I love the work Profoto puts into each one of their videos, but it's not just about the style of each demo. It's the way each one introduces us to another photographer. Obviously, in this piece, lifestyle and wedding photographer, Jana Williams, is working outside the average pressure of a wedding. At the same time, a video like this gives you a chance to understand the mind's eye vision of the artist better. "My clients hire me because I add an editorial feeling to their wedding images." Jana Williams As you watch this video think about how you'd tell your story, and all in just two minutes. Every client is looking for something different from their photographer. Jana talks about her work having an editorial style, which is how she likes to capture and create. But, click on either image I captured in this post to visit Jana's galleries, and you'll see some beautiful work and understand, while her passion is more to the lifestyle side, her skill set and choice of gear allows her to pretty much capture whatever her clients need. But there's one more aspect of this video I wanted to share, and it's the location where she's shooting. Jana's based in the Los Angeles area and right now, the area is being destroyed by the fires. And, while the backdrop of the rolling hills where this video was filmed might not have been directly affected by the fires, for sure Jana's images over the years have captured many of the areas most beautiful locations, now destroyed. So many of us have written and talked about the responsibility each photographer has to never compromise on the quality of an image, but it's not just about the subjects who you photograph. It's also about the surroundings and the timeless beauty of the locations where you photograph. There's a lot you can learn by watching other photographers working, even in a short video. Profoto never slows down in developing more tools to help photographers raise the bar on the quality of their images and in their focus on education as well. Find out what all the buzz is about with a visit to your Profoto retailer or rental house. Just click on the banner below for more information. Then, take their Off-Camera Flash System out for your own test drive. You'll never be disappointed with the results.
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A couple of months ago Profoto announced the new B10. Once again they created their own little paradigm shift by expanding what photographers can do with light...anywhere! Going back to my Hasselblad days, I spent a lot of time in Scandinavia, but never enough time in Norway. I'm excited to share the video below. It not only features the work of Frøydis Geithus but demonstrates the portability of the new B10 and the potential to control the light at any time of the day and in virtually any environment. Frøydis is hiking through the mountains of Norway without any restrictions on her creativity. There's a lot of good content in this video, and as always, Profoto does a great job in sharing her images and each "recipe" along the way. Image copyright Frøydis Geithus. All rights reserved. One of my favorite segments in the video was the clip where she's got her subjects in the mountains, and it's well into dusk. Nothing slows Frøydis down. I grabbed a screenshot just to show the freedom the B10 gave her to merely be creative. She's working in the dark! I also appreciate the way Profoto has been sharing the gear used with each image. They're not only the leader in lighting technology but often in online education. You can learn so much watching other artists work, regardless of their subject matter or where they're working. Click on the image above to visit Frøydis' facebook page. She's photographing all over the world and shares a lot of great images. Isn't it time you visited a Profoto dealer or rental house? Take the B10 out for your own test drive and you'll immediately understand what all the buzz is about! Just click the banner below to visit the Profoto website for more information.
