by Skip Cohen

​This is one of the shortest posts I've written, but the topic doesn't need a lot of words to make a point. For most of us, looking back on 9/11 is a vivid memory. We all remember where we were, what we were doing, and how we felt. The sadness borders on overwhelming.

For me, we were living in NJ at the time. Data shared a couple of months later suggested if you lived within an hour of NYC, there were no more than 2 degrees of separation between you and knowing somebody who lost family or friends in the tragedy. 

There's only one way I can look back at that time - a period of sitting in silence. I went outside a few minutes ago, just sat, and thought back to that day. The tagline we see and hear repeatedly regarding today is "Never Forget." How could we...nor should we.

Wishing you a day of peace and quiet reflection.

by Skip Cohen

​This is a very short post today because I live south of Sarasota, FL, and the hurricane is about to land on our doorstep. I've still got a few things to bring into the garage, but going through the process again (having lived here for both "Irma" and "Ian"), there are some observations I want to share about how much I appreciate our industry and imaging. 

• To start, I've taken pictures of everything in the house, along with the front, back, and sides of the house itself. If we get hit hard, I'll need photographs when it comes to dealing with the insurance company.
• Next observation - we've been glued to the weather channel as well as local reporting and online. We're following weather maps and images from other areas that have experienced a hurricane of this magnitude and the impact of storm surge, wind damage, etc.
• Last on the list - all of our family photographs. I took a few minutes yesterday - the sun was out, and it was beautiful. I found myself thinking about the contents of our home, and the only thing that could never be replaced were all the pre-digital photographs - some in albums, others in boxes.

But there's one more aspect to facing a fight with Mother Nature that I've been thinking about - It's the power of social media and keeping in touch with friends and associates. I posted a short post on my Facebook page yesterday about the storm coming in. Within minutes, a few dozen friends had commented. At the same time, I could keep in touch with what was going on with other friends dealing with similar challenges.

As much as I hate Facebook at times - so often, it's the mortar holding the bricks of friendships together.

Here's my point - we're part of a fantastic industry. Where would we be, or the world for that matter, without imaging, without our ability to share photographs and videos, and without the ability to document each event in our lives?

Stay safe, everybody, and prayers for everyone north of us as "Idalia" hits the coast.

by Skip Cohen

Last Sunday, I shared a post that was thanks to something Helen Yancy had posted on Facebook. It was about people who want to change history, but there's another aspect to her post I wanted to share. It's about people who are so absorbed in social media, they've forgotten how to truly be social. They think hitting the "like" button on a Facebook post is enough.

I'm a major Helen Yancy fan, and hitting the "like" button and writing a short comment about what she posted just wasn't enough.  Fine-tuning how you use social media is obviously on my mind lately, since two weeks ago I shared a post about using your phone more to keep in touch with friends.

Here's my point:

Social media has definitely helped to make the world a smaller place. Every day we're able to keep in touch with what's going on in the lives of so many different friends and associates. We share the joys, the sadness, the accomplishments, and the changes in the lives of so many other people. But social media by itself doesn't build relationships. Thanks to regular phone calls and real conversations, Helen and I have stayed in touch and maintained a friendship I cherish. 

Those people you care most about need more than you hitting the like button and commenting on a post. I'm not suggesting you need to call people every day, but here and there, if you care about somebody, let them know with a phone call.

Don't get me wrong - hitting the "like" button is great for feedback and showing support, but there's nothing memorable. There's nothing that holds a place in somebody's mind or for that matter heart. It's cold and emotionless. 

We live in an instant fulfillment world of text messages and email, but a live conversation on the phone is a building block in a relationship. Whether it's purely business or just a great friendship having a conversation always beats a one-second click of a like button.

by Skip Cohen

It's Friday, and I'm continuing this series with short ideas to help you fine-tune and build a stronger business. And I always consider them a "clean up" theme because, like weeds in a garden, many of you have ignored these areas for so long that what-not-to-do has taken over the what-you-should-be-doing.

So, as you roll into the weekend, here's a simple idea to think about - let's make your website/blog a community resource.

