by Skip Cohen It's "Mirrorless Monday," and having just caught up to my buddy William Innes at WPPI a few days ago, I can't think of a better way to kick off a new week. The video below was shot over a year ago, but there's nothing dated about the technology. As a LUMIX Ambassador, William has access to the complete LUMIX line. This video, shot while in Columbia, is all about the new LUMIX S series. Shooting with the S1, and the first lens available at the time, the 50mm F/1.4, Panasonic with William's help, takes us through the key features of the new full-frame member of the family. A fun sidebar: The video was also captured with a LUMIX GH5 and a variety of lenses. There's nothing like keeping the creativity in the family - it was shot by William's son Chris! The LUMIX tagline has always been "Changing Photography," and that's precisely what the new series has done. In the almost 200 year history of photography, there have never been more creative tools at your fingertips than today, many of them thanks to Panasonic. As a LUMIX Ambassador, Wiliam is a member of one of the most unique and diverse educational teams in professional photographers. This group of artists and educators represent some of the finest photographers in the industry and should be on your radar. You'll also find them hanging out from time to time in the LUMIX Photographers group on Facebook. Two things to take note of: First, the two images I grabbed for the post were screen shots. So, imagine what the quality of the original images must be like! Second, since the video was filmed, Panasonic's introduced a full line of lenses for the S series. Click on the banner below to check out the complete family of LUMIX S lenses. Stay tuned, because there are more lenses coming in 2020 - because Panasonic NEVER slows down!
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by Skip Cohen We're an industry of artists, and our love for any particular image is always unique to the viewer. My old buddy Dean Collins, when an image of his was criticized, his comment was always the same, "Beauty is in the eyes of the checkbook holder!" We all have favorites we follow on their websites and in social media, and Mike Peters is one of mine. Two years ago, I did a book for Panasonic and Marathon Press. There were only two copies made for the public display. It was a giant album designed to show the quality of LUMIX cameras combined with Marathon's outstanding quality of Bella Art Albums. The page at the top of today's post is where I look at my relationship with Mike started, and I shared the image on the left in a post last year. Although now and then a closeup nature shot jumps in, Mike is all about people. As a LUMIX Ambassador, he's out and about capturing his favorite species - humanity. We can only speculate on the story behind each image, but as a body of work, the story couldn't be more continuously developing or obvious. At a time in the world where the news media captures the challenges in the differences between us - Mike is capturing what makes us all the same. From the intensity of a pensive stare to a smile to communicating and sharing an emotion, he never slows down on his quest to capture another face to add to his own version of The NeverEnding Story. I love the way Mike describes the images in his galleries: The images you will see here have been presented as seen, I crop only rarely and work to get the composition nailed in the camera. No pixels were harmed in the making of any of these images! The people you see in these photographs, with the exception of the performances, are regular people, not models or actors. Many are in real situations that were happening in the moment, while others have been a part of a scenario that was set up just for the camera. Mike needs to be on your radar - follow him on Instagram, or his website. Every image he shares represents another chapter in a day in the life of America. Click on any image to view in the SCU lightbox. Mike is a LUMIX Ambassador, and a member of one of the most unique and diverse educational teams in professional photographers. This group of artists and educators represent some of the finest photographers in the industry and should be on your radar, along with Mike. You'll also find them hanging out from time to time in the LUMIX Photographers group on Facebook. Panasonic never slows down on developing creative tools for photographers to raise the bar on the quality of the images they capture. Mike's favorite camera and lens to work with these days is the LUMIX G9 and the Leica 10-25mm F1.7 lens. For more information, click on either thumbnail below. by Skip Cohen I love artists who let us take a peek behind the scenes. It's like a door they open to share their ideas and the vision behind their images. All