by Skip Cohen

Sal Cincotta is one of the most diverse artists in photography today. He's a photographer, writer, educator and multiple business owner. He's founder of several different companies including Shutter Magazine and ShutterFest.  He's so diverse that it's easy to forget he's also one of the most talented photographers in the industry.

His foundation is deep rooted in photography, specializing in weddings and seniors along with a little commercial work. Sal never compromises on the quality in his images, gear or for that matter his relationships with vendors, associates and friends.

Last year he did this short video featuring Profoto's game-changing B1 and B2 Off Camera Flash Systems combined with OCF gels and the Portable Beauty Dish. The video is under three minutes, but Sal never does anything halfway. So, while it might be short, it's packed with some great content. Sometimes just watching an artist's vision become a reality is a learning experience.

"It’s incredible when you think about it…as photographers we’re creating art.
That art is left to the imagination, but your imagination needs tools to bring it all to life."
Sal Cincotta

Watch this short video and then visit the Profoto Dealer nearest you. Or, find a rental dealer close to you and take the B1/B2 system out for your own test drive. Just click on either link below.  

The first quarter of any new year is the "slow season" in most markets. Well, just because business might be a little slow, doesn't mean you have to slow down in becoming a better and more diverse artist. There are twelve outstanding webinars in Profoto's YouTube archives, and each one hits another aspect to help you better understand lighting.

I wanted to share one of my favorites from Jared Platt that ties back to wedding photography. The best way to separate yourself from the competition is to make your work look better than anybody else's. There's no better way to do that than expanding your skill set and understanding lighting, along with composition and exposure.

Jared is one of the finest educators in the industry.  In this webinar, he's sharing so much great content, including lighting diagrams and explanations along the way over why he's using a variety of techniques. Plus, the video is all about REAL weddings, taking you through many of the challenges some of you have faced in the past.

I love the way he starts out this webinar, with an image he had captured before his lights were even set up. It's a perfect reminder of your responsibility when shooting a wedding - don't over-think those magical moments. Your number one priority is to get the shot.

I've written a lot about Profoto's focus on education over the years. They not only manufacture the finest lighting equipment in photography, but they're the leader in education. Just click on the banner below and you'll find twelve outstanding webinars, each on a slightly different topic, but all with the common denominator of helping you better understand and control the lighting in dozens of different situation.

Check out Profoto's complete product line including their outstanding accessories at a Profoto Dealer or Rental Shop nearest you. Just click on the link below.

Intro by Skip Cohen

What I've always loved about working with photography students is their never-ending optimism, creativity and pure enthusiasm for the craft. They have no boundaries on what they're willing to try; they simply focus on what they want to create.

​When I read the quote above from Franklin D. Roosevelt, I couldn't help but think about two groups in photography; students and Profoto. It's perfect for students, especially Kent Meister in Profoto's spotlight from the "Rising Light" archives, but think about Profoto as a company.

Profoto manufactures the finest lighting equipment in the industry. Every day there are photographers who, thanks to Profoto's technology, especially with Off Camera Flash are going anywhere and everywhere to create their images. There are no boundaries on the visions in their mind's eye.

If you haven't been into a Profoto retailer, just click on the banner below and check things out for yourself. You'll never be disappointed in the quality of their products or the consistency in the quality of light!

Meanwhile, Harley Anderson does a terrific job of sharing the work and the insight into Kent Meister's images in the post below. Kent is definitely an artist we should all have on our radar, and that's the fun of working with students; watching them grow and realize their dreams.

Written by Harley Anderson
​
Rising Light is an article series highlighting promising photography students from all over the world. This month we introduce Kent Meister, at School of Visual Arts in New York .

​Most photo majors get hooked on taking pictures early on, while others take a more roundabout route. Kent Meister, currently enrolled in the School of Visual Arts (SVA) MPS Digital Photography Graduate Program in NYC, started out in the world of acting and theater.

​Arriving fresh-faced out of Tulsa Oklahoma to pursue a career in Manhattan’s theater district about 10-years ago, many of Kent’s friends had cameras, and before long Kent caught the bug. Since then he’s managed to slowly turn that initial spark into a growing photography business.