Jay Conrad Levinson, known as the "Father of Guerilla Marketing," always listed community involvement as one of the critical things great marketers should do. People like buying products/services from companies they perceive as giving back to the community.

You need to be involved, and it can be anything from capturing images of an event to helping a non-profit filling ketchup and mustard bottles for the Boosters Club at Friday night games. It doesn't matter what you're doing, as long as you're giving back.

Publish a Community Calendar: Here's the twist, and it's perfect for your website and blog. Start publishing events of non-profits in your community. The fun of this is obviously self-serving - by sharing information and the links to upcoming fundraising events in the community, you're showing support for each association/group. You're setting yourself up as an ambassador of goodwill for each nonprofit.  In addition, many of the events will give you the opportunity to photograph the activities and the participants. And while you don't have time to attend every fundraising event, each time you can work on one, you've got new content for a blog post!

Here's an easy place to start - check with the local Chamber of Commerce about events that are coming up. Next, take a few minutes and look at the non-profits in your community and their websites. Look at the Senior Center, Alzheimer's Association, Breast Cancer Awareness groups, Programs for Veterans, support for the homeless, United Way...and the list goes on and on. Make a list to start building content for your community calendar.

There's one more great little benefit - the more frequently you publish community events in a calendar, the closer you get to becoming a clearing house for community activities. Your calendar has the potential to become a resource for the community, all under the umbrella of you giving back.

You're looking for the community to be good to you - so you need to make sure you're being good to your community.

Perfection is an illusion.
If we keep waiting for the stars to align, we will reach the end of our lives regretting that we never tried.
Stop the waiting game and take action toward the change you want.
Emily Silva

by Skip Cohen

​It's Wednesday, hump day, and If you think about it, there really is no middle of the workweek any longer. The expression started in the 50s when Saturday was a coast day, and no businesses were open on Sunday. Today most retailers run seven days a week. Plus, if you're a wedding and event photographer working Friday - Sunday, there is no "coasting" into the weekend.

Still, and probably just because I love the illustration above from Adobe Stock - I'm going to keep it light and start a series of quick thoughts to hopefully help you through the back half of the week.

After making a big change in their life, we've all heard people comment, "I wish I had done it years ago!" Change doesn't come easy for most of us, and big changes are always slow, depending on the risk involved. In business, especially, there's a lot to consider.

But the challenge so many of us have is finally taking that leap of faith to make a change. Whether it's big or small, we procrastinate too much through the process. The point is, we're looking for perfection - exactly the right change.

One of my most favorite quotes is thanks to Zig Ziglar:

There's my point - stop chasing perfection, but don't slow down on continuing to set high goals. Whether it's running your business, working with clients, raising the bar on your skill set, or simply recognizing what it takes to make you smile every day - all you can do is your best. And if there's something slowing you down then just like a garden - it might be time to do a little pruning!

Happy Hump Day!

by Skip Cohen

I joined Hasselblad USA in July of 1987, right around the same time that Howard Schatz and Beverly Ornstein were getting started. A few years later, I met them both. Now, twenty+ books later, I continue to be in awe of his work.

His new book, Pairs is remarkable - it's more than just stunning images. It spans thirty years of work in 365 photographs as Howard explores the relationship between two subjects or images. "Couples or colleagues; actors or acrobats; fighters or friends; lovers or dancers; newlyweds or newborns: the photographs in this book reveal the passionate and dynamic, subtle or obvious, and always compelling, mystery of relationship."

Howard goes on to explain:

From the beginning of my professional career, my main interest, my motivating force, and passion, has been to explore and experiment, searching for imagery that would surprise and delight me in my quest to explore what's deep inside. One of many areas of my ongoing interest has been the exploration of the relationship between two subjects: the visual, graphic, emotional, social, physical, and even spiritual dynamic resonating and resulting from such combinations.

This book belongs in the library of anyone who loves fine photography. It's the perfect holiday gift scheduled to start shipping on October 1, 2023. Having been given a sneak peek, this may be my favorite of his books to date; it's a stunning body of work and demonstrates why the statement, "Nobody does it better," is so appropriate when describing Howard and Beverly's passion for the craft.

