 by Skip Cohen Like most of you, I'm tired of dealing with the pandemic. It's the topic everywhere. Even commercials on TV have changed to a social distancing theme. One company after another wants to assure us we're all in this together...but the reality not everybody is! All of us as an industry might be in it together, but the number of stupid people on the planet seems to be growing. I had some fun this morning and Googled "stupid things done during the pandemic." I found a treasure chest of gems at buzzfeed.com.
They shared 19 stupid things people have done or said. Here are two more of my favorites:
I'm putting a few of my favorites below:
With Father's Day and graduation still in the timeline, there are so many opportunities to start getting back a small piece of your business as a photographer. There's no question it won't be easy, and business has changed, but many of you just need an encouraging first step to getting back on track...and this is where we are, all in it together.
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 Intro by Skip Cohen Mark Toal is no stranger to the SCU blog. We've shared a lot of posts from him, always well-seasoned with creativity and great images. Well, he's off of work this week and for the next five days he's sharing things he's doing in photography to help maintain his sanity! Welcome to the first edition of "Mark's Corner."  The whole world is shut down and I decided to take a week off from work. Actually, I thought this was the week everything would open up again after being shut down for the past couple of months. I emailed Skip and suggested that I write a blog post everyday about how photography is keeping me sane during this time. Photography has always been my therapy in hard times from when I was a shy kid who used a camera to feel like I had a reason to be in a social situation. Luckily, I’ve been hauling all of those old black and white negatives around for decades. Scanning them on these long nights has saved me from total boredom. I wrote a blog here a couple of weeks ago about using my iPhone to scan old negatives. That works great for Facebook and Instagram, but it’s pretty low resolution. I didn’t want to invest in a new dedicated scanner, so I decided to try using my Lumix S1R with a Sigma 105mm Macro lens to photograph the negatives. As you can see in the photo, I place the negative on a light table, put the S1R on a tripod pointed down and take a photo of the negative. You can do this with any digital camera as long as it has a macro lens. If you’re reading Skip’s blogs, you probably have a camera and tripod, so you just need an inexpensive light table. Once the negatives file is in the computer, I open it in Photoshop, invert it to a positive image, adjust the contrast and clone out any dust spots. The photo of my high school friend, Walter, was shot 120 Tri-X pan film and is now a 47-megapixel file ready to be printed.  Check out more of Mark's work by stopping by his website and blogs. As a member of the LUMIX team at Panasonic, you'll find a lot of solid content on making the most of LUMIX cameras. Follow the LUMIX Ambassador team too. The group is one of the most diverse and creative teams in photography, and all the ambassadors should be on your radar. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how much great content they're sharing all the time. Mark's using the new LUMIX full-frame S1R. More information is just a click away on the banner below.   Image copyright Erik Valind. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen It's our 17th episode in this series, and with each new "Chef," we're gaining more insight into not only their journey but expanding our own thoughts on creativity, technique and passion. When we started the series, the idea was simply to have some fun and introduce you to the movers and shakers in photography. What we've actually built is an extension of everyone's imaging family. New York and Florida based Erik Valind joins us this month. He's no stranger to SCU, where we've featured a wide variety of his work. But his skill set is only part of the fun of knowing him. The only thing more impressive than his style is his love for the industry and the craft. Erik used Tamron's 17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di OSD lens. It's one of his favorites: "Here's a fun lens that we can talk about. I was really excited when it came out because finally I have an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens that is also easy to use filters with! No more expensive, bulky, fragile giant filter holders required, this lens has front filter threads built in. Plus its lightweight too, which is wonderful on long hikes." For each new Chef, I've gone off in search of a quote that seems to fit their personality. It wasn't hard to find one for Erik. This is an artist who totally loves what he's doing. In the world of business, the people who are most successful are those who are doing what they love. Warren Buffet  About "Chef" Erik: We've featured a lot of Erik's work over the years, and even a short podcast here and there. However, even when we've bumped into each other at various conventions, there's never time for a very long conversation. So, we're just as excited about getting quality time with him in next week's podcast as we are in you getting to know at an artist who needs to be on your radar. One trip to his website, and you'll start to understand how much Erik loves the craft. A short section on his about page says it all: “I’m a Communicator... Freelance Photographer, Author & Educator. I was born on the beaches of Treasure Island. I like how it sounds storybook when I tell people that. Since then I’ve been blessed with what I call a semi-charmed life, and everything has been inspiration along the way. Now I get to create for a living. I leap at the opportunities to travel the country, to meet interesting people and to make great photographs of my journey. There’s a tangible energy in my actions, and that energy is born from those around me. I love to teach and am always eager to learn. I claim to control light, but in reality light lends itself to us, and we just look good in it. Lets enjoy it together.” About the Image: The image we chose for this month's feature is a six-minute exposure of the NYC skyline. Erik wanted a particular feel to the image and shared one of the main ingredients: "For this particular photo I leveraged both of the lenses strengths (wide angle + filters) by shooting at 17mm and attaching a 15-Stop Neutral Density Filter. The combination allowed me to capture the entire NYC skyline, while blurring the busy water traffic to smooth glass, and transforming the rather unimpressive sunset into a more spectacular streaking light show of sun-rays." Click on Erik's image to enlarge and view in the SCU Lightbox. Then visit his website and follow his event schedule too! He's one of the most approachable photographers in the industry.
