Course Photography

The art of great golf

By Aidan Bradley, who is highly regarded as a golf course photographer and widely recognised for his ability to capture the excitement and mood of a golf course. His images have graced the pages of all the national golf publications and he is a regular contributor to golf coffee table books and magazines.

What does it take to create a good golf course image? Well, before I commence to share my few words of wisdom with you (and please accept these at your own risk!)

I thought it only appropriate to inform you as to the source of said knowledge. My name is Aidan Bradley, I am a golf coursephotographer. Originally born and educated in Cork, Ireland, I presently reside in Santa Barbara, CA from where I travel to golf courses far and wide. I have been photographing golf course exclusively for the past twelve years and I am a regular contributor to Golf Magazines, Ad Campaigns, Books, and marketing materials for various golf courses on both sides of the Atlantic.

Definitions of what makes a good photograph are as varied as those personalities who offer up such advice. For me the rule is very simple, does the image stop me long enough to take a second glance or spend a few seconds reading the accompanying copy? If so, the creator has succeeded.

So how do you create such an image? It always helps if you start with something that is easy on the eye. In golf courses you have natures very own palette to play with.

However, the secret missing ingredient is “light” and more importantly, the quality of that light. Without light you are merely documenting, with light you are creating. Early morning and late evening light are your friends.

Soft warm light is more appealing than the harsh realities of the mid day sun. The former helps to illustrate the undulations, shapes, and textures of the course.

A very important question to ask is “what is the purpose of this photograph”. If it is merely to document, then go ahead point and shoot.

The same applies if you wish to illustrate a certain feature of the design. However, if you would like to create an image to hang over your fireplace, include in your marketing materials or submit to a magazine representing your product or facility, simple, you hire a professional.

However, if you don’t wish to help send my kids to college, I have a few more ideas that may help you.

A good golf course photograph should be like a journey and you get to tell the story. There should be a beginning, a middle and an end...

This article first appeared in the Institute's Yearbook for 2007-2008.

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