What a kick to have followed Howard's work for so many years! ​

by Skip Cohen

​Yes, this is an infomercial, but if you know my reputation, it's not without being justified. I've been involved in several Kickstarter campaigns since joining Platypod, and this one has been the biggest kick to work on. Why? Because the product has a huge payback in boosting creativity, and it's just $49 until the end of May.

While it looks like a light-saber handle with the description of a camera riser - it may well be one of the most diverse accessories the company has ever released. And for those concerned about backing projects before they go to market - this one is in full production, with our first shipments already headed from overseas to our warehouse!

So from studio to close-up, macro, food, portraiture, tabletop and copy stand work, even vlogging, this little marvel allows you to add up to eight different accessories. With eight 1/4-20 sockets at the top, you can add lights, reflectors, monitors, and the list goes on and on. Plus, it will hold up to eleven pounds, and they're stackable - each from a breakdown height of three inches to adjust from 6 to 10 1/2 inches!

Visit Kickstarter and scroll down the project page for great videos and reviews from Lenworth Johnson, Rick Sammon, Don Komarechka, Stewart Wood, Moose Peterson, Dave Williams, Liam Douglas, Bob Coates,
and Sharky James.
​
​What a kick!

Check out Larry Becker's demonstration video below...there's so much this accessory can do. "Do you really need this?" For most of you, YES!
​

by Skip Cohen

It's so easy to get caught up in the day-in-day-out challenges of life and business. Along the way, we forget our bucket list for adventures. Here are two outstanding trips coming up in Minnesota and Kenya.

What I love most about these two trips, besides the subject matter, is they involve two of my favorite people in the industry - Bob and Dawn Davis. We've been friends for a long time, but the friendship came out of the respect I have for their skill set as artists and business owners. Here's an opportunity for you to shoot with one of the finest photographers in the industry.

BLACK BEARS, WHITE AMERICAN PELICANS, WATERFALLS, + LANDSCAPES WORKSHOP WITH BOB DAVIS

It all starts out on June 7 in the Northwoods of Minnesota. Limited to just eight participants, the description of the bear part of the adventure says it all!

​Get ready for an extraordinary adventure! This workshop offers an incredible opportunity for a thrilling in-field photographic experience that you won't want to miss. In June, we'll be focusing on capturing the antics of some of the most adorable creatures on the planet... the bear cubs. These little fur balls are brimming with energy, curiosity, and playfulness, making them a delight to photograph for amateur photographers as well as the most accomplished wildlife photographers. With so many bears present, this is the perfect time to capture all kinds of captivating interactions and portraits, including cubs of all sizes. It's an experience that's sure to fill you with wonder and excitement!

More information is just a click away on any of the images above!

by Skip Cohen

Whatever holiday you're celebrating this weekend Sheila and I want to wish you a happy, healthy and safe holiday season. It's a special time of year, feeling a little more special by all the challenges of the past year or two. This is a time to block anything negative in your life and simply appreciate today.

Gratitude is an antidote to negative emotions,
a neutralizer to envy, hostility, worry, and irritation.
It is savoring: it is not taking things for granted;
it is present-oriented.
Sonja Lyubomirsky

As we've gotten older, I've noticed how we take nothing for granted - especially friendships and support from this community. Wishing all of you peace and a weekend to enjoy the people you love the most.

by Skip Cohen

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, but it's also Throwback Thursday. So I decided to combine the two and also give myself the day off tomorrow. That means I want to make sure I wish all of you a happy, healthy, and safe holiday TODAY!

Thanksgiving has always been one of my most favorite holidays. It's been a special time for family, and one of the best times was our first Thanksgiving in Florida. We moved down here in 2011. My Dad was coming up on ninety and dealing with my Mom's Alzheimer's.  We decided to give him a hand and move to Sarasota that October.

A couple of weeks later, just two weeks before Thanksgiving, Album Epoca hired me to come to Italy to record a short video about the importance of the wedding album. We accepted the invitation but wanted to be back in time for Mom and Dad's first Thanksgiving at our house in Florida. Nobody in their right mind makes a five-day trip to Italy, but the focus was on time with my folks too. We were back in time to put the turkey in the oven!

