I've been planning to do a player shoot at Granite Bay Golf Club for some weeks, but the weather has been against me. Rain, wind and cloudy conditions have caused me to cancel again and again.  The upside of the delay is that it gave me more time to think about the shots, what I hoped to capture and how I would do it.

     Yesterday, my volunteer model, Eric McIntosh, and I went out to the course and had more fun than either of us had anticipated. I had planned for some specific shots - there are two ponds on the course, and in the late afternoon each one offers some possibilities for images with reflections. I also knew I wanted some of the classic shots. The golfer posed in a finish, the thoughtful look of concentration that precedes an important shot, the spew of sand out of a deep trap.

     I knew Eric would be an outstanding model because he is an excellent golfer, and he is tall and lean; an ideal look for the reflection shots.

     What I didn't anticipate was the fact that he would contribute some terrific shot ideas, and that he possesses a level of skill to deliver image opportunities beyond anything I could have anticipated. I'm still processing the shots and look forward to updating the golf gallery. Eric was able to offer great ball pop-up shots, and he gave me the confidence to stand in places that might have put me in danger had I been working with the average duffer.

     We did encounter some challenges. The course is being aerated so putting shots were out, there was equipment on a couple of normally beautiful fairways, and shortly after six, clouds that had been picturesque earlier turned a little too threatening for the sunset shots I had planned. So Eric and I will be going out again to expand this portion of my portfolio.

     My passions for golf and photography mesh perfectly. It is truly energizing to combine them. I look forward to updating my Golf Gallery with photos of the day, and sharing that link with you.