met Jon or Joe or most of you in person. GCA is one of those places where a shared interest allows acquaintances to develop from a distance, over time.
--Interviews are an interesting notion. Certain subjects take long walks to mull over their answers, and they eventually arrive, to the fortune of the reader. Others void themselves of the information instantly and spontaneously, brilliantly, to the fortune of the reader.
--It has never been mentioned or asked, but a) our inspiration for doing interviews was not the ones on this GCA site; b) our quick hits and Ran's deep inquiries are compatible creatures; c) there are others on this DB that I would like to interview, but I want to keep a balance. In fact, thanks to a few promises that turned into let-downs from outside GCA, I'm currently done with interviews (22 to date) for this year.
--The fellows that golf with me, understand my need/mission to photograph. I'm not at a course to close a deal, sign a client, anything other than shoot and play. They understand that they should go about their games and ignore me when camera is in hand. We do have plenty of time to converse and there always seems to be an interest in the images that surface. I've one particular friend who joins me on junkets, has infinite patience, and has taken to suggesting angles and elements. For that, I'm grateful.
--I've realized that there are at least two types of people who don't wish to be taken seriously. Those like me, who do so via a joke, as in "I'll be submitting these images to the US Government, in exchange for my freedom." Always elicits a startled glance, followed by a hopeful smile, and then the epiphany. There are others, who harangue and insult others, always with the escape clause "don't take me seriously" in the chamber. I don't understand the motivation of this second type of person.
--I can imagine that, long ago, perhaps even in golf, some folks questioned other folks thus: why are you writing this down? Photography, like the written word, is an advancement of the historical record. We had spoken word, then written word, then still captures, then moving captures. I'm not certain what will come next, if anything. Golf courses are grateful to have photographers offer their images to them.
--When I began shooting, I convinced myself that I needed a clean field, empty of devices and persons. As groundskeepers, golfers, and critters began appearing in images, I recognized that fairways, greens, tees, bunkers, are enhanced by presence. I continue to look for the clean field, but I also seek the pairings. We're not using film anymore, so now I shoot away.
--Post-processing is so difficult. Some images posted on this forum have been worked over diligently, to highlight colors, layers, and elements. When I shoot on a monochrome-sky day, I think about cropping sky out of the image, emphasizing the horizontal, and featuring the course more. When the sun, clouds and sky cooperate, I have options. I'm not nearly as good with Photoshop as I'd like to be. I don't have nearly the time to work at it.
--I'm grateful to Tom Doak for publishing two of my images in the CGTG series, part two. The adjective escapes me for precisely how I feel, beyond the gratitude, but it's a very positive feeling. I know 1% of what there is to know about photography, and I'm rounding up.
--I've had the time of my life at major tournaments (US Open, PGA, Walker Cup, et al.) shooting images. Professional photographers are gracious with advice and instruction, tournament directors are grateful for coverage, and every once in a long while, you capture that ever-so-perfect shot that you step back, smile, and walk toward the next one.