we have to do is walk through it. BTS videos like this give us a chance to see the preparation to capture each image. They give us a better understanding of not only the skillset involved but the talent of the artists themselves, and their thought process. While the most effective type of education to grow your skill set will always be hands-on. There's so much you can learn watching a BTS video, especially when you've got three LUMIX Ambassadors in the driver's seat! As I've written dozens of times, the fun of this industry is in the friendships. Charles and Jennifer Maring and I go back close to twenty years. I've watched their growth as artists, educators, writers, and even entertainers. Then, with the video below, they brought Photo Joseph into the mix. I haven't known Joseph as long, but he's just as focused on his love for imaging, and diversity. Joseph's joining Charles and Jennifer to capture their story on video. Lots of people can capture/create beautiful images, but they can't tell you about the process. Even more important is when they can SHOW you what they're doing, and they're comfortable sharing those "secrets." This video is part of "Together In Style," Charles and Jennifer's educational website, which should be on everybody's radar. They cover a wide variety of information, and their presentation is as high-impact as they are as artists. Photo Joseph's website is packed with great education. He's one of the most diverse educators in imaging and always helping photographers raise the bar on their skillset. Pick just about any topic in professional photography and you'll find it on his website! As LUMIX Ambassadors, Charles, Jennifer and Photo Joseph are members of one of the most unique and diverse educational teams in professional photographers. This group of artists and educators represent some of the finest photographers in the industry and should be on your radar. You'll also find them hanging out from time to time in the LUMIX Photographers group on Facebook.
And last but certainly not least - Panasonic's tagline is "Changing Photography." Check out the new full-frame S series cameras with a click on the banner below. The S Series is changing photography and filmmaking. Isn't it time you understood what all the buzz is about! While there's nothing Rick Gerrity can't photograph and probably hasn't, I wanted to share a little of his black and white work, because it brings out so much about him as an artist. I usually love to share the artist's backstory, but this morning I'm going to share it from my perspective. Rick's a LUMIX Ambassador, and educator teaching all over the US, but most importantly, he's a student of people. His passion is telling the story of America, and that truck of his, which is approaching 500,000 miles, is proof of his road-warrior mentality to go everywhere it goes! All along the way, no matter where he's headed, a LUMIX camera is never out of reach. He described the combination of his LUMIX G9 with the Leica 10-25mm lens as a "life-changing combo!" The fun of this industry is always about the friendships, and I first met Rick in 2013 when our mutual buddy, Tom Curley, was getting the Ambassador team started. Since then, thanks to cyberspace, I've been able to follow him all over the country as he documents Americana. And, while I love so much of his work, I chose black and white for today's post because B&W is so pure of the distraction of color - each image is about the personality of the subject or simply the moment. If it's true that a picture is worth a thousand words, then Rick's already surpassed everything Shakespeare ever wrote. But another aspect of knowing Rick is the fun of what he shares. Because of my affiliation with Platypod, he sent me the image on the right over the weekend, and the video below. While out and about in South Jersey, Rick was playing in the mud. He used a Platypod Max with his G9 to capture the video. He had it tied to a tree as he took his truck in and out of a mud puddle just smaller than Lake Erie! On one side of my home are two tables and all of Sheila's gardening tools and flower pots. She loves to garden, and I had a sign made that says, "Sheila's Garden Shop - Some kids just like to play in the dirt!" Well, obviously, Sheila's not alone. For more information on Rick's favorite camera and lens combo, click on either thumbnail below. The G9 is also my favorite, but I love the versatility of the 14-140mm lens. Rick should be on your radar. Click on any of his black and white images above to visit his Instagram page, where he shares most of his work. Even better, he's on the road right now and headed to Virginia to do a Travel Photography seminar at Ace Photo Inc. and then on to Texas to Precision Camera for another seminar on street photography.
