It is Finished
My feet are killing me. It has been a really long tournament, having covered it by myself in the heat and walking (trudging) the course over-and-over-and-over again. It became easier as time went on learning the course, finding the short cuts and strategizing the holes to get the best angles and cleanest backgrounds. Much discussion between the photographers early on was which holes made for good backgrounds.
Now I am done. All that is left is to go back to the office and file all the images that I have stored on a hard drive. Over the five days I probably averaged 300-400 images a day. Most of them were snoozers. Plain, boring coverage of boring shots and putts in case something happened. But not much did. And the emotions of the players were subdued, or subtle, at best.
For example: Na On Min of South Korea had an amazing Saturday shooting 7-under par and taking the lead. But she could not overcome the charge by Suzann Pettersen, the eventual tournament winner. After putting on the 18th green the youngster acknowledged the crowd. In her face you can see the disappointment.
(Nikon D2Xs, 200-400 mm lens @ 400, 1/1600 sec. @ f/4, ISO 400)
The tone is subtle, but it is evident. I like that in an image, though it would be a lot better, an easier read, if she just lost it. But that is out of my control. And I'd have felt, really, really bad if she did.
Pettersen on the other hand was a little more emotional, but the only time it really came out on the course as I followed her from the green on 15 to the end, other than a few fist pumps that did not look really great, was when she missed a birdie opportunity on 16.
(Nikon D2Xs, 200-400 mm lens @ 400, 1/1000 sec. @ f/4, ISO 400)
A clean background, soft, partially haloed light really helps to make this nice. If she had ended up losing the tournament this might have been a lead photo.
Well, it is 11:40 in the p.m. and I am tired of thinking. Time to flip the channels, I am a champion channel changer, and slow down my mind so I can get up early Monday and do all the chores and errands I have ignored because of the 10-hour days at Bulle Rock. You might see me mowing the lawn in Towson if it doesn't rain.
Comments
Really enjoyed your coverage at Bulle Rock. I can empathize with the heat as my job keeps me outdoors and sometimes on roofs.
I especially appreciate your self evaluation of your shots. It is helping me be more critical of my own.
Keep the dialogue coming.
Dennis Gray
PS hire somebody to cut the grass-that is a chore
Posted by: Dennis Gray | June 11, 2007 8:23 AM
Thanks, Dennis. I will keep doing my best.
I'd hire someone to do the lawn but ours is not that big so it does not bother me. A little more than 45 minutes with the mower can be a little refreshing diversion,
It is the overall soreness and hurting feet which will make it difficult. This is the first time I have ever been this sore...
Posted by: Christopher Assaf | June 11, 2007 9:14 AM
I rode the bike to work this Monday morning without any rain, so I guess you got the lawn mowed.
Nice write-up from the tour. Was it hot? (sorry...)
I know cropping pics can be an issue. When I did my 3 years with Messenger/TowsonTimes I knew it was out of my control and made it a point to not let it bother me. That's not to say I do that with everything in my life...some say I complain about unimportant things, so maybe I'm back-ass-wards.
I do agree with you that the Paula Creamer shot didn't need her whole arm cropped off. On the sound man getting cropped at the elbow I kinda feel that it helps draw your eye toward Serenstam. It does, however, upset the overall composition for me.
Seeya,
Doug
Posted by: Doug Hansen | June 11, 2007 10:37 AM
Christopher,
I've really enjoyed reading your blog since it's inception.
Your images from the tournament have been great, and I, too enjoy reading about the "back-story."
I'm curious, though about the photo credits in today's edition of The Sun. Is there some type of dispute going on at the paper?
(We could also see you in action in the background of the shots on the Golf Channel).
Kevin
Posted by: Kevin Novak | June 11, 2007 12:13 PM
Because Kevin asked, I have added a short post about the missing bylines on photos in the paper and on the site today. This will continue through Wednesday at least.
As for the Golf Channel, it is hard not to be in the shots even though I try to stay in the background. The whale strikes again.
As for the Annika photo, it is a touchy one and like I said, not that bad. But it does seem to make the picture a little jarring and disrupt the flow.
Thanks for the comments. And see the next post.
Posted by: Christopher Assaf | June 11, 2007 12:35 PM