SENIOR PLAYERS for the PGA TOUR with my iPhone
Posted on June 16, 2016
Rocco Mediate hangs out in the locker room during the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 10, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
I can’t wipe the smile off my face from the great time I had photographing the SENIOR PLAYERS with my iPhone last week in Flourtown, Pennsylvania on assignment for the PGA TOUR. This is the second big golf tournament I have shot for the TOUR with my iPhone. Last month I made my debut working for the TOUR at the THE PLAYERS at TPC Sawgrass. Things worked out pretty well in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida for me so Caryn Levy, who manages the photo department for the PGA TOUR, hired me again to shoot the Champions Tour event near Philadelphia last week. Unlike last time I would not be working with a huge crew of photographers and editors. I would be working with young and talented TOUR staffers on site at the Philadelphia Cricket Club who were in charge of promoting the event through various social media channels. The team was excited to have me shooting pictures for their Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts. I love this kind of work and could not wait to get to the course, meet everyone, and get started.
The crew I worked with at the SENIOR PLAYERS was led by the Manager, Digital Communications for the PGA Tour, Preston McClellan. Preston is a 25-year-old with a masters from Ohio University who really knows his shit. We had a conference call before the event so we were all on the same page before we got to the Cricket Club and we never wavered from our game plan. Also on our team was PGA TOUR Digital Producer Bryan Mullen and PGA TOUR Digital Content Coordinator Stephanie Rogers. All week the four of us worked together seamlessly. After I shot my pictures with my iPhone 6S Plus and edited the images on my iPhone with Snapseed and Instagram I would make both square and horizontal versions of the final image (if warranted) so they would have square for Instagram and a horizontal for Twitter. I would also give them both color and black and white to choose from, if I thought the image looked good both ways. Sometimes they would get just color and sometimes they would get just black and white. Once they got my images they would decide where the image(s) would best fit best on the various social media channels run by the TOUR. They also shared many of my images with the Golf Channel so they would have them to promote their television coverage of the tournament on their social media.
Also on hand at the SENIOR PLAYERS working for the TOUR were staff photographers Stan Badz and Ryan Young. It was great seeing these guys again and a real joy to see the fabulous photographs they made all week documenting the event from every angle possible. Ryan gave me a huge assist on Thursday by coaching me on the best way to photograph the sunrise on Friday morning. After the positive results I got shooting the sunrise at Sawgrass I was anxious to try it again. Friday would be the day. Little did I realize that the sunrise was at 5:31am in Flourtown. That’s early! Ryan was out there early on Thursday and told me the best early light was up on the hill near the 4th green, so that’s where I went. Thanks to Ryan’s help I was able to get some terrific early pictures while everyone else was sleeping.
Bernard Langer tees off on 12 during the first round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 9, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Colin Montgomerie walks over a bridge during the first round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 9, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Vijay Singh putts on the practice green after the first round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 9, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
My iPhone picture of Vijay Singh was published on the official PGA TOUR Champions Twitter account. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
The practice green is cut at dawn before the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 10, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
My iPhone picture of the putting green being mowed at sunrise was published on the official PGA TOUR Champions Twitter account. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
The 12th green is cut at sunrise before the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 10, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
A bunker near the 4th green is raked at sunrise before the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 10, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
My iPhone picture of sunrise course prep was published on the official PGA TOUR Champions Twitter account. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
The pin is placed in a new hole on the 4th green at sunrise before the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 10, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
The flag on the 3rd green flaps in the breeze at sunrise before the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 10, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
My picture of the pin flag at sunrise was tweeted out by the Golf Channel to promote their upcoming television coverage on Friday afternoon. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
One of the biggest highlights of the trip was being able to spend four glorious days walking all over the historic grounds of the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Before the tournament I did some research and found out this was the oldest country club in the United States, established in 1854. How cool is that? Being born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area I have not spent much time around really old and historic places, but man once you plop yourself down in and around Philadelphia that all changes. Cruising from my hotel in Fort Washington to the Cricket Club in Flourtown was one of the prettiest four-mile drives I have ever taken in an Avis rental car. The trees. The rolling hills. The old stone buildings. What a setting!
Of course I needed to get myself inside the men’s locker room at the Cricket Club to spend some time with some of the players and get pictures that we neeeded for social media. Preston took me inside the wonderful old building on Friday to meet the director of locker room services Chris Morrin. Chris is one of those classic old school guys who takes great care of the club members and players. He didn’t want me distracting anyone inside his sanctuary. Once he realized that I understood how things worked and that I was there for the TOUR he was totally cool, and by Sunday we were best friends. What a wonderful place that locker room is. I spent many hours in there and got some of my favorite pictures of the week inside.
Duffy Walforf’s shoes are cleaned in the locker room after the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 10, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
General view of the locker room during the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 10, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Rocco Mediate shows baby pictures on his iphone to a friend and PGA TOUR conditioning coach Eric AH-Yuen in the locker room during the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 10, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
My iPhone picture of Rocco Mediate was published on the official SENIOR PLAYERS Twitter account. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Rocco Mediate hangs out in the locker room during the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 10, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
The outside of the locker room during the third round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 11, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Bernhard Langer and his son leave the locker room befiore the third round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 11, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
A mother and daughter walk around the course during the third round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 11, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Jeff Maggert puts on the 15th green during the third round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 11, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Sign outside the Cricket Club after the third round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 11, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
My iPhone picture of the Philadelphia Cricket Club sign was published on the SENIOR PLAYERS Twitter account. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Caddies wait outside the locker room during the final round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 12, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Scott Dunlap watches TV coverage of the Orlando shootings in the locker room before the final round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 12, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Autographed pin flag in the locker room during the final round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 12, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
The Sam Snead trophy sits on the first tee during the final round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 12, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Bernhard Langer walks over a bridge on 11 during the final round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 12, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Jeff Sluman hits out of a bunker on 11 during the final round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 12, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Bernhard Langer celebrates on 18 after winning the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 12, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
My iPhone picture of Bernard Langer winning the tournament was published on the official Instagram account within minutes. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
Bernhard Langer holds up the Sam Snead trophy on 18 after winning the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS at The Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 12, 2016 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
My iPhone picture of Bernard Langer holding up the Sam Snead trophy on 18 after winning the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS was published on the official PGA TOUR Champions Twitter account. (Photo by Brad Mangin/PGA TOUR)
By the time Bernhard Langer rolled in a 12-foot par putt on 18 to win the SENIOR PLAYERS by one stroke early Sunday evening at the Philadelphia Cricket Club I was not ready for the week to end. I was having so much fun shooting pictures with my iPhone and working with our team. I am so grateful to Caryn Levy and everyone at the PGA TOUR who has taken this leap of faith with me to try and revolutionize social media photography at major sporting events. It sounds like I will have the chance to work more events in 2016 with the TOUR and that makes me so happy. Each time I go out there with my iPhone I learn new things. I can’t wait to get out there again with the great young minds at the TOUR like Preston, Bryan, and Stephanie. If they don’t mind having an old guy like me around I think we can do more terrific work together!
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