As a LUMIX Ambassador, Rick's part of one of the most unique and diverse educational teams in professional photographers. This group of artists and educators represent some of the finest photographers in the industry and should be on your radar. You'll also find them hanging out from time to time in the LUMIX Photographers group on Facebook. Earlier in the month, I shared an image of Jordan Bunch's I simply loved. It got mixed reviews, but reminded me what any of us think of an image doesn't matter - "beauty is in the eyes of the checkbook holder." So, if your client loved it, that's all that matters. Besides the feel of the photograph, what I loved was that it was SOOC ( Straight Out of Camera.) Jordan Bunch shared two more images from that same wedding, all of them right out of the can. It's a perfect reminder of the importance of knowing what you're doing on the front-end, rather than cleaning up files in post-production and wasting time that could be invested in other aspects of growing your skillset and business. Click on either image to see more of Jordan's work. And as a LUMIX Ambassador, he's always sharing great images. This group of artists and educators represent some of the finest photographers in the industry and should be on your radar. You'll also find them hanging out from time to time in the LUMIX Photographers group on Facebook. Check out the new full-frame S1R with a click on any of the thumbnails below. Panasonic's never strayed from their tagline of "Changing Photography." Click on any of the images below for info about the LUMIX Full-Frame S Series It's "Mirrorless Monday," and what better time to share the work of Adam Pretty in a stunning under two-minute video shooting with the LUMIX S1R? Take the time to watch the video - you won't be disappointed in his work, and especially his narrative. "I don't want to just capture the moment. Not just like the athlete winning a race. But I want something really aesthetically beautiful whether it be graphics, light or emotion. With my photography I seek to capture true identities." As you watch the video, keep in mind Adam Pretty wasn't the only one with a LUMIX camera in his hands. The footage was all captured on LUMIX! Interested in seeing more of Adam's work? His website it just a click away. The new full-frame series is creating a lot of buzz all over the world. Isn't it time you found out more about it and visited your Panasonic LUMIX dealer? Click on the thumbnail for more information. Image copyright Jordan Bunch. All rights reserved. Now and then, an image is posted in social media that's simply spectacular. That's when I love to share it through a "Spotlight" post because it deserves to be seen by more photographers. Jordan Bunch is a LUMIX Ambassador and posted this image from a recent wedding. You could hear him singing his comment, complete with musical notes...when the suns hit your lens like a big pizza pie! Jordan is an accomplished wedding artist based out of Austin, Texas. As both a photographer and filmmaker, his work sets a high standard for imaging, as well as storytelling. I love his approach in the way he's positioned the importance of capturing those special memories from a wedding. Under "Our Story" for Ladybird Studios is the perfect message for a bride to read: At the heart of every wedding is a love story worth telling well. Your story matters. It matters to you, it matters to the ones you love and your future family. Your story matters to us. Leave your wedding in the hands of the romantics at Ladybird Studios. Now, to the image above. First, keep in mind this is a screenshot from a Facebook page. Imagine how stunning the original image must be! It's also SOOC - (Straight Out Of Camera) - printable with no manipulation whatsoever! It was captured with the LUMIX S1R and 70-200 mm lens. You can find out more about these two extraordinary members of the LUMIX family with a click on either thumbnail below. It's not very often there's a video produced about a lens, but the LUMIX S PRO 70-200mm deserves it. It's worth just over a minute of your time to check it out, and understand the technology that's gone into this remarkable lens! You'll find more of Jordan's images with a visit to his website - just click on the image above. You'll never be disappointed in the content he shares. And check out the LUMIX Ambassador team. This is one of the most diverse groups in photography, and they're on the road all year long with workshops and presentations at LUMIX dealers and conventions across the country. by Skip Cohen Years ago, Hasseblad's legendary Ernst Wildi told me the biggest difference between amateur and pro photographers is that amateurs show you ALL of their shots! I'll spare you the first fifty attempts at a family selfie for our holiday portrait, but it's the process that was so memorable. Although we liked one of all of us looking at the camera - the fun for the next portrait will be in a video! I used the LUMIX G9 with the 14-140mm lens, one Litra Torch 2.0, and had it all set up on a MeFOTO Classic tripod. Very minor post-processing was done in Luminar with cropping and a light tweak in the saturation. Last on the list was using the Panasonic Image App on my phone. I've used it before on videos but not with an attempted portrait. I wound up using it to start the process but set the camera on delayed shutter so we could try to get the pups both looking in the right direction and get my phone out of the shot. All of you know I'll never profess to be a pro, and while I know more than I let on, it took us fifty+ shots to get the one we wanted to share. Most of you would probably get it in far less. But the biggest challenge and most laughs came in trying to get Lucy and Belle both looking in the direction of the lens. I know it's old school, but our idea started as a posed family portrait. Panasonic's slogan is "Changing Photography," and they've stayed true to that commitment. Check out the G9 and 14-140mm lens with a click on either product below. It's the last "Mirrorless Monday" of 2019 - and what a year it's been. With posts shared by some of the most talented artists and educators in the world, we've shared new images all year long. Panasonic never slows down in manufacturing new products and giving photographers everywhere an opportunity to capture stunning images and raise the bar on their skill set.
