Greater Hickory Classic – Day 2
Today was a hectic day. I was by myself and had to make sure I had usable photos of the top finishers for use by my newspaper and the Associated Press. Covering that many golfers isn't easy when you are working alone. I decided to take a look at the top 15 golfers after yesterday's first round and photograph them at multiple places on the course. I started off at the first tee. My angle on tee shots wasn't the best though, but I got a couple interesting images like the one below...
Golf swings are a lot like baseball pitcher wind-ups. No two players swing the club the exact same way, so you get something a little different from each of them.
Photography at this event is really a strange situation. During the final three days of the week (the actual tournament days), cameras are not allowed on the course. Ticket holders to this event have this information printed on the back of their tickets. Cameras and video cameras are simply not allowed. As a press photographer, I am required to display my press credentials AND my loudly colored PHOTO PASS at all times while I'm on site. I get a new photo pass each day also. A pass is only good for the day it is issued. I saw a course official hassling a spectator this afternoon who was taking photos with a cell phone. I personally don't understand that... The only reason I could see photography being a problem at one of these events is if the photographer was popping a flash, but even with that, most people who have the small pocket digital cameras don't have a flash with enough punch to create much of a distraction. From my personal perspective, I suppose the ban on cameras could also be for my benefit. If other photographers are popping flashes, it can mess up my exposures as well. But once again, small pocket digital cameras aren't going to produce enough flash to screw up my photos. Also, golf is a daytime sport, and most point and shoot cameras aren't going to fire a flash in the daytime anyway. Since video cameras are also against the rules, that makes me believe the ban is aimed more towards a protection of something in the money arena. Who knows... I think it's horse poop. If a fan buys a ticket, they should be allowed to make photos.
