Blog Archives - SkipCohenUniversity

The Profoto Showcase

Welcome to one of the most informative resources on the Internet, especially when it comes to a better understanding of lighting, composition and exposure. The Showcase features some of the most creative and talented photographers in the industry. Just click on any of the images on the left and you'll have a chance to check them out for yourself with links to great videos, guest posts, images and their websites.

Profoto's new off-camera flash systems, the B1 and B2, have been referred to as "game-changers". Click the link below to find out why and then visit a Profoto dealer to check them out for yourself!

Kenneth Volpe - Lighting on Location

7/30/2013

There's so much solid information in these short Profoto videos. Here's one I haven't seen before from Kenneth Volpe. Yeah, it's an infomercial, but who cares if you're learning something? Pay attention and you'll see how he ties in his main light, with his fill light, accent light and hair light. This is great stuff.

"In the studio I'm working with generators and the light shaping tools I've invested in…I can take right onto a location, fit them onto the D1s, D1s plug into the wall or run off a BatPac. Ultra portable, but the same light that I can use in the studio. It vastly improves my creative options." Kenneth Volpe

Learn More about the D1

Jeremy Cowart: Personal Projects

7/30/2013

by Skip Cohen

We've done a number of posts over the years about personal work and projects and in this short video, thanks to Profoto, Jeremy Cowart takes you through some of his favorites. The importance of personal work is all about helping you stay focused, pun intended.

No matter what you're shooting to pay the bills personal work and projects help you keep in touch with the passion that got you into this business in the first place. Personal work typically gives you a chance to be more creative and push the envelope just a little more than most normal assignments.

On the Profoto site, this statement says it all...

At his core, Jeremy loves to make art. In a relatively short amount of time, Jeremy earned the respect of artists, photographers, and celebrities alike and is now hailed as one of the trailblazers in the industry. Jeremy uses a quick one light setup to create an image of a friend that has become one of his favorite images.

Profoto's Master Series: Gary Land Shoots NASCAR for Adidas

7/30/2013

I keep finding these little nuggets of brilliance from Profoto. This one, also from Gary Land, takes you behind the scenes as he shoots for Adidas' Climacool Ad and clothing they specifically make for NASCAR. It's a short video, but listen to his comments about what the client wanted and how he captured and created the image. Skip Cohen

Profoto's Master Series: Gary Land Diagrams the Adidas Campaign

7/30/2013

"The Adidas F50 campaign, featuring soccer superstar Lionel Messi, was no doubt exciting yet proved to be a bit of a challenge to shoot as Gary had to recreate a stadium within a studio."

Regardless of your photographic specialty, there's so much you can learn from these short videos thanks to Profoto. What I love the most about this particular one is how Gary Land takes you through his thought process and helps you understand now only his vision, but the execution of each image to create the campaign. Skip Cohen

Profoto Softboxes: It's not about a softbox - it's about "Light Shaping Tools"

7/30/2013

by Skip Cohen

Profoto does it again and all in just three minutes. Every softbox gives you a different look and the speed rings are available to match up with over twenty different brands of lights. But, what I enjoy the most is being able to see the effect different soft boxes have on the final image. Lots of good content in this short video.

Tim Wallace, a 40 Meter Yacht and a Single Pro Twin Head

7/30/2013

I say this just about every time - I love how much information you can pick up in these short videos from Profoto. Check out the images Tim Wallace and Profoto are about to share with you and then think about how you would have done the shot if it was your assignment. Would you have had the skill set and the understanding of light to capture the image? Tim's work is stunning and if you want to see more, check out the original blog post on the Profoto site!

Profoto RFi Strip Softboxes

7/30/2013

When Gregory Heisler did my head shot on the left a critical part of the shot was his choice of lighting. He used a Profoto Strip Softbox placed vertically just a few inches from the left side of my face. While this video below is essentially an infomercial, as I've said with every one of the Profoto videos, I love the education value in each one. Profoto has repeatedly stayed true to developing products that help photographers push the edge of the envelope! Check out Profoto's entire line of softboxes with a click of your mouse.

Amazing Light: The Right Gear with the Right Photographer

7/30/2013

I originally published this on PhotoResourceHub, but moving content is just like packing up your home when you move. You find these little gems you forgot about. Here's one that's pretty amazing to watch. Yes, it's an infomercial, but it's only a minute and twenty seconds!

Just trust me on this and watch it, paying attention to what the right tools at the right time can do to fortify your creativity! This is all about Profoto's Pro B-4 in action with award-winning photographer, Marcel Lämmerhirt, who was the first photographer to ever lay his hands on the Pro-B4.

Remarkable!

A Totally Unique Assignment

7/30/2013

by Skip Cohen

I love sharing these videos from Profoto because there's so much information packed into each one. Each project is over-the-top for most photographers, but it sure gives you a definition of that old expression, 'pushing the edge of the envelope"! Just trust me and take the next few minutes to be blown out of your chair. You're about to see some amazing shooting!

As described on the Profoto site, "Award-winning photographer Marcel Lämmerhirt was the first photographer to ever lay his hands on the Pro-B4. Marcel, who loves to shoot fast and extreme sports, was especially impressed by its speed and action-freezing capability. He decided to use these unique features to take a sequence shot of the world champion in wakeboarding, Dominik Gührs."