Check out the LUMIX photographers page on Facebook, and if you haven't visited your local LUMIX retailer recently, check out the full line. The new full-frame S series is remarkable. and like everything Panasonic manufactures, represents the best in imaging! Wishing everybody a Happy and Health New Year! Image copyright Paul Mango. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen It's "Mirrorless Monday," and last week LUMIX Ambassador, Paul Mango, shared this image from NYC. It was captured with a GX85 and Rokinon 7.5mm F3.5 lens. The exposure triad was F/8 @ 1/6 ISO 3200. One of the fun aspects of sharing great images here in the SCU blog is the recipes that go into the photographs. I've been shooting with a GX85 for the last couple of years. I love the fact that's it's small and takes interchangeable lenses. It's got most of the features the LUMIX family has become known for and perfect for simply having a camera with you when you're out and about. Another fun ingredient with Paul's shot is the addition of a Platypod. Platypod changes your perspective, and Paul wrote: "I'm having a ton of fun with my Platypod in NYC and it fits perfectly in my pocket. Combined with the LUMIX GX85, it's the ultimate pairing for lightweight awesomeness." Need a little inspiration? Follow Paul and the other members of the LUMIX Ambassador team. They're always sharing great content as one of the most diverse groups of photographers in our industry. And, check out the LUMIX Photographers Facebook page with images being shared every day from 7,000+ photographers all over the world! If you don't know about Platypod, the website is just a click away, But, even better is this short video by Jay P. Morgan. The tripod isn't dead - it just needs a new sidekick! by Skip Cohen It's Mirrorless Monday and also the home-stretch of the holiday shopping season. If you're thinking about an incredible camera to add to your gear, the new full-frame LUMIX S1H is it. But my post this morning isn't meant to be a sales pitch on the camera as much as it is to get you to check out the way Panasonic's told the story. The under three-minute "Sizzle Reel" is just that - all sizzle! It's a composite piece of shorts from four different films, each by a different artist. But the common denominators are their creativity and putting the S1H through the paces! It's worth your time just to be inspired by the quality of the images, each artist's approach to making their short film, and the way Panasonic's told the story. How would you tell your story? Panasonic's tagline is "Changing Photography." Well, they've gone well beyond that and are changing imaging. From still images to filmmaking, they never slow down providing more creative tools artists need to capture, and create the ultimate story! The LUMIX team needs to be on your radar! Follow the LUMIX Ambassadors for great content and a lot of terrific diversity. Each Ambassador has a unique skill set, but the common denominators are their love for the craft and respect for quality and creativity. And whether you currently shoot with LUMIX cameras or not, check out the LUMIX Facebook group. There's always great content being shared by over seven thousand photographers from all over the world!