 Click for more information There's a reason why there's always a crowd around the Tamron booth at every trade show. They've become one of the industry's most favorite suppliers. It's not just the quality of their lenses, but the spirit of the Tamron team and the staff. Travel for all of us is limited now, but you can count on the Tamron team being back on the road when the crisis is over. However, their website is loaded with outstanding content as well as their YouTube channel. Now's a great time to catch up on your reading and video content - all focused on helping you raise the bar on your skill set as an artist. Check out Tamron's NEW rebate program on several outstanding lenses. This might be just the right time for you to expand your gear, and then take full advantage of the downtime, and build your portfolio with more great images. Click on the banner below to find out more about this new program.   Click to listen to the new podcast with "Chef" Erik  by Skip Cohen I've written a lot about the challenges for kids in the Class of 2020. Turn the clock back to your own high school graduation and think about the excitement in the air. Another chapter in your life was coming to a close, and friends, who many of you had known your entire life to that point, were also moving. It was a time of celebration. Now fast forward to the challenges created by the pandemic, today. *POOF* Instead of celebrating, it's been a time of anxiety and loss. Moments today's seniors have looked forward to for many years became a giant question mark! But here's a small compromise solution to lessen the sting just a little. It all starts with Todd White, his background and his skill set as a professional photographer. He specializes in fashion, commercial and portrait videography and photography. He partnered with the Project Graduation team from Georgetown High School to capture these kids' senior prom looks from their front porch.
 Shooting both a vertical and horizontal image for those seniors involved in the program, Todd made sure they all had a memory-maker photograph of prom-time. Did the porch-traits replace prom? Of course not, but think about the impact Todd's having on his community as part of Project Graduation. Todd White needs to be on your radar. His client list includes Facebook, Pinterest, The Alamo, Neiman Marcus, and various fashion designers. His commercial work has been published in Vogue, British Vogue, Elle, People, the Wall Street Journal as well as other publications. He is an Emmy award-winning Producer and Videographer for the Daytripper TV show on PBS and an instructor at Precision Camera and Video in Austin, TX. He's also a LUMIX Ambassador. Check out Todd's website, along with the LUMIX Ambassador team. This group is one of the most diverse and creative teams in photo, and all the ambassadors should be on your radar. Check out the LUMIX Photographers Facebook page too - there are always great conversations and imaging being shared.  Todd captured his prom porch-traits with Panasonic's LUMIX S1R and the LUMIX S PRO 50mm lens. Click on either thumbnail below for more information.
The pandemic has changed all of our lives and businesses, especially most professional photographers. But sheltering in place doesn't have to mean your business. There are still things you can do to continue to build relationships with your community and clients.
Mother's Day was yesterday, but graduation and Father's Day are still on the horizon. Don't let the seasonality slip entirely by when there are still creative ways to maintain a presence for your business.  By Skip Cohen As I pulled together a few images for the composite above, I couldn't help but smile after yesterday's f64 Lunch Bunch get together. The chemistry between Tony Corbell and Bobbi Lane is remarkable and a tribute to the purest definition of friendship. Then throw in our hosts yesterday with Steve Brazill, Don Komarechka, and Chamira Young, and you've got all the ingredients for great programming. Tony and I go back over thirty years to my Hasselblad days...and although Bobbi came into my life much later, the intensity of the friendship with both of them is something I cherish. Then add in friends like Steve, Don, and Chamira, and I might have had the most fun of anybody watching. It's the friendships that make this industry so remarkable! If you couldn't join us yesterday, the video is below and well worth your time to watch. Great images from Bobbi and then Tony, combined with lots of good solid insight into understanding and seeing the light make this video one off our best lunches to date. Plus, a couple of great links shared yesterday:
A BIG thanks to everyone who's been supporting these programs...and especially your feedback. We'll be back next Wednesday with another great program. Who says there's no such thing as a FREE lunch?  Click on the banner above and join us at 2:00 PM EST on May 6! by Skip Cohen JOIN US ON MAY 6 AT 2:00 PM EST FOR THE NEXT f64 LUNCH BUNCH WITH SPECIAL GUESTS BOBBI LANE AND TONY CORBELL! Nobody teaches lighting better than these two. Besides being great friends, they share an incredible passion for the industry, teaching, and especially lighting! Just in case you don't know Bobbi and Tony, I pulled two older videos from both of their YouTube channels, so you get a better feel for their backgrounds and skill sets.
The f64 Lunch Bunch is all about downtime education, conversations with/for photographers and ideas to help you through the challenges of the pandemic. The only thing worse than the downtime and needing to hunker down, is not taking advantage of the free time to raise the bar on the quality of your work. Bobbi and Tony will be joining our hosts with ideas on things you can practice, so you hit the ground running by having a better understanding of lighting. We've still got too many "natural light specialists" in this industry. And we all know, while everyone loves the look and feel of natural light when somebody declares themselves a "specialist" it almost ALWAYS means they don't understand lighting! I hope you'll join us next Wednesday for a terrific program with two great guests. And to put it in perspective on how well these two work together and love the craft, when I asked Bobbi about joining us with Tony she said, "It'll be great to get the band back together!"
 by Skip Cohen I don't want to start this post with a rant, but it's so hard not to react to photographers who are all doom and gloom, but unwilling to take the time to change things. This is a tough time for everyone, but there are so many opportunities for artists to expand and strengthen their skill sets. It's the hardest it's ever been to find business. So, I get it...but I'm not giving up on spreading the word on different programs going on to help you get things back in focus. Coming up this morning at 11:00 am EST Scott Kelby and his team:   Yesterday I shared a link to Joe Elario's Facebook post from last week and was surprised at how few people checked it out... it's only fifty-two seconds of your time. J.P. Elario is doing online portraits, and the idea is brilliant. His Dad Joe and partner in Elario Photography wrote: "New twist on J.P.'s Pop up Portraits & they're waiting in (virtual) line both U.S. & Canada ." I don't have a link for other smart portrait projects, but the word is that "Front Porch Portraits" are gaining momentum everywhere. While not every community has modified its shelter in place policies, many are allowing people out, but requiring that social distancing be maintained. Now think about the concept. Families have been in lockdown for weeks, and a "Front Porch Portrait" is a memory of a tough time, but right in line with family values. And for me personally, it would represent a memory of a time we got through it all.  On March 23 I announced the kick-off for the f64 Lunch Bunch. We had a new program every day for that week. We then went to once a week. We're skipping it this week, but on May 6 at 2:00 PM EST, we'll be talking about lighting with two of photography's most recognized educators - Bobbi Lane and Tony Corbell. I can promise you it's going to be more than just a great lunch! Click on the banner to the left to join us next week! And speaking of Bobbi Lane and Tony Corbell:   And check out the Photoshop Rant with Lee Varis:  And that brings me full circle to my point - there's a lot of help out there, and these are just the tip of the iceberg. There's support to help you with marketing, technique, business and it's all being taught by photographers who want to give back to an industry they love dearly. But the next move is yours! Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.
Zig Ziglar   Click for more info about "Great on Camera. by Skip Cohen
As a writer, there are few things more fun and rewarding than when you see that first copy of a book you've written. So, a BIG congrats to my good buddy Larry Becker! Larry's new book, Great on Camera, launches Tuesday, April 21. And for the first 24 hours, the eBook will be $1.99, and then it goes back to the regular $9.99 price. And the paperback will be $14.99 for that same day, and then back to $19.99 after that. Timing is everything! Based on how many of us are on camera with more than just chats with friends, a lot of us need Larry's help. Being an author takes a huge commitment, patience, an enormous chunk of your time, and most important of all a responsibility to your readers. Well, if you've hung out with Larry over the years on the Picture Success Podcast, or through programming at KelbyOne, or recently the f64 Lunch Bunch, you already know his passion for the craft and helping photographers. Like Carly Simon's old song, Nobody Does It Better - tune into Amazon next Tuesday and order this new book. Larry's skillset couldn't be better to help all of us be great on camera!   Click to check out the Platypod lineup by Skip Cohen With everything that's