​Both of these grab shots are from Thanksgiving 2011.

My mother was always afraid of dogs. We had dogs when I was a kid, but always adopted an older dog, already trained, and Mom rarely went near them. But Molly the Wonder Dog stole her heart. 

Molly knew she was fragile. Those of you who have dogs know how they can sense something wrong, or you're not feeling well. Molly knew how to read Mom.

Thanksgiving dinner that night was our first holiday dinner outside. It was a beautiful night and perfect in every way. The memories from eleven years ago have never faded! Even Alzheimer's took a break that night, and Mom was so into the day.

I know that Thanksgiving is an American custom and many of you are outside the U.S., but that doesn't change my wish to everybody for a happy, healthy, and safe holiday. Remember, the memories you make this holiday season will be future throwbacks...and there's very little that beats a great look in your rearview mirror!

I'm so thankful for your support, feedback, and your friendships. As I've written so many times, the best thing about our industry has nothing to do with imaging directly but the great friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft.

Happy Thanksgiving!

by Skip Cohen

Here are two 2023 workshop/photo tours that should be on your bucket list...hanging out with Shiv Verma in Tanzania or Namibia!

I'm sharing this post as more of a public service announcement (LOL) because there are only two spots open in Tanzania and four in Namibia. They'll all be gone within the next few days. It's an incredible opportunity for an experience of a lifetime.

But it's not just the wildlife or the beauty of the two locations, but doing a tour like this with Shiv. Shiv and I have worked together on so many different projects and events. Every time I've learned a little more about imaging. He's an outstanding artist, educator, and tour guide!

Click on any image in today's post to link to Shiv's tour/workshop schedule. Both trips currently open are in September, and I can guarantee they'll be more than just memorable! 

by Skip Cohen

This will sound more like a "Sunday Morning Reflections" post than a Tuesday. Sheila and I have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of calls, texts, and emails regarding our safety as Hurricane Ian approaches the Florida coast. Here's the short story...

We had decided to stay put and hunker down. All outside plants, porch furniture, etc., were all inside. Food and water were stocked, flashlights charged, generator gassed up. That was until the county next to us issued a mandatory evacuation notice yesterday. 

Knowing we weren't far behind, living just south of Sarasota - we headed to a good friend of our kids in Vero Beach. Our son and daughter-in-law, living in Tampa, had already been notified to evacuate. So, here we all are, watching the weather channel, but we are safe and together, including one cat and two pups.

Here's the bottom line - obviously, we're hoping our home survives...but all that matters is all of us are safe. v In the long run - it's all just stuff. And the messages and prayers from all of you keep adding to our strength. ​

So, a big thanks to all of you for checking in...we won't know the outcome of this mess until much later in the week. And as sappy as it sounds...sure do love you guys.

"I've got no regrets, because I did it all when I was younger!"
D. MacNab
September 8, 2022

by Skip Cohen

​I've got one goal with this post - many of you never met Duncan MacNab, but when I'm done writing, you will at least know him just a little. Since meeting "Dunc" in 1987, when I joined Hasselblad, he's been a great buddy and often an inspiration on so many different levels. 

Bob Thompson introduced me to Duncan at a convention somewhere on the planet in 1988. Dunc was a professional photographer and owner of F11, a Hasselblad dealer in Bozeman, MT. He was active in PPA, and in later years, we'd serve together on the PPA Board. He was also responsible for the Rocky Mountain Professional Photographer conference each year. But that was only part of his life in Bozeman and the West - he served as Mayor, at one time Assistant Coroner, and later Coroner.

So, that's what his resume would highlight, but that doesn't begin to tell you about the man himself. Nobody did it better, from his sense of humor to his zest for life to his love for this industry and integrity! Thanks to Duncan, many of us got to experience sights in the west reserved for only a handful of people. For ten years, every winter, a group of us went into Yellowstone on snowmobiles for three intense days of photographing the park. 

​There's that old line: "He who dies with the most toys wins!" We used to say Duncan doesn't need to die - he's already got all the toys. From snowmobiles to Harleys to camera gear, woodworking, dive gear, gun collecting, and the most incredible stereo system I'd ever heard, hanging out with Dunc was always a blast.

