The Disc Golf Photographer

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GJTS FINALS 2024 HOSTED BY DELLWOOD DISC GOLF

Sean Callahan (#41210), Sheila Callahan (#86111), Ryan Fancher (#55576) and Mike Apostolou (#24008) Tournament Directors for the Greater Joliet Tour Series 


Thank you so much to the Dellwood crew for another memorable season. Disc Golf is always evolving and every year brings its challenges to make every event as great as you do, let alone a full season.

The GJTS Finals really set the vibe as the perfect ending to the tournament season, and there’s no better place to see that happen than Dellwood.

It was so nice to have a little bit of a chilly fall morning with peak fall colors. The morning light really settles nice here.

As a token for making it to the finals, each participant received some bling, with these commemorative key chains.

There were 4 players in each division that made it to the finals after accumulating points throughout the season to battle for the ‘final’ title. It was a battle to the end in every division.

The late fall shadows are one of the reasons why I love photographing events this late in the season. There’s so much added drama.

I ended up staying put in the 8-loop after capturing everyone tee off on hole 1. It’s the perfect little triangle of holes to capture all the different groups coming through.

This spot on hole 11 was all about the light, I almost shot it from behind the tee which would have very bright backlight. But then I noticed how the trees behind the tee had this shadow pocket - and it ended up working out perfect.

Anytime, I can mix light and shadow I try to do that. It adds so much depth and dimension. With Jay’s photo below you can see just how bright it was - the leaves are a little blown out with highlights. Then in Ryan’s photo after that you can really see what it looks like without any shadow.

Then getting back to the almost full shadow, below, you can really see how much a difference that makes. I stayed in the same physical location (for the most part) for all of these, but just moving your perspective a little bit changes everything.

Another thing that I always try to capture while I’m out there is a landscape shot, especially if there are baby trees because all of this is going to change so much in the next 5-10 years.

This was the final hole for the MPO. Mike Conlee and Danny Beauchamp ended up tieing at the end and went into a sudden death playoff on hole 13 behind the Pro Shop.

Dellwood Disc Golf Pro Shop

Both Mike and Danny had an almost similar distance for the putt on 13, Mike missed his putt, but Danny made his (below) - making it a quick playoff with a not-so-easy putt.

Thank you Sammy’s for the delicious lunch and thank you Dellwood Disc Golf for everything that you do. I have especially enjoyed watching the Greater Joliet area grow over the years and its so nice to see it come together and meld with the GJTS tour.

If you want to take a look back at some of this year, or previous years, events check out my galleries.