Intro by Skip Cohen While the Internet has made the world a significantly smaller place, one of the most fun aspects is when you catch up to a cyber-buddy in real time - live! There's still no better way to build relationships than face to face. That's one more great reason to attend every convention you can squeeze into your schedule and expand the "social" in social media. Last week at PhotoPlus Expo in NYC I caught up to Fred Windholz. While we may have met sometime over the years, I really know him from social media, especially Facebook. With everything I post, Fred is always one of the first to check it out. So, when bumping into each other at the show, I knew exactly who he was. Fred's got a great background in lighting and in an IM conversation I asked him if he wanted to share some of that expertise. I suggested three of the best tips he's ever received, and here he is this morning! I know for some of you this post might seem a little basic, but so often, especially when you're busy, a quick refresher of a few basics might be just what you need for a quick charge. Your clients trust you to capture the very best images. Learning to see the light and understand how it impacts each photograph may well be the most critical skill in building a strong brand. Fred should be on your radar - click on any image to link to his Facebook page, and keep track of what he's up to. Stay tuned because I'm hoping I can talk Fred into sharing more! by Fred Windholz Like so many things in life right now there seems to be an either/or way of thinking. In the photography business we tend to think of one brand over another or one style of photography over another. One area I see that in is with lighting… “Natural light vs. Flash”. As a past wedding photographer (recently slowed that genre down) for me light was light…which means I would use whatever light was best for any given situation…whether daylight, window light, light bulbs, LED or flash. The key was learning how to see light and take advantage of that light, regardless of the source. When I teach a lighting class I start with four principles to think about - Direction, Distance, Size and Power. These hold true whether using daylight or flash. Direction: We’ve all been told that direct front lighting is the least flattering light…not that it can’t be used at times, but that it will render “flat” light. By giving some direction to the light it begins to add shape and dimension to your subject. But what’s the best direction you might ask? I’m not going to get into that for this article because that could be a class all by itself…any direction is better than no direction (generally). Size & Distance: I put these together because they usually go hand in hand. Here’s the key, size and distance relative to your subject, will render a softer or harsher light. That is why on a cloudy day the shadows are softer as the clouds act as a large light source and bringing the light source closer to your subject. The direct sun is large relative to the earth but it is small relative to your subject. Power: So what does power do? Well, first it can affect your exposure for one (ie. f stop, ISO and/or shutter), which can affect your overall look. But let’s think of the sun…it is very powerful. Direct sun (small light source, far away) creates strong shadows. Bring in the clouds as we discussed earlier and because of the powerof the sun it can penetrate through those clouds to give a nice soft light. This becomes more relative when using flash or studio lights. A small hot shoe flash will render less power than a strong studio light. So if I want to use a large soft box I would want a light with more power to maximize and fill the soft box to have enough power to reach my subject. If I were using a flash outdoors to compete with the sun I would want one with more power. On the other side if I just needed a little light a less powerful flash would suffice. So whatever the light source you use, if you begin to think about these four factors it will help you see light differently and just may begin to improve your images. For me this is something I learned along the way and has stuck with me ever since.
Experiment, play around and find what works best for you! Images copyright Pye Jirsa. All rights reserved. We started the "Why?" series to introduce you to some of the most respected artists and educators in professional photography but with each new episode the dynamics keep expanding. Mark Toal, one of our past guests on "Why?" compared the challenge of picking one of his favorite images to being asked, "Which of your children do you love more?" It's an impossible task. Pye Jirsa shares two of his favorites in this new episode, and right from the beginning, he comments on the images not being his "most dramatic, epic or impressive", but at the very top of the charts because of the reaction from his clients. And, that's what makes the "Why?" series, so special and fun to share. Great images aren't just about technique but the reaction from the client. Being a professional photographer is about building relationships, not just capturing memories. With these images from Pye's favorite list, he not only captured a memory, but he also created one. Based out of Southern California, Pye is part of the award-winning team of Lin and Jirsa. He's no stranger to SCU and over the past two years, thanks to Profoto, we've shared at least ten different posts and videos featuring Pye as one of the industry's finest educators. Even with this short podcast, you'll pick up more tips on lighting. Looking for outstanding educational content? Check out the SLR Lounge with a click on either of Pye's images in this post. And, take the time to look at the Lin and Jirsa galleries featuring dozens of beautiful photographs. Their galleries are a blueprint demonstrating one of the most important aspects of building a successful business as a professional photographer - they know how to tell each story! Pye captured the images with Profoto's Off-Camera Flash System. Just click on the banner below to visit Profoto's website, and then get yourself into a Profoto dealer or rental house, and take the finest gear in lighting today for your own test drive!