And we covered it all - from the bottom of the ocean to the top of snow-covered mountains in Yellowstone and everything in between - Duncan's been a part of my life on so many different levels.

The picture of the three of us above was taken less than a week ago. Bob Thompson and I had an idea. Duncan had been in the hospital and was being moved to a rehab center - so let's visit him. Bob headed out from Tucson to Spokane, and I from Sarasota. We walked into Duncan's room a week ago this morning.

The three of us spent two days together, laughing non-stop. Like telling jokes in a bar with friends, one story led to another. We covered every adventure we'd ever been on, and it was wonderful.

I got home on Friday and called Dunc Saturday with an idea - I wanted to write the "MacNab Manifesto." I wanted to have some fun with "Duncanisms" about being a photographer, running a business, being a dedicated husband and Dad - whatever. Well, we never got to put his thoughts down, but here's what I want to share...

Duncan is one of the finest men I've ever known. While he had a serious side, he never took life so seriously that he forgot to have fun. He believed in friendship, a firm handshake, and always being upfront in whatever he was feeling. His dedication to his wife Donna, who had severe rheumatoid arthritis and twenty-nine surgeries in her life, was legendary. He couldn't have been more devoted.

And to Dunc - Buddy, you will be missed. But with all the stories, laughs, and incredible memories, you achieved immortality with a whole bunch of us. So just to say I'll miss you is a huge understatement. I love ya, pal!

by Skip Cohen

​As I write today's post, I'm back in my hometown of Painesville, Ohio. While it will eventually tie into your business and marketing for the fourth quarter, time is the topic.
 
We're back for a high school reunion, but being here after being away for so many years, it's impossible not to get reflective. I remember as a kid, my grandmother talking about how fast her life had gone by. Well, here I am, now her age back then, and I'm trying to understand where the time went.
 
I continue to have an incredible life, so my reflections are more like Rip Van Winkle waking up to find the world changed than anything resembling regret. I simply can't believe how fast time has gone by.
 
But the physical proof, beyond aging and my memories, are the photographs Sheila and I have. Old friends from our childhood are really "old" friends at this point. And that tree my Dad planted at the old house is now thirty feet high and shading most of the backyard. Repeatedly one of us mumbles, "OMG," as we drive by some community landmark. All the while, we've got the photographs to prove that things were different back then.
 
And here's where marketing hits in today's post – because of the pandemic, there's a greater sense of family in the world that we haven't seen since I was a kid. That's what all those old photographs captured – a time when life was slower, less complicated, and the focus of life was more on family and friends.
 
Throwback Thursday posts you share of old photographs, remind your audience that today's photos are tomorrow's cherished memories, and you're the magician. You've got the ability to stop time. You've got the power to capture and create memories for your clients this holiday season that will live on for years to come.
 
Since time doesn't stand still, NOW is the time to lock in your planning. Stop procrastinating and burning the clock – think through your approach for the fourth quarter. Stop for a second and think of something you said you would do this year and still haven't completed. We all do it – and suddenly *poof* we're out of time. So let's end the mañana routine and start to build what you need.
 
And if you're stuck with putting together a game plan – I keep offering to be your sounding board, but rarely does anybody ask for help. I live vicariously through your entrepreneurial spirit – and you've got a free coach right here. But I can't help if I don't know what you want to do.
 
So, before you run out of time, let's see what we can do to make 2022 one of your biggest and best holiday seasons ever! Just IM me on Facebook.

by Skip Cohen

On Fridays, I love when I can write a post that gives you something to think about over the weekend. This morning, I caught this post from Seth Resnick:

There is that old saying that says don't try this at home...Ansel Adams famously said, "A good photograph is knowing where to stand." Photography isn't always easy, and sometimes the best image can be dangerous to take. That said there is a certain adrenaline rush that pushes. I try never to cross my own line in determining risk but my line is very different from others. Curious to hear some of your stories about pushing the line. Photo credit for this awesome pic goes to a true dear lifelong friend Nancy Leigh.

