The Sounds of Golf

I know next to nothing about golf, but I was up at sunrise to photograph the ILA Union’s annual golf retreat. It wasn't the kind of morning I’d typically hope for; thick clouds, flat light, and not much drama. Turns out that's exactly what made it interesting. Without chasing gold morning light, I ended up paying closer attention to everything else.

Documentary photography has always felt a little like people watching with permission. Instead of directing anything, I just followed along and waited. The longer I stayed quiet, the more the story seemed to reveal itself.

Golf moves slower than most sports. There are long stretches where nothing obvious is happening, so you start noticing little things – a glance, a routine, a conversation. Those quiet details tend to end up being my favorite images.

The weather never really cleared, but it didn’t need to. The pace of the game slowed everything down, and I left with a collection that feels less like coverage and more like a memory.