A few weeks ago Profoto announced a new member of their Off-Camera Flash System family, the new B10. There's a lot of buzz out there about this remarkable new light. Creating all the noise are some of the most diverse artists in the industry, and I love the way Profoto announces a new product to build the backstory. One aspect of the new launch is a series of short videos featuring photographers from all over the world taking the B10 for a test drive. Over and again, the work being shared is pretty interesting, and you can learn so much watching other photographers work. In this new video, French photographer, Little Shao takes the B10 to Seoul and spends a day with a group of epic breakdancers. In under three minutes, he shares several of his favorite images together with some good solid narrative of what's in his mind's eye each time he clicks the shutter. Find out more about the new B10 with a click on the banner below. And, finding a Profoto dealer is just click away. To see more of Little Shao's work click on any of his images. Profoto never slows down in their product development to provide photographers with the very best tools to raise the bar on the quality of their images. Today photographers have the most creative tools in the history of photography. And, Profoto is helping you take control of the light to a new level! Images copyright Sallee Photography. All rights reserved. EDU10 is all thanks to ProfotoUSA. The Profoto team never stops working to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images. They not only believe in manufacturing the finest lighting gear in imaging, but they stay focused on education, and helping artists create and capture some of the most beautiful images in photography. JB Sallee joins me on this new episode. He's a photographer, an artist, an educator and a good friend to so many of us in the industry. Working together with his wife DeEtte for the past fourteen years, they've built a reputation for unmatched quality. Their specialty is primarily on people - families, children, brides and grooms but the list goes on and on. And, spend just a few minutes with him and you'll find his passion for the craft is pretty much unmatched. Repeatedly in WPPI print competition, he's led the way with top honors, year after year. Just recently he returned from a Profoto trip to Alaska with some of the most talented artists in professional photography today. It was an introduction to Profoto's new B10, but in addition, an exchange of ideas and creativity. In this new episode, JB shares some terrific insight into how their work has changed thanks to Profoto's Off-Camera Flash Systems. They now have the ability to truly control the light - no matter what time of the day, or for that matter where they are. Click on any of Salle images in this post to visit their website and see more of their work. I've only grabbed a handful of my favorites, but you'll see how hard it is to do the minute you "scroll" into the Sallee galleries. And, check out the new B10 along with Profoto's complete product line with a click on the B10 above. Then, get yourself into a Profoto dealer and check out what all the buzz is about! Last week and right on time, Profoto introduced the new B10. I shared the trailer video for the launch featuring Two Mann Studios and Joseph Radhik last Wednesday. But, there's a lot more to the story, and I like the way Profoto's put this backstory video together about the B10 and why it's a significant part of the family. Going back to my roots at Polaroid and working with many other companies in the industry over the years, so often new products were introduced by accident, rather than through research and defining an actual need and benefit. I love this background video on the new B10 because it introduces you to the thought process behind the product. It's not an accident but is well-defined with a purpose and benefit to helping photographers control the light. The video gives you a chance to meet the people involved, and they've made sure they don't miss anything in the development process from the B10 itself to the compatible accessories and even the design of the backpack. I love the comment from Jacob von Matern, the designer of the pack, "Because like the B10 the bag too has to work flawlessly. It's a combination of all the details in perfect harmony." It's time to get yourself into a Profoto dealer and check out what all the buzz is about. Just click on the banner below to learn more about the B10. Profoto never slows down in helping photographers raise the bar on the quality of their images and their ability to control the light wherever they go!
Last week I shared a post from Profoto that was just a teaser about something new coming on September 12. Well, true to form and always keeping their promises, meet the new B10! Just a little bigger than a medium-sized zoom lens, here's Profoto's opening description: Size matters, it does. Because how much gear you have to carry matters. How much space you have to set up and work in matters. Being able to move fast, getting in, getting out and nailing the shot matters. That's why when Profoto set out to create the Profoto B10, their brand new cordless off-camera flash, the company first considered size. Or rather, a lack of it. “We designed the B10 to be small,” said Göran Marén, Product Manager at Profoto. “Just a little bigger than a medium-sized zoom lens. That means you can fit it in your bag with the rest of your gear and because it’s cordless and lightweight, it’s easy to bring and set up anywhere. That said, this is in every way a Profoto light, so the power and quality of light is essential.” Two of my favorite images shared with the B10 announcement are from Two Mann Studios and Joseph Radhik. If you've followed the SCU blog, their work isn't new to you. They're award-winning wedding photographers who never compromise on the quality of their images. Click on either image to see visit their website and see more of their work. In Profoto's new B10 section on their website, there's a statement that combined with Profoto's legendary reputation for quality and performance says it all: Designed to make life easy! And, this short two-minute video will give you an even better perspective on the size of the B10 and how it really is designed to make life easier! Click on the banner below and meet the newest member of the family. Then get into a Profoto dealer and find out how the B10 can join your family!
I LOVE teaser campaigns and nobody does it better than Profoto! We've all heard the expression, "good things come in small packages." Check out the short video tied in with this announcement that came out yesterday and then circle September 12 on your calendar!
