Walking to the crossroads of holes at North Hants Golf Club, where tees 9 and 6 meet greens 8 and 5, I had no plan except to shoot the work taking place on the 8th green.
I was intrigued by this slow, methodical machine casting crisp long shadows, a contrast from the fast-moving equipment buzzing around the course that gives you little time to compose a shot.
Using a wide lens, I wanted to capture the springs reflecting off Ben’s head torch, and the ominous feeling the shadows created. As light rain came down and daylight broke, it enabled a short series of images that carry the viewer from a dead-of-night perspective through to the dawn light.
The AIR2G2 is a self-propelled, pedestrian-operated aeration machine that uses three probes to inject pressurised air 7 to 12 inches into the soil. It breaks up compacted subsoil, increases porosity and improves oxygen levels and drainage without disrupting the turf surface, allowing immediate play.
The team at North Hants Golf Club in Fleet were using the machine during a two-week course maintenance project under Course Manager Sam Evans, who is overseeing changes that align with the club’s heritage as a heathland course.
To capture these shots I needed a lens that could let as much light onto the sensor as possible. The Viltrox 135mm f1.8 paired with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 was a great combination for the story I wanted to tell.