BEST of On The Road

July, 2005

Hi And welcome to this edition of On The Road. This months issue will feature the Men's US Open Golf Championships held at Pinehurst #2 golf course in Pinehurst, North Carolina. I would be part of the Golf Digest/Golf World coverage under the editorship of Matt Ginella. My assignment was similar to that which I did at the 2004 Masters...shoot everything I saw interesting about the US Open. So I did............

Image #1 Double Exposure...using the Nikon D2X Multiple Exposure Mode. This image was shot during Monday's practice round. It was late in the day and I saw the opportunity to shoot some sunset silhouettes at the 7th Tee. My walk around the course helped me become familiar with the course and I noticed the flags at each hole displayed the words US Open. I set the Nikon D2X on Multiple Exposure Mode (it will capture up to 10 exposures...I set the mode for 2 frames) then I captured an image of a golfer's follow through that I liked. I kept the image activated while I walked from the 7th Tee to the 18th green and captured the flag image blowing in the wind. I now had a single frame double exposure containing both the golfer and the flag. Exposure #1 (golfer), Nikon D2X, Multiple Exposure Mode (2 frames), ISO100, Nikon 12-24mm Lens, 1/2000 at f8, WB5600 K. Exposure #2 (flag), Nikon D2X, Multiple Exposure Mode (second of two frames), ISO100, Nikon 200-400 G VR Lens with TC 14E 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/1000 at f5.6, WB 5600K. Lexar 4G Flash Card. When making multiple exposures with the D2X, once the first exposure is captured the second exposure must be made before the camera goes into sleep mode. Therefore I kept the camera active by pressing the image review button while I walked to the 18th green to shoot the flag....about a 7 minute walk. I am encouraged by the potential this camera has to create some new and interesting possibilities for unique images.
					Image #2 Before Sunrise...I found activity at the practice range near the clubhouse at Pinehurst #2. I really enjoy silhouettes when captured against a colorful sky. Coaches and athletes working together was something I had not photographed before and felt the silhouette would best define the moment. Nikon D2X, ISO100, 1/1000 at f8, Nikon 200-400mm G VR Lens, WB 10,000K (for extra warm tone), Lexar 4G Flash Card.
Image #3 Sunrise at the 5th Hole...This image was taken from the top of the grandstands at the 5th green. Course workers and grounds keepers were just minutes behind me so I ran to the highest position so as to capture an image without course workers. Nikon D2X, ISO100, 1/800 at f5, Nikon 12-24mm Lens, WB 10,000K, Lexar 4G Flash Card. This image as with the previous image were not difficult to capture. The hard part was getting to the course before sunrise. We could not drive directly to the course but were shuttled into Pinhurst#2 beginning shortly after 5am. This was also the longest day of the year and to beat the sunrise would require running from the press center to the 5th hole grandstands but it was worth it.
					Image #4 Noon at the 5th Hole...Maybe it was my imagination but there seemed to be more fans at Pinehurst than Augusta. The intersection of the 3rd and 5th greens with the 4th and 6th Tees created a hub of golf fans. I tried several times to approach patrons in the grandstands for a slice of real-estate to take a few pictures from. NO WAY! People had staked their claim just after sunrise and were very territorial. I decided to take the highest location I could, standing on the 3rd green, and held my Nikon D2X with a 10.5mm Fisheye Lens over my head while Justin Leonard's group putted. I like the fisheye effect as it tends to wrap around the fans and the 5th green. Nikon D2X, ISO100, 1/500 at f8, Nikon 10.5 mm Fisheye Lens, WB 5600K, Lexar 4G Flash Card.
Image #5 Tiger...Dressed perfectly. I do my best to bring my clients something unique. I'm only one of four photographers that Golf Digest/Golf World had covering the US Open. I made great use of my Nikon Coolpix 8800 with its Silent Shutter, VR and 8 Megapixel file. Shooting during the golfer's backswing is prohibited because of the "click" of the camera shutter, but the Silent Electronic Shutter of the Nikon Coolpix makes NO SOUND and allows me to capture this unique action shot of Tiger Woods at the 18th Tee. Nikon Coolpix 8800, ISO200, 24mm Focal Length, Shutter Priority 1/1000 at f6.7, WB Sunny, Lexar 4G Flash Card.
					Image #6 Ernie Els...By Saturday I begin to slowly shift from US Open documentary mode to that of US Open daily news coverage. I begin to look for more defining moments that might determine the outcome of the tournament. The 7th green summed up the week for Ernie Els as is evident in this moment of frustration. The greens at Pinehurst #2 were difficult even for the best golfers. Nikon D2X, ISO200, 1/1000 at f5.6, Nikon 200-400 G VR Lens, WB 5600K, Lexar 4G Flash Card, Hand Held.
Image #7 Michael Campbell...The 2005 Men's US Open Champion battled back and forth with Woods, Hensby, Toms, Mediate and Garcia during Sunday's final round of play. This birdie putt and fist pump at 17 was the clincher for Campbell. Nikon D2X, ISO250, 1/500 at f5, Nikon 200-400 G VR Lens, WB 7100K, Lexar 4G Flash Card, Hand Held.

Well, I hope you all have enjoyed this edition of On The Road. I am really loving covering golf these past two years. It is some of the hardest and most rewarding work I have done during my 25 years of sports photography. I like the images I have captured but realize I have a long way to go to really understand the game and how to cover it as well as J.D. Cuban, Dom Furore and Stephen Szurlej who headed up the photography coverage for Matt Ginella at Golf Digest/Golf World magazines. It is always a pleasure and a privilege to be part of a great team when covering a major event like this. See you next time On The Road..................................Adios, Dave