All of us know technology never stands still, and that certainly sums up Profoto's never-ending focus on groundbreaking lighting products. Click on the light above and link to the announcement, then watch the twenty second video! Another game-changer is about to hit the industry! One of the things I love about all the content shared on Profoto's blog, and YouTube channel is that the information is timeless. There is no expiration date on technique, passion for the craft or an understanding of lighting. As the leader in lighting technology, they're dedicated to making sure their support to the photographic community is just as remarkable as their product line. They never slow down sharing great content featuring some of the most respected and talented photographers in the world. In this short video featuring fashion photographer Pauline Darley, she puts Profoto's B2 Off-Camera Flash System to work. She shares a lot of great insight in this video, and you can learn so much watching another photographer at work. This quote from the video says it all, and sums up why so many photographers love working with their Profoto gear...consistent performance. In a professional's work, consistency is everything! Pauline Darley This video was part of a terrific blog post originally. Click on any of Pauline Darley's images to read the complete story. If you haven't visited a Profoto dealer, isn't it time to find out what all the buzz is about. Just click on the banner below for information about the complete Profoto line, and while you're visiting their website, stop by "Inspiration" for some of the most dynamic content in imaging.
There's so much incredible content in the Profoto archives on YouTube. Hundreds of videos, each with an ability to help you fine-tune your technique and elevate your skill set. I may have missed sharing this video from Pye Jirsa last year, but that doesn't change it's relevance to the images so many of you are working to capture today. In eight minutes he's not only packed in ten different ways to shoot the same scene but with each one he's given you all the specs on his setup. Again and again, he shares the "recipe" for the image, and while most of you won't be shooting at the top of a mountain range, it doesn't change how much you can learn from watching a great educator at work. Check out more of Pye's educational support for photographers with a visit to his teaching website. As one of the co-founders of SLRLounge.com, Pye always walks the talk when it comes to education and working to help photographers better support each other. He never compromises on his gear, the quality of his images or his passion for education and the industry. Profoto never slows down in their product development or their efforts to help photographers raise the bar on their skill set. Check out the Profoto B2 and find out what all the buzz is about. It's the off-camera flash system that literally goes just about anywhere! Click on the B2 banner to the right for more information and to find a dealer near you. There's so much outstanding content being shared all year long on Profoto's website. Well, now and then I miss something that deserves to be shared. While it might have been released last fall, this blog post and video featuring Vanessa Joy are loaded with great information that, like Vanessa, is always relevant. Vanessa shares a lot of "how-to" information in this short video. It's a solid reminder that your success as an artist is dependent on your ability to control the light rather than waiting as the light controls you! "The world is my studio because with the A1 I can bring that natural light look wherever I go!" Enjoy the video and click on any of Vanessa's images in this post to read the entire story on Profoto's "Inspiration." Check out Vanessa's video and then check out her website and make sure she's on your radar. She's always doing something cutting edge and linking to her website is just a click away.
Profoto never slows down in their quest to develop great educational videos with a wide variety of artists and topics. I love this short piece featuring Albert Watson and one of his most iconic images. There's so much solid content in this 1 1/2 minute video. Remember, this image was captured in 1973 - forty-five years ago! No digital image to "chimp;" shot on film and all in manual mode on whatever gear Albert was using at the time. Most of you probably don't remember the image when it first came out, but it's another iconic portrait and there a few things that I love about it. First, it's black and white. Second, is Albert's concept behind the image and why, which he talks about in the video and third, Alfred Hitchcock was photographed by one of today's most significant contemporary artists. Albert Watson's work is timeless because he's made it a point always to stay relevant. "Albert’s visual language follows his own distinctive rules and concepts of quality. With their brilliance, urgency, even grandeur, his photographs stand out so clearly against the world of today’s images. His way of lighting subjects, especially the fetish objects and portraits, creates a nearly meditative atmosphere in the photographs. Without a doubt, Albert Watson is an artist who greatly enriches our perception with his unique photographic view." Check out more of Albert Watson's backstory with a click on his image above. It's part of an outstanding post by Clare Gillsäter. And, while you're there, you'll find Profoto's Inspiration tab a terrific resource about some of the finest artists in photography today. Time to find out more about Profoto's extensive product line? Find a Profoto dealer near you with a click on the banner below.
