A DEFINING SELFIE

‘At Getty Images we have the privilege of working for Sports governing bodies. At the Open Championship I work exclusively for the R&A and have to escort the champion to all of his post tournament duties.  We were heading to the clubhouse upstairs at The Royal Liverpool (a club I am also proud to be a member of),   when Rory suddenly shouted ‘Dave hang on a second I want to do a selfie”.  That split second of spontaneous joy became one of the definitive images of that championship, and was seen all around the world, and shared by millions on social media – fantastic for The R&A and the Open, fantastic for Rory and incredible for me.’

‘A portrait of a magnificently eccentric Swedish golfer – taken with a Canon 500mm, a technique I love using for portraits. This shot brilliantly demonstrates the importance of focusing on the eyes.’

‘Teeing up on the 18th hole on the Old Course at St Andrews in the Alfred Dunhill Cup.  De Santos, a former Baseball player who lost his leg in a traffic accident in 2003 plays golf off one leg, to a handicap of 4 – pure natural ability and determination.’

‘Jean Van de Velde of France can only smile as he finds himself stranded in the Barry Burn, at the final hole in The Open Championship at Carnoustie.  This has become one of the most historical moments in golf’s oldest Major’s history.  Van de Velde who had been standing on the 18^th tee with a three stroke lead, proceeded to take a calamitous triple bogey seven, and eventually lost the play-off to Scotland’s Paul Lawrie.’

‘Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer of all time, practices from a bunker at The Masters in 1986.  For me this is my perfect bunker shot.  I have shot tens of thousands of bunker shots, but this is the best, with perfect sand formation and eyes on the ball. It’s even more special for me having caught it with the greatest golfer of all time!’

‘I was so lucky to be asked by the Golf Channel to photograph the three iconic players of modern golf in their studio at The Masters.  Arnold Palmer – who won seven Major Championships, Jack Nicklaus  – who won eighteen Major Championships and Gary Player – who won nine Major Championships. I was truly humbled to be in their presence, it was definitely a case of ‘don’t screw this one up!’ I could not use flash in the studio, so I had to rely on the brilliance of the quality of the new Canon 5DS mk III, which shone through in this available-light photograph. It’s one image that I will treasure all my life.’