Golf or photography?

[pnodrog]

Usually I wonder aimlessly around the Waipu golf course swinging hopeless golf clubs trying to hit battered and navigationally challenged golf balls. However the club has asked me to provide them with some photographs for their website etc. So every now and again I take a camera instead of clubs.

Below are two shots to impress on Donald just how similar the course and weather is to a Scottish links course and it's weather. Also it may tempt all of you to come and demonstrate your skill or try your luck. Comments welcome but please do not upset the green keeper.

[Donald]

They are good. And the course looks beautiful.

Interestingly one of the first photogarpher's whose work I looked at after I got back into photography about 5 years ago was a guy who lives close to me and had opened his studion as part of an area-wide artists 'open studio' event.

As it happens, he is a professional golf course photographer. I just looked up his website and he seems to very much still in business. His site is -- http://www.markalexanderphotography.co.uk/

[Kodiak]

They are good. And the course looks beautiful.

You got that wrong Donald,
"They are beautiful. And the course looks good!"
I just say that because I have no affinity to golf. ;-)

[Shadowman]

Nice, no requests from the organization for a golfer or two in shots?

[vaez]

nice image

[NorthernFocus]

Lovely shots. Should be useful advertisement for the course.

I wasn't aware that Scotland looks like that. We'll have to add it to our list of places to visit. In deep winter of course when we are most in need of escaping the cold, dark, damp of Alaska. Some green grass, blue skies, and Scottish sunshine may be just the ticket

[Brownbear]

The 1st image is especially beautiful! I love the composition, the colours, and the sky.

[IzzieK]

Yes...#1 for me too...it looks like it just came out of a catalogue...

[Saorsa]

You may wish to reconsider the deep winter bit.

Juneau is at 58 North as is John O' Groats. St Andrews is at 56 North.

The Gulf Stream does keep Scotland a bit warmer except when there is a storm.

[Mike Buckley]

Nice photos, L. Paul. My guess, not being a golfer, is that people better be on at least the 17th green by the time they see the gorgeous scene displayed in your second photo.

[pnodrog]

They are good. And the course looks beautiful.

Interestingly one of the first photogarpher's whose work I looked at after I got back into photography about 5 years ago was a guy who lives close to me and had opened his studion as part of an area-wide artists 'open studio' event.

As it happens, he is a professional golf course photographer. I just looked up his website and he seems to very much still in business. His site is -- http://www.markalexanderphotography.co.uk/

Thanks Donald I have had a quick look at the link you provided and there are some great photographs. I drove past both the Branburgh Castle and the Dunstanburgh Castle courses that he has photographed after visiting Edinburgh a few years ago. I will certainly take a better look at the web site soon. There is a photograph in his collection that shows about 50 or more photographers at the edge of a green. Must have been an important event.

You got that wrong Donald,
"They are beautiful. And the course looks good!"
I just say that because I have no affinity to golf. ;-)

Thank you - after today's round I am with you on the no affinity to golf but my partner and I still managed to win the beer so I will go back next week and have another go.

Nice, no requests from the organization for a golfer or two in shots?

Thanks John and yes they do like shot with golfers in and I have a few but I thought I would just stick to landscapes this time.

nice image

Glad you enjoyed it thanks.

[pnodrog]

Lovely shots. Should be useful advertisement for the course.

I wasn't aware that Scotland looks like that. We'll have to add it to our list of places to visit. In deep winter of course when we are most in need of escaping the cold, dark, damp of Alaska. Some green grass, blue skies, and Scottish sunshine may be just the ticket

Dan I may have been a bit misleading particularly regarding the weather. The photographs were taken in fine weather several weeks apart you will have to ask Donald about the likelihood of being able to achieve that feat in Scotland.

The club is using the first photograph fairly extensively and I understand that the tourism promotion group for Northland will be using it as well.

The 1st image is especially beautiful! I love the composition, the colours, and the sky.

Thanks Christina please do not tell anyone but I had to reduce the haze a bit for the distant headlands.

[pnodrog]

Yes...#1 for me too...it looks like it just came out of a catalogue...

Hi Izzie it was a beautiful sunny still day when I took #1 but I think it is going to be used in a brochure not a catalogue....

You may wish to reconsider the deep winter bit.

Juneau is at 58 North as is John O' Groats. St Andrews is at 56 North.

The Gulf Stream does keep Scotland a bit warmer except when there is a storm.

Don't worry about Dan he will get weather insurance as well as travel insurance and may well make a fortune.

Nice photos, L. Paul. My guess, not being a golfer, is that people better be on at least the 17th green by the time they see the gorgeous scene displayed in your second photo.

Mike thank you for the comments. The first shot is over the 18th green taken from the clubhouse deck so they will be able to abandon their game and sit down to enjoy the view. The second photo was taken looking back down the 8th fairway so they may not even turn around and notice the view also most golfers start after the sunrise is over.