Obviously, I started this mini-podcast series because Profoto is an SCU partner and I love their products, reputation, and support to the professional photographic community. But, there's been a side-benefit - each short podcast, typically 5-10 minutes has given you a chance to meet another photographer. We all know the names of the six artists featured on EDU10 so far this year, but listening to their comments about how they shoot, light their subjects and even a few of the challenges gives a blog post a new dimension. Best of all it provides you as a reader a little more insight into the importance of great lighting and creativity. Click on any of the featured images below to listen to some of the most respected artists and educators in professional photography today. You just might be surprised at some of their stories and how Profoto is changing the way they capture some of their most favorite images. Profoto has changed the way photographers work today, removing virtually all of the normal limitations on lighting. They've given photographers the ability to control the light - anywhere - and at the same time expand their creativity and capture some of the finest photographs in the world.
Find out what all the buzz about with a visit to your Profoto dealer, starting with their website - it's all just a click away. I've often said the fun of this industry has little to do with photography but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Well, it's time to meet one of the nicest guys in photography, John Cornicello. Although John and I had known of each other and shared a number of good friends for many years, it wasn't until my two-day marketing program on CreativeLive in 2012 we actually had a chance to meet. Recently I discovered his book on Amazon, Anatomy of a Studio Portrait. Usually a title like that means the basics - exposure, composition and lighting. Well, John never does anything halfway and this book is one of the most thorough I've ever read. There are thirteen chapters covering all the ingredients to consider when creating a stunning portrait, even the backdrop, aspect ratio and depth of field. However, the most fun for me when it comes to friends in this industry is digging back to their roots. From 1985 to 1991, ABC, A&E, and The Travel Channel aired a weekly half-hour TV show for photographers called “World of Photography.” I went and did a little digging and found the video of John below from thirty years ago. Technology has changed a lot over the last three decades, but not John's demeanor, passion for the craft or his dedication to quality and education. Check out the book with a click on any of the images in this post and you'll also find John as a regular on many past episodes of CreativeLive along with his own channel of 39 videos. Just wander over to YouTube.
Images copyright Tony Corbell. All rights reserved. In the 180 year history of photography, artists have never had more creative tools available than today. Many of those tools are thanks to Profoto's technology. Profoto lighting is consistently referred to as a "game changer." EDU10 is sponsored by ProfotoUSA, who never slows down on their focus to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images. And who better to join me on an episode than the lighting guru himself, Tony Corbell? He's a photographer, educator, writer and great friend to so many of us in the industry. Teaching workshops all over the world, there's always one point Tony always makes as well as stay true to - he never compromises on the quality of an image, or for that matter his relationships with clients, students, vendors or friends! In this new episode, Tony shares a recent experience of an on-location shoot and some remarkable results relying on Profoto TTL. He's shooting with the Profoto's Off-Camera Flash System and the B1X. For more information on the B1X, just click the thumbnail to the left. See more of Tony's work and check out his workshop schedule with a click on any of his images in today's post. Profoto never slows down on their focus on education, and this recently shared video and blog post with John Russo is jam-packed with examples of great lighting technique. Watch the video below and then click on the images above to link to the article in Inspiration. With the above image..."of actor Kate Beckinsale, John picked a short lighting pattern because he found it to be more flattering to the shape of her face." The article goes on to share classic lighting patterns, one after another of broad light, split light, loop light, Rembrandt light and butterfly light. Visiting John's website and seeing more of his work is just a click away! Inspiration needs to be on your radar. Every article is filled with good solid content to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images and expand your skill set, especially in lighting. And, check out more about the D2 together with the rest of the amazing Profoto product line.
