4. David Cannon: Golf's greatest photographer

In this in-depth interview, legendary golf photographer David Cannon shares his extraordinary journey through the world of sports photography, focusing on golf's most iconic moments, legendary players like Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, and the art of capturing history in a split second. Discover the stories behind his most famous shots, including images of Seve and Carl Lewis in the summer of 1984, as well as his insights into the game, the influence of Tiger Woods, and how his passion has shaped a career spanning over four decades.

Key Topics

• The evolution of golf photography over four decades
• Memorable moments and iconic shots of Seve Ballesteros and Tiger Woods
• The technical and artistic challenges of sports photography
• Seve, Norman, Woods, McIlroy: The influence of legendary players on golf imagery
• The importance of patience, positioning, and luck in capturing perfect shots
• Listen to this episode to get a 20% discount code on your next Sounder purchase

Guest: David Cannon

Host: Dan Davies

Chapters

00:00 Introducing David Cannon and his early years in golf

04:13 Nick Faldo delivers an epiphany

07:10 The journey into sports photography

09:06 The transition from football to golf photography

12:33 The competitive nature of sports photography

15:42 How golf photography has changed

18:46 The importance of preparation and strategy

21:32 The gear and essentials for golf photography

24:37 The art of patience and David's favourite shot

27:42 memorable missed opportunities - Adam Scott and Justin Rose

30:36 The art of getting the definitive picture

34:06 The impact of Seve Ballesteros

35:14 Reflections on a career in golf photography

37:37 Seve, Carl Lewis and the summer of 84

41:03 The rise of Tiger Woods

45:47 The best light in golf

48:33 Reflections on a life in golf

Resources

Seve, His Life Through the Lens - edited by David Cannon

David Cannon's Official Website

David Cannon library on Getty Images

Sounder Golf

The Sacred Acre: RNGC's official newsletter

RNGC on Instagram

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