Intro by Skip Cohen My buddy Bob Coates is no stranger to SCU, and many of you are familiar with his Successful-Photographer website. He's a photographer who not only believes in education but ALWAYS walks the talk when it comes to helping other artists. While I shared the image to the right in a post last June, there's more to the story. And, if you're like me, and have the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico on your bucket list, there's no such thing as too many posts. It's one of the most incredible places on the planet this time of year. Click on any of the images in this post to visit Bob's fine art site. Note: Interested in some extended study time with Bob? He will be an instructor at the Texas School: the “Best Little Photography School in the World” April 26- May 1, 2020 All wildlife images in this post copyright Bob Coates. All rights reserved. by Bob Coates As the cover artist for the Festival of the Cranes I had the opportunity to spend another four days photographing at Bosque del Apache NWR. The cranes and large numbers white snow geese make an appearance each year. This is a target rich environment for wildlife photographers. My main shooting combo was the Lumix G9 with the Leica 100-400mm f/4.0-6.3 lens. This is mounted on the Promaster GH25 Professional Gimbal Head on a carbon fiber tripod. I discovered one modification I’d like to make and recommend to all photographers photographing in cold weather. I’ll be wrapping my gimbal with some pipe insulation tape to keep contact with bare metal to a minimum. Even with gloves that metal shares the cold quite a bit. In order to not be switching lenses while shooting I keep a second camera on my Peak Design camera strap. A Lumix GX85 with a 12-60mm f/2.8-4 lens covers my wide-angle zoom needs. Yours in Creative Photography, Bob In Bob's Camera Bag...Click on any of Bob's favorite gear for more information.
Images copyright Shiv Verma. All rights reserved. It's Mirrorless Monday, and Shiv Verma's sharing more beautiful images. He sent me the two photographs above this past weekend, and they deserve to be seen beyond his website or Facebook page. Click on either one to enlarge and view in the SCU Lightbox. If you've met Shiv or at the very least, know his reputation. He never does anything halfway! Shiv's using the LUMIX S1R and the LUMUX S 24-105 f/4 lens (which will do 50% macro). He's post focus stacked in the camera to create the image. With the two pictures above, he enhanced the second one in post-processing. The exposure triad was F/4 @ 1/500 ISO 500. The last ingredient is having the camera mounted on a Platypod Max with their new goosenecks and two Litra Torch 2.0s. Click on either thumbnail below for more information about the LUMIX S1R and 24-105 lens. And meet the entire S1 family with a click on the banner at the bottom of this post. If Shiv Verma isn't on your radar, it's time you started keeping tabs on what he's up to. He's always sharing great content, and even better is catching up to him in person at an upcoming conference, convention or one of his workshops. His website is only a click away.
Follow Shiv and the other LUMIX Ambassadors for great content and a lot of terrific diversity. Each Ambassador has a unique skill set, but the common denominators are their love for the craft and respect for quality and creativity. The fun of writing "Sunday Morning Reflections" is a lot like those moments when many of you have a camera in your hands for your own enjoyment rather than work. I can go anywhere, and as so many of you have read, often off-track from the business of photography. This morning's post is a little of both. To start, the friendships we all have in the industry are the best part of photography and a good friend was with on the beach last night for the Nokomis Drum Circle. Bob Thompson's in Florida. He's wrapping up three weeks on the road, with one primary purpose - catching up to friends. I wrote about Bob and the sadness of losing his wife Cindy a few months ago. The title of that post was, "When Memories Mean the Most." Well, that describes his trip over the last few weeks. Bob and I met in '87 when I joined Hasselblad, and the friendship just grew from there. Along the way, so did all the memories. His trip over the last few weeks has been a journey to harvest so many of those memories, and with each stop along the way, he's shared photographs and moments with so many different friends. Now, to last night at the Drum Circle. While it's not season down here yet, there was still a nice crowd, and nothing beats the sunset. My LUMIX G9 is on loan, so I grabbed my FZ300, and it never disappoints. I was also reminded of a valuable lesson I learned years ago...never assume that somebody who looks like they know photography, doing a great job when you hand them your camera and ask, "Any chance you can grab a shot of us?" LOL We've decided to keep the random woman on the right in the