Test Shots

[casil403]

I am trying to find the best version of this shot for work as they are re-doing the website and are going to use a photo I had in mind a while back. Yesterday I brought the camera to work to try out some versions of the images. Here are 3 different versions.
I like the landscape orientation best but I am not a fan of the harsh shadows as I took it later in the morning. I like the clubhouse in the background and the pin as well. This the 18th.
I like the one I took in the morning because there is no shadows so I think if I can combine shot 1 and shot 2 I might have a winner.....
I think I may also have to choose a wider DoF here but I wanted the background blurry to focus on the logo of the ball.
Anyhow feel free to chime in your thoughts....these are only trial shots so it si good to have some ideas on what to do next. I have also thought of doing a later afternoon shot with warmer light?

Shot 1


Shot 2 I realize the horizon is not level but the pin is straight and so are the trees. It is the slope of the green. I tried leveling it but then I get a crooked pin and trees.


Shot3

[Marko]

Shot 3 for me. It has a very 'clean' feel.

[casil403]

Thanks Marko...
Is the light okay and the shadows or should I try a capture at a different time of the day? What about the DoF?

[Wicked Dark]

I prefer the first, but would like it better if the whole flagpole was in the shot.

[Marko]

WD echoes the reason why shot 1 didn't make it for me.
I think it's quite good the way it is buuut - I might see if the midtones would benefit from a contrast boost. (I think they might)

I might also try to brighten and sharpen the logo on the ball a wee bit.

[casil403]

These are just test shots to get an idea of what to do next time I have a go at it. The concept is there and it works but it needs a bit of tweaking. What I am going to do is go portrait orientation so the wording on the website can go next to the photo. I like the vertical lines personally that go in that mode.
I do think I need a bit of a wider DoF here as well to show off the clubhouse a bit more but not too much to take away from the ball logo.
Oh and I know the top of the flag is cut off. I lost some of it when levellling the image but that is an easy fix on the next try.

[Iguanasan]

I prefer the first, but would like it better if the whole flagpole was in the shot.

That's exactly what I was thinking. When I do get out for golf I really prefer a warm, sunny day with lots of blue sky and fluffy white clouds. The first one has that feeling but the flag got cut off :(