Nancy Leigh's shot of Seth got me thinking about the headshots so many of you use on your website and in social media. Most of them could put a rock to sleep! They're boring and say nothing about who you are or your love for the craft.

I'm a big fan of environmental portraits for photographers. Whether shot as a true wide angle or just capturing an element about the subject, they tell a story. Here are a few of my favorites from my good buddy Terry Clark.  ​

Here's my point - all of you know how to do portraits that tell a story, but like the old expression about "shoemaker's children always needing shoes," why aren't you telling a story with your own headshot on your website and in social media?

I shared Kay Eskridge's headshot on the right a few years back in a blog post. Just looking at the photograph, you know something more about her. A potential client immediately sees how much she loves the craft. And I love that it's black and white - pushing the point of diversity in her creativity a little more. Even better would be her shot combined with an image or two of her working with a client.
​
Here's why this is so important - many of you have terrible or irrelevant headshots on your websites and social media pages. From bad selfies to portraits looking like you handed one of your kids the camera, very few of them show your love for the craft. And almost none of them shiow you in action...as a PHOTOGRAPHER and ARTIST.

And that's what hit me with that shot of Seth that started all of this today. Let's eliminate all those bad shots of you and replace them this weekend with images that show your passion for the craft and say something more about you than just being another body on planet earth!

A big thanks to Seth for sharing that shot, but the appreciation also goes to Nancy Leigh, who captured his adventurer side, and that special aspect of creativity you see in his images! It's also a big reason why I get such a kick out of following him and living vicariously through his adventures and posts. He needs to be on your radar.

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend ahead!

by Skip Cohen

Seth Resnick is back with what may well be one of my most favorite of his posts. To take it a step further, it's a post I wish was mandatory for every artist to read. The issue isn't whether you agree or disagree with him, just the importance of understanding your "Why?" Obviously, there are times when just clicking the shutter has no deeper meaning than contributing to your revenue stream...but I can't help but feel there's always an underlying explanation for why so many of us love this industry.

I've met so many artists in my career and the ones most successful, to Seth's point, speak fluent photography. They don't have to have a camera in their hands to shoot "neurochromes" and still see something most of us might miss. Their images tell a story, capture a memory, and often have a much deeper meaning than just what is shared in print. And it carries further into who we are and why - Seth got me thinking about my writing as well as each time I click the shutter.

Seth is sharing a lot of great concepts on his facebook page. He needs to be on your radar!

by Seth Resnick

Photography isn’t easy. Learning software applications like Photoshop and Lightroom are hard, and understanding all the buttons on the cameras can be confusing to say the least, but the hardest of all may just be understanding your own work. Photography is a language. Do you speak it fluently?
​
I find that by writing down my thoughts I am better equipped to speak and write the language of photography. Like any language that is studied practice and time certainly help. In developing your skills about photography as a language it is critical to overcome the concept of what your work is about rather than what it is of.

When I first started writing about what my photography was really about I thought it was about entering personal space. I interchanged the word breaking personal space and entering personal space and thought they were the same. In fact a good friend and student Jed Best suggested that I have a show called Breaking and Entering. I thought that was quite clever. For several years my description of my own work started with breaking personal space. After all I started as a journalist and much of my work was about people and to capture them in a personal manner I was either very close or used a long lens to isolate emotion.

The more I started to write and as my work progressed I was bothered by the statement and one day while photographing a rock and writing about it I came to understand that it was really about an energy connection with my subjects or rather my subjects energy connection with me. The more I wrote the more I understood and writing led to my own discovery of Clairsentience which really put my understanding of the language in perspective.

Certain people are born with a mystical sixth sense that allows them to pick up on information about the past, present, and future. We typically call it ESP but for me it is an awareness of additional senses. While we all have five basic senses that help us observe the physical world around us it doesn’t end with just five. There are a variety of ways that people can experience ESP. For me one of the most fascinating is clairsentience, which is the ability to literally feel and acknowledge energy.