Hardly a novice, Kent began paying his bills by taking headshots of friends and actors about 6 years ago. He’s since expanded his repertoire to include a greater range of studio photography. He learned many of his initial lighting skills from Peter Hurley, for whom he has since become an Associate Photographer.

​Never one to get comfortable, Kent decided to go back to school in order to expand his technical and creative skill sets in order to further grow his photography business. Up till this point he had been mostly self-taught by experimenting on his own and scouring internet sites such as The Strobist for new tips and lighting tricks. The work of Mark Seliger also had an impact on his approach to picture taking.

A key reason he chose SVA’s MPS program as opposed to competitive photography schools within walking distance was because most every instructor is a working professional. The contents of the equipment locker also caught Kent’s attention.

​Already an owner of a Profoto B1 Off-Camera Flash system, Kent was eager to become more familiar with the schools Profoto D4 and Acute Studio Generator kits, including light shapers he had yet to play with.

“Profoto is the brand of lights I’ve come to know. My Profoto system makes it easy to shoot on location. I can always count on them – they’re accurate and dependable, and that’s important.”

As for cameras and lenses Kent is a Nikon shooter. Depending on the assignment he uses a Nikon D810 or a D4. His prime shooting lenses include Sigma 50mm/f1.4 and 24mm/f1.4 Art-series lenses along with a Nikon 85mm/f1.4G portrait lens.

Though he makes good use of the school’s Profoto Acute lighting systems, he’s primarily a B1 enthusiast, typically with a Profoto Softbox RFi 5’ Octa and/or a Profoto Softlight Reflector White.

Reliability aside, what he likes most about lighting is the control factors his Profoto system offers. “It opens up all sorts of possibilities in terms of establishing or suggesting the time of day and the overall mood of the image.”

One of his favorite photographs to date is one he captured while working on a personal photo project on Governors Island in NYC in which he wanted to push the envelope of not only his lighting skills, but his directorial skills with his subjects.

To make it work Kent used two Profoto B1 units – one with a large Octa which he used as the key light and the other as a window light, which he gelled a Profoto Zoom Reflector with a Full CTO in order to suggest early late afternoon sunlight. To add an additional dab of drama into the scene he rented a smoke machine to amplify the ethereal mood of the shot.

As for his future Kent hopes to shoot travel and editorial portraiture for magazines. He would also like to spend time in Cuba, a place he has previously traveled to that he finds incredibly seductive. A travel or portrait assignment from Vanity Fair or other prime time publication would truly make his day.

Make that an extended, no-rush deadline assignment in Cuba…

To see more of Kent Meister’s work go to his website: www.kentmeisterphotography.com
or check out is Instagram: www.instagram.com/kentmeister
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Kent Meister’s favorite lighting tools:

• Profoto B1 Off-Camera Flash System
• Profoto Zoom Reflector
• Profoto Softbox RFi 5′ Octa
• Profoto Softlight Reflector White

Image copyright Christoph Jorda. All rights reserved.

Intro by Skip Cohen

When Profoto introduced the B1 Off-Camera Flash System Bobbi Lane described it as the "game-changer."  Well, over and over again over the last three years the system has done more than just help capture stunning images, it's removed virtually all the boundaries on creativity. All together in a backpack, Profoto's Off-Camera Flash has given artists the ability to turn almost any vision into reality.

Check out the video below currently running on the Profoto site and then read more about it with just a click of your mouse.

Off-Camera Flash is about capturing the images in your mind's eye no matter where you are. And for artist, Christoph Jorda, he had a vision and had no interest in bad weather in the Alps slowing him down.

On the Profoto site, his vision is described as:

"When bad weather kept Christoph Jorda and his team from shooting what they had planned, a sightseeing trip provided the inspiration for an extraordinary photograph. Profoto B1 Off-Camera Flashes gave Christoph the flexibility—and reliability—for this once-in-a-lifetime shot."  

Read More

​It's a new year and time to think about your creativity in 2017. Over the next few months at all the major conventions you'll have a chance to visit a Profoto dealer and check out the B1 and B2 Off-Camera Flash Systems for yourself. Profoto isn't just building incredible lighting gear; they're helping to build more creative artists!

Check out Profoto's complete line, starting with finding a dealer nearest you!