Golf Photos

ab2012

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alan
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I've been asked to take some photos of a friend's teaching studio plus some action shots of someone swinging a club. Any advice for creating blur of clubhead speed? or any other advice welcome. He thinks I'm better than I am!:) The photos are for his website.
Thanks.
 
Getting a blurred clubhead is easy, just use a slowish shutter speed. Put the camera's shooting mode to 'Shutter Priority' and set it to around 1/60th to start with. If you want more blurring drop the speed lower, conversely if 1/60th gives too much blurring then up it to 1/125th.

I have to cook dinner now, so hopefully someone will be along to explain 'Rear Curtain Flash' which will enable you to get really creative ;)
 
The flash normally fires as the shutter opens, meaning if you have set a slow shutter speed you will get a sharp image of the start of the movement followed by the blur. In the case of a golfer, if you pressed the shutter when the club was parallel to the ground you would get a sharp image of the golfer and club in that position frozen by the flash, followed by the blur of the club as it passed through the impact position. The blur would appear to be in front of the golfer.

There will be a setting on your camera (I don't know what Canon call it) that fires the flash just before the shutter closes, known as 'Rear Curtain'. This will put the blur before the frozen image and will look much better.
 
Second curtain sync or is it rear curtain sync, I think its only on any dedicated flash n not on built in flash but check manual for info.
 
You'll find that photos of most amateur golfers swinging a club don't look great. Their body positions usually look ugly and if they are hitting drivers the club's shaft will flex and not look nice either.

That's not to say that the point of impact can't look good, but it often won't.

The best shots are normally the 'photo finish', which is the end position of the swing, and shorter shots such as pitches from bunkers or wedge shots that are taking a divot.

Also, reaction shots and players lining up putts can look good too.
 
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Thanks,guys.I'll have to delve into my handbook.
As for good golf shots, first I think you need a low handicapper swinging :) (Not me)
The point just after impact showing clubhead speed is my intention.
 
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