So I got a call from my pals out at UT Golf Club yesterday, needing a shot of #12. I dug up this one and thought about what a handy tool HDR has been for me and golf. I shot this one at high noon a few years ago. Before, shooting a golf course at any time other than “the golden hour” was a bad idea. Noon was out of the question. Not anymore. You real estate marketers remember this when you’re told you can’t shoot in the middle of the day.
Most of you thought you’d see those two names right next to each other, high up on a yellow British leaderboard. Gotta go, Jack’s jet arrives at ABIA any minute. He’s flying me down to play an exhibition at Lost Tree.
From a consumer marketing standpoint, here’s a good reason to avoid aerial photography of golf courses, at least in the Hill Country. I don’t care who you are. You can’t tell me that this shot does anything for anyone (except maybe a developer or a homebuilder.) I hate the word “standpoint.”
I stopped by the 8th green at Lakecliff Country Club on the way home from my D-Crain shoot on Tuesday and got this one.
I’m not sure if he was ever in the PGA of America, but the late Larry Trader managed Willie’s golf course for years, doing all the stuff that golf pros do. I ran across this shot of him I got back in 2004, a few years before he died, and it remains my favorite portrait. Probably because I knew Larry, and we’d spent a couple of hours together on this day talking about Willie and Evel Knievel and Ray Benson and Ear Campbell and Coach Royal and all the things that happened out there at Pedernales and on the road. And because I know that he bummed that very cigarette there off my friend Mopar, who today will give a few golf lessons at Ascarate Park in El Paso. I never asked Larry what happened to that finger.
Just got back from a weekend shoot at Cordillera Ranch. They opened their new clubhouse, which is, in keeping stride with the way they do things out there, BAD ASS. One of the above shots will make the cover of Cordillera Ranch Living, and while the final pick will be up to the editors and art directors, I ask you: Which one do you like best?
I started this blog on the suggestion and encouragement of the talented team at Fosforus. In terms of ROI, it has been a homerun. Off the charts. The only investment has been time posting entries, and I’ve had actual cash return. So big thanks to WordPress and to Fosforus. That said, I think I’ll join the rest of you bloggers out there who use these things to tell people about your day (no, I’m not making fun of you…I repeat, I join you). Today started out with trip to the dump. 1-800-Got-Junk is not effectively marketing themselves if they’re not using an image like this with a caption that reads something like, “You’ll Never Get The Smell Out of Your Nostril Hairs.” You think Hell has fire and stuff? Mine has six inches of foul-smelling slippery grey mud.
Then, I drove back downtown. Probably shouldn’t be snapping photos on a 70-foot flyover at 55mph.
I saw a bad wreck at the intersection of MLK and the I-35 access road. I hope everyone was okay, and by the look of that Prius, I bet they are. Astounding structural resilience.
I drove past the Capitol and thought about all the people I know who’ve worked there.
Then I saw this in a parking lot in Sunset Valley.
Then I drove back downtown and noticed how far along the W Hotel is coming.
When I got up to Congress, I saw a small herd of those Segue tour people.
And one of them wiped out. I couldn’t help laughing. Sorry.
Then I went south on Congress to shoot some of those traliers that sell food, but got there to find that they’re not open on Mondays. Shit.
So I went home.
Oh, and today is my birthday.
Here’s the main dining room in the clubhouse, which looks out across the first fairway and 40 miles of Hill Country up toward Sisterdale and Luckenbach. They were beginning to move in the furniture while I was there. You Cordillera Ranch members sure are going to have a nice place to eat/drink/settle bets/whatever. Not sure, but I think Mike Marsh is responsible for this incredible building.
Here’s a peek inside the clubhouse at Cordillera Ranch. More to come..
The clubhouse is almost ready to open its doors. I’ve always loved everything about this place, but I had no idea how nice the clubhouse would be, and how well it wraps up the whole property. I shot this one last Tuesday morning around 7:30 from the road coming in.
I like the truth, mostly. Especially in a photograph. But there are times when the truth gets in the way of the sale, without being deceptive. Mike Nolen at Falconhead Golf Club asked me to come out and shoot the newly landscaped 17th hole, which you see here. The best shot seemed to be from up on the hill left of the tee, but from up there, you get a good view of Lake Travis High School back there behind the trees. You don’t see it from the tee. But you also don’t see the surface of the green from the tee, which makes it a visually intimidating shot.
The point here is that while the top photo isn’t completely truthful, it shows the landscape better because the viewer isn’t distracted by something else. I wonder which one you like better. I know which one I do.
Yesterday.
Tough hole to play, but I love the way the par-3 13th at Cordillera Ranch photographs. I even put a shot of it from 2006 on my business card. I hate business cards.
Matt Sitra & John Staleski
I’ve been out at UT Golf Club shooting their ‘Texas Legends” Invitational. The golf course really looks good, but it’s the club that impresses me every time I go out there. Those guys know what a club is supposed to be. The thought and effort that goes into their events is the best I’ve ever seen. Anywhere.
CW 