image. And, we've adopted her as a new member of the family...Meet "Aunt Beatrice." She's from Nebraska so the accent is on the "a." (In joke, only picked up by people who have lived in NE.) She's always been a little aloof at times, but she's been that way since she was a kid! She hoped to grow up to be a pirate. So, the ocean has always been a magnet for her dreams - but no pirate career. And on that note, as I become more obscure, it's time to wrap it up and wish everybody a terrific day. Time with good friends and moments of brilliance when you share stories from the past. Go for those, now suggested, twenty-second hugs. And, to our buddy, Bob, who's headed home to Arizona today, safe travels and remember you've always got a place to hang out here in Florida, and it comes with a bottle of Scotch. What a kick to cover 32 years of memories in two days! Happy Sunday or Monday if you're on the other side of the world. The image above is thanks to Carly Sullens, and it's a perfect example of my favorite thing about this industry, the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Here's the very short backstory. Carly and I both spoke at ClickCon last August and will be there again next year. While we don't know each other well, like so many photographers, we share a lot of friends and companies we work with. Carly had a business question she sent my way, and I answered it. That started a conversation about photography, conventions, etc. The image Carly captured above was one of her first as she started experimenting with a Platypod Ultra combined with two of her favorite pieces of equipment, a LUMIX GH5 and a LitraTorch 2.0 complete with barn doors. She sent it to me with the following comment: "Extreme low light, the sun was setting. I wouldn't have gotten this sharp of an image without the Platypod and Litra accenting the still life." Her exposure triad was F/2.8 @ 1/125 ISO 200. Visit Carly's website to check out her work and educational opportunities for photographers. She regularly shares content to help you raise the bar on your skillset. Platypod Black Friday Bundles - Click for more informationOnce a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road. Stewart Brand Most of you are still-imaging artists, and while filmmaking isn't usually a part of your career, storytelling is. And, if you think about our industry, the line between still-photographers and videographers has been getting thinner and thinner. So, I'm not suggesting you've got to start being a filmmaker, but many of you need a better understanding of video today. When I watched this BTS video with comments from four well-respected filmmakers, I was surprised at how much great content they shared. All four of them are shooting the LUMIX S1H for different reasons. The common denominator is their love for imaging and shooting full-frame mirrorless. And, even if you never shoot video, you need to have an appreciation for the technology and the techniques these four artists talk about behind the scenes. Looking for more information on Panasonic's S series cameras? Just click on the banner above. In the meantime, this three-minute video shares a lot of excellent content. And if you're one of those artists who say, "I never shoot video," never say never! Our industry is changing all the time, and along with it consumer trends, how people share images and storytelling. At least make it a point to understand a little of the technology! Filmmaking just got more interesting thanks to the Panasonic LUMIX S1H full-frame mirrorless camera. Go behind the scenes with our LUMIX S1H video creators for an exclusive look at how they got the shot. Featuring content shot by David Smith, Carissa Dorson, Jacob Schwarz, and Nick Dabas
by Skip Cohen Don Komarechka is no stranger to SCU. We've shared so many of his images in the past, along with podcasts and great "how-to" content. Last week the industry's favorite mad scientist astonished us again with "Liquid Flow" photography and the video below. I know this is very different from the kind of images most of you capture. However, besides the beauty of each photograph as art, pay attention to the way he tells the story in the video. As one of photography's leading most creative educators, he's also ALWAYS willing to share the process he's used for the images themselves. Platypod and the LUMIX GX9 and S1R played key roles in the short film below. And, if this was Hollywood, Don would be walking away with the Oscar for best director, producer, and writer! Don needs to be on your radar! You'll find him regularly sharing outstanding content on his Instagram page, and his website is jam-packed with more images, podcasts and information about his workshops! Just click the thumbnail below. As I mentioned above - Don's always willing to share the backstory on his images and each piece of gear used along the way! by Don Komarechka: Here's how you do "liquid flow" photography (and