I've said this numerous times before - Profoto doesn't just building outstanding lighting gear, they're helping to "build" some of the finest artists! Images copyright Meg Loeks. All rights reserved. Skip Cohen If you haven't visited Inspiration on the Profoto blog, you're missing a terrific opportunity to spend a little time getting to know some wonderfully talented artists. Meet Meg Loeks, a Michigan based photographer primarily specializing in children and family. She's an artist, author, educator, a Clickin Moms Mentor and gets a lot of her inspiration from her children and the outdoors. "Meg is drawn to environmental portraiture, lifestyle photography, landscapes, low light and color." And, like so many of you she's a natural light photographer and wrote: As a natural light photographer, I am completely dependent on the weather, which we all know is never consistent. I often avoid shooting in the middle of the day because of the harsh and sometimes drastic changes in light. And then, of course, I constantly run into challenging situations, like not being able to shoot in certain areas of my home because I just don’t have enough light on my subject. So, Meg went to work learning how to better control her environment and began working with Profoto's A1. I was hoping the Profoto A1 would be both easy to use and capable of solving my light issues inside my home. The first location was just a simple space in our living room that lacked light, but it’s also one of my favorite spots in the house. It’s a perfect little cosy nook where I’m never able to shoot. With the Profoto A1, I was able to change that, creating soft, directional light on my son — something I believed I couldn’t do with flash. Check out the rest of Meg's story on the Profoto website and then put her blog and website on your radar. There are also two more videos in addition to the one below and they're just a click away. You can enjoy more of Meg's work and also check out her workshop schedule with a visit to her website. And, find out more of what all the buzz is about with the A1, the world's smallest studio light. Profoto never slows down in manufacturing the very best in lighting equipment or in their educational efforts to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images. Click on the A1 to the right for more information. Repeatedly photographers, when talking about Profoto lighting, have used the words "game changers," but those words apply just as much to the staff as they do to their Off-Camera Flash System. The members of the Profoto team set the standard for support. So, I thought it would be fun to start a series of very short podcasts to introduce you to some outstanding artists and share how Profoto's changed the way they capture their images. Sponsored by ProfotoUSA, EDU10 is one more example of how Profoto never slows down on their focus to help photographers raise the bar on the quality of their images. Thanks to support from some incredible artists and educators, we're sharing more ideas to help you expand your mind's eye visions on all the possibilities in lighting. What a kick to have Sue Bryce join me on this new episode. She's an incredibly talented artist, educator, business owner and inspiration to so many of us in the industry. And, through Sue Bryce Education she's helping thousands of photographers not only develop a stronger skill set but a business model that's designed to help them be more successful, profitable and efficient. Check out SueBryce Education with a click on any portrait above, and if you're looking for a remarkable educational opportunity, there are a handful of tickets left for The Portrait Masters 2018 conference in Phoenix. And just to help you get to know Sue a little better, I shared this video last year in a post, but now is the perfect time to bring it back so you can see Sue in action. Isn't it time you visited a Profoto dealer and found out what all the buzz is about? The worldwide dealer locator is just a click away on the B1X banner below. Profoto's not only a leader in education, but the leader in lighting technology offering photographers some of the most creative tools in the history of photography.
Profoto manufactures some of the finest lighting equipment in the world, but they also stay focused on excellent education and creative ways to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images. This short video is part of their "Master Series" on YouTube. It's an interview with Albert Watson, and I've shared a couple of their previously released background stories here at SCU. While we all know and recognize so many of his images, there's something remarkable about hearing the story directly from Albert. And, there's a sidebar to every story which further emphasizes the importance of knowing your gear and the craft. The final image of "Golden Boy" was the result of two Polaroids and only four frames. That's all Albert Watson had to work with when the subject didn't want to be photographed any longer. (Remember, this image was captured in 1990. There was no digital photography and the Polaroids were the only way to get a proof shot before the final image.) To read the complete article that goes with the video below, click on "Golden Boy" to the right. If you haven't visited Profoto's YouTube channels, it's time to wander over. There are 147 videos in the ProfotoUS channel and 216 in the Profoto Global channel. While there's some overlap, you'll find a wealth of unique content and information on both channels to help you become a better photographer! Hit the subscribe button to stay on top of every new release! And, if you haven't checked out all the inspirational stories on the Profoto website, what are you waiting for? Every week there's new content being added giving you a chance to be inspired at your own pace from some of the finest photographers and educators around the world. |
Our Partners"Why?"Check out "Why?" one of the most popular features on the SCU Blog. It's a very simple concept - one image, one artist and one short sound bite. Each artist shares what makes the image one of their most favorite. We're over 100 artists featured since the project started. Click on the link above and you can scroll through all of the episodes to date.
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