There are snap-shots... and then there’s photography. Most golf pro shops offer professional photographs of their key holes – but those can get pricy. Why not bring along your camera next time you play a round and capture some of the natural beauty while you’re on the course?

Here are some tips that will help you take your photography to a new level:

• Make the most of the “Magic” Light – what is “magic” light? It’s that time right after sun-up... and just before the sun goes down. This lighting is more dramatic and can provide some interesting shadows (be aware of your own shadow and keep it out of the shot). So when you hit the links early... or play a twilight tee time, you can get some excellent shots at these times.
• Elevation is your friend – no matter how good it looks to your eye at ground level, a golf hole looks even better if you can get above it when you’re taking the picture. Scale the fairway, or stand on the back of a golf cart (the real pros use ladders because it does make a difference).
• Compose the shot – pay attention to how you “frame” the scene. Trust, you don’t want everything centered. You may want to highlight a specific feature, such as a bunker or the gentle flow of the fairway. Compose your shot to highlight your target. If you’re out for a nature shot — like the early morning dew on the grass or fog rising from water — then use the golf course in a supporting role as a dramatic back drop.
• Respect the design of the course – and other golfers – sometimes, the best shot of one hole is from the adjacent fairway. Be sure you’re not disturbing someone else’s game while you’re capturing that perfect shot. Also, try to tell a story with your pictures. If there is a daunting water feature right in front of the green, your angle should suggest the true orientation and strategy of the hole – make your viewers say, “Wow, what a hole” when they see your pictures. Get creative, but capture the real golf hole, not just a golf landscape.
• Keep people out of your “beauty” shots – there’s a time a place for capturing some great pictures of your foursome, but if you’re out to portray the magnificence of the course, there’s nothing a person can add.

So there you have it – this gives you one additional way to make each round a memorable one – and to capture those memories and share them with others after your round. Enjoy.