video, obviously) using ultraviolet lights and fluorescing inks! Gear involved all listed below! First, the lights. I'm using a bunch of stuff here, basically everything I had that I could fit in. That includes: - 3 Convoy S2+ flashlights: https://www.fluorescents.com/products... - 1 Convoy C8 'Fyrfly': https://www.engeniousdesigns.com/prod... - 1 'Jaxman' UV flashlight: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07... - 2 "Master Ultra365 units from MinerShop (AC-powered): http://www.minershop.com/051718/html/... The lights are all held together with Platypod Max and Ultra units, with gooseneck arms: https://platypod.com/our-tripods - added "crab clamps" to hold the lights, readily available from generic vendors on Amazon. The tank is an 8" cube aquarium from a local supplier, but any glass aquarium would work. The inks! These are all from a company called "Noodler's". The three used in this video include: "Blue Ghost": https://www.gouletpens.com/products/n... "Firefly": https://www.gouletpens.com/products/n... "Dragon Catfish Orange": https://www.jetpens.com/Noodler-s-Dra... Cameras used: Lumix GX9 for wider shot: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc... Lumix S1R for main video/stills shooting: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc... Kit lenses used for both. The shooting of the stills was simple: maintain a 1/200sec shutter speed, shoot wider than you need to crop in to the areas of interest (and get a greater depth of field from shooting further back), F/13, and whatever ISO is required to make those other two settings work. With the amount of lights I had, that was ISO 1000. These images survive noise reduction VERY well, so don't be afraid to push to ISO 6400 and beyond if needed! Image copyright Shiv Verma. All rights reserved. It's always fun catching up to Shiv Verma, especially when he's on the road hitting bucket list places like Tanzania. Just recently posted, Shiv captured the image above with a LUMIX G9 and the Leica 50-200 mm lens. He added the 2X teleconverter to the mix, a product too many of you forget to have in your bag! Traveling vicariously with Shiv is a kick. He's always sharing great images captured all over the world and often right in your own backyard. You'll find so many of his LUMIX images on the LUMIX Photographers group on Facebook. With the image above he posted: African elephants protecting a sleeping calf. Northern Serengeti, Tanzania. Panasonic Lumix G9 with the Leica 50-200 and the 2X teleconverter. Exposure Triad: f/8, 1/400sec at ISO 640. It's time to wander into your LUMIX dealer! Check out the entire LUMIX family, and not only the G9 but the incredible new full-frame S1. Plus, take the time to follow Shiv and the LUMIX Ambassadors. They represent one of the most diverse teams in professional photography. Years ago photographers used to view teleconverters as gimmick products, but these days with Panasonic's technology and focus on quality, that's just not the case. Click on any of the thumbnails below for more information. Check out the new S1 Series too! Click below to meet the new LUMIX Full-Frame S Series Camerasby Skip Cohen Last May, I started shooting with the LUMIX G9, and my images have never looked better. I'm not sure I've ever had this much fun with a camera in my hand! I especially love the focus accuracy, the touch screen, the weight, low-light capability...oh, why not just say everything? There's a lot of remarkable technology in this camera! Image copyright Nick Pappagallo Jr. All rights reserved. Nick Pappagallo Jr is a LUMIX Ambassador and shared the image above on Facebook last week. Click on the image to enlarge it in the SCU Lightbox. When Nick posted it, he shared: Shot with my Lumix G9 Camera in the studio with Godox 400pros and Backlit by the translucent garage door. Edited with Lightroom Classic. But there's always a little more to the story. So, I thought it would be fun to contact Nick directly, and he had a lot more to share! This shot was a brief test shot with the new Godox Lights - and to see how they worked in mixed lighting situations, including daylight. Jurnee was at the studio, and we hopped into studio 4 to test this out. She was having fun, and we only shot about 50 shots in total. The lower angle poses worked better for what I was envisioning. I was lying on my back on the cyc wall shooting up at her. Stands and other gear were left in the shot intentionally to give it a more cinematic feel.
For more information on the LUMIX G9 and the 35-100mm lens click on either thumbnail below. Check out more of Nick's work. His website is just a click away. Then follow him and the entire US LUMIX Ambassador team. They're regularly speaking at LUMIX retailers and conventions around the country. As I've written so many times before, they're one of the most diverse and creative teams in photography, and should all be on your radar. You'll be surprised at how much great content they share.