This week several things happened that weren’t coincidence. I looked at Leslie and said her son was thinking about her. She looked at her phone and her son just texted her. Three sand hill cranes that have been coming to my house suddenly flew in and they came right up to me as if they were telling me something. A dragonfly then landed on me. I showed Leslie the dragonfly and he stayed on my hand. I thought about him flying away and sure enough he did. No big deal but then I called him back and the dragonfly kept coming back to my hand for over an hour. At the same time there was no wind but the chimes in my back yard started to ring. There were bluejays and cardinals and all of these things were things that my mom loved.

Life comes down to energy and as I continue to write I continue to increase my knowledge about the language of photography.
​
Many photographers never figure it out and think it isn’t important. I hear so many photographers say that their work isn’t about anything they just like taking pictures. Well maybe, but learning what my images are about has helped me immensely.

by Skip Cohen

This is probably one of the shortest posts I've ever written, but it's not short on sentiment.

Wishing everybody a terrific 4th of July! Thank you for your support, feedback and always inspiration.  And if you're following me from outside the US - Hope it's a great Monday and start of the week.

​Stay safe and healthy!

by Skip Cohen

As I've written so many times in the past, part of the fun of Facebook is keeping in touch with great friends and, in turn, their creativity.  Meet Erik Cooper from Colorado. We met when I needed to ship him a Platypod as part of his new membership bonus joining PPA. That led to regular phone calls, catching up LIVE at ClickCon in Chicago last year and simply a great ongoing friendship.

Yesterday, as part of Throwback Thursday, he posted the stunning image above of Milkweed, which Sheila and I have planted all over the butterfly garden. It's a Monarch butterfly's favorite. I just got off the phone with him for permission to share it again. And it was perfect for a throwback, because it's the image that launched his love for photography.

Erik needs to be on your radar! Follow him on Facebook to keep track of more of his images.

And to Erik...what a kick to have you as a buddy! Thanks for your never-ending support and inspiration.

by Erik Cooper

​Today has gone nostalgic! It's a Throwback Thursday as I've had to go through some old pics, looking for memories to use for a certain someone's celebration. Isn't it wonderful having old prints to look through? Oh the blackmail I have at my disposal! LOL!

I'll finish this post with a flashback to 2011 and the pic that launched my passion for shooting. Ever seen a Milkweed pod up close? So fascinating! This image caught a lot of reaction from friends and I was equally inspired knowing it came from my little Nikon D80. Shot with a manual focus lens from 1976, the image seemed to pop right off the computer screen when I edited it. Here's to fond memories and happier days in our past. Stay positive and know you are loved!
 

by Skip Cohen

​It's Wednesday, and it's been a hectic week. I often write about knowing when to take a break; it's not very often I walk the talk. Like so many of us, I'm still a work in progress.

While I'll match my love for the craft with anybody, for the last few months, it seems I'm shooting with my phone more often than my camera. Unfortunately, I don't have the latest phone - you can guess that too often I've missed the shot I wanted.

I love Panasonic's LUMIX G9, and the 14-140mm 3.5-5.6 lens is my go-to setup. But it's been on the shelf for way too long!

Well, not lately. My camera now sits right next to me, on my desk. When I need a break, I've been getting away from my computer and clicking the shutter a few times, usually in the garden. Something about the click of the shutter is therapeutic, even if it's electronic. Although, for you long-time Hasselblad shooters out there, nothing compares to the thud of the mirror in the original cameras.

From puppies to the garden - today was a nonstop adventure. Whenever Sheila goes out, the pups sit and wait by the front door, watching for her return. It's priceless, and yes, they are as cute to hang out with as they look.

Here's my point - when we were kids, recess was a part of our lives every day - once in the morning and again in the afternoon. But we grew up, and the concept, especially when you're in business for yourself, evaporates under the barrage of deadlines, phone calls, email, and projects/people who need a piece of your time. Often I'm not even aware that I've missed lunch!

So, turn back the clock and make it a point to go out for recess!

by Skip Cohen

No reason for a drawn out post this morning. While the holiday is meant to remember those who lost their lives serving our country, it's also about respect for everyone serving in the military today. To all of you serving and your families, thank you for your service.

Wishing everybody a safe and healthy Memorial Day.  Whatever family traditions you enjoy, for most it's a day of family and firing up the grill, make them memory-making!