But It's Just a Gardenia...NOT

by Skip Cohen

​I'm not sure how many years ago this started, but on Sundays, I began getting away from the topics of business and marketing. It's been at least a decade of rarely missing a Reflections post, and as I've written so many times, I only know what I'm going to write once I sit down at the computer.

This morning, as we looked out on the backyard, I spotted the first bloom on the gardenia. We planted it years ago, but it's rarely bloomed with more than a few flowers. Well, this is the first of dozens, and two things struck me. To start, I was kind of amazed. This is the first flower, and as of late yesterday afternoon, there were only buds visible.

Second, I had my phone in my pocket and decided to grab a shot. I played with a couple of Apple selections - first "portrait" and then "stage light." The result was the image above. But then I moved to "contour light" and the image below.

No manipulation—it was right out of the camera with just a little bit of a crop. Stay with me because today's post isn't about technique or suggesting I'm a "real" photographer.

---

What's on my mind is all about my life in this industry. My love for the craft started in high school, and it's never slowed down. Joining Polaroid in '70, Hasselblad in '87, followed by PhotoAlley, Rangefinder, WPPI, and off on my own in '09, my passion for imaging has never slowed down.

At the risk of sounding like this is a "born again" sermon - if you're not having the time of your life right now, you're doing something wrong. I'm not talking about the challenge and frustration of building your brand/business but the rush when you click the shutter. Even when you don't have a professional camera in your hands, that doesn't limit your ability to capture more memories.

Sure, it's just a gardenia, but the fun of stopping to get a grab shot kicked off what I already know is going to be a great day! The images I got this morning represent the joy of a career well-traveled, well-lived, and still going. Along with my love for the craft, technology never slows down and deserves to be continuously embraced, as long as we don't forget to take the time to simply appreciate our ability to capture and create.

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with moments of joy. Take the time to have fun. "Fun" is one of those words we lose track of as it gets buried under the stress of business, life, and simply living. When you stop and take the time for a bit of fun, it changes your perspective. All of life's gremlins get put back in the box!

Most importantly, today, grab a few shots of life around you. It's all pretty remarkable, and so often, we miss some of the most poignant moments. Hit those eleven-second hugs with the people you love the most—they're the ones to help you remember what's really important and help you stop to smell the roses—or, in my case, a gardenia!

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.