And, if you're not in the LUMIX Photographers Group on Facebook, it's time to check it out. There's great content being shared regularly from talented artists all over the world. Nothing beats the color and fun of outdoor merchandising in Madrid, NM! Most of you know my passion for photography focuses mostly on the business and marketing sides. I don't make a living as a professional photographer, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate great technology. I'll match my passion for the craft with anybody! Plus, having worked with so many professional photographers over the years, I know more than I let on. The difference is that it would take most of you ten minutes to light a great portrait, and I'd work on it all day! Last May, Sheila and I headed to New Mexico for a vacation. I've shared a few images here and there in past posts and tweets, but since it's Mirrorless Monday, I decided to share a few more. I took a lot of gear with me, but the LUMIX G9 with the 14-140mm lens wound up being my camera and lens of choice. From its incredibly sharp and quick focus accuracy to simply being lightweight with a focal range giving me everything I needed, it was a kick to travel with. Every night I'd download the day's images, blown away by the sharpness and the beauty of working with the technology Panasonic's put into this camera. So, at the risk of sounding like a kid doing a report for school called, "What I Did This Summer," welcome to New Mexico and the G9. The image on the left is without any post-processing. The right is using the preset "mild image enhancer" in Luminar. I shot in every mode from IA to P, A, S, and M. The touch screen adds to the accuracy and fun of this camera. All of the images in this post are mostly right out of the can. If there is any post-processing, it's in Luminar. Most often I use one of two presets, the clarity booster or mild image enhancer, and that's only because of personal taste. The images rarely needed any work. And remember, every image shared in this post is a screenshot too. Late in the day shot after a storm and enlarged 100%. B-Boys dancing in the Santa Fe plaza. The fun of traveling mirrorless, especially with LUMIX, is carrying a minimal amount of gear and weight. I added a MeFOTO carbon-fiber tripod to my gear, and it was perfect. Easy to travel and hike and with - Plus, with the range on the 14-140mm lens, I always had what I needed. One of the highlights of the trip was Georgia O'Keeffe's house, which is magnificent. You're surrounded by the beauty of New Mexico combined with the stunning simplicity of her taste. Because she passed away in 1986, you're struck by the contemporary beauty in the design of her home and the area around it. I loved the simplicity of this interior courtyard. Every corner of the house gives you a feeling of the love she had for this property. The picture window from her office was designed to capture the view below. That's only a fraction of the panoramic scene when looking out the window. The house is only accessible by guided tour, and there's no photography allowed inside her home. So, you shoot "neurochromes" inside and outside your camera's capturing images in every direction. One of the things that hit us early on was how the preservation team has kept everything as Georgia O'Keeffe left it. From many of her plants and flowers to the spices in the kitchen to rocks she collected outside. The home has been preserved as she left it, and you can't help but feel her love for Abiquiú. And as a side note - I bought Ansel Adams' '77 Cadillac back in my Hasselblad days, which we sold for charity. Knowing he was good friends with Georgia O'Keeffe, I couldn't help but wonder how many times he'd visited here in that same car that was parked in my garage for a month. If you haven't checked out the G9, it's time to visit your LUMIX dealer. Headed to PPE this week? Make it a point to stop by the Panasonic booth. Check out the LUMIX family, and not only the G9 but the incredible new full-frame S1. They're just inside the entrance to the main hall in booth 707, and I can promise you won't be disappointed! Plus, take the time to meet some of the LUMIX Ambassadors who will be at the show. They represent one of the most diverse teams in professional photography! Click on either thumbnail for more information as well as the S1 Series below. for a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. but there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a dept to be paid. at last it dawned on me that these obstacle were my life. this perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. happiness is the way. so treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one. happiness is a journey, not a destination. Souza by Skip Cohen
Many years ago I published a series of posts based on the wisdom shared on refrigerator magnets. The quote above has been on our fridge for years, but I hadn't noticed it in a long time. When I read it this morning it hit me how there's no expiration date on the thought - happiness is a journey not a destination! No need for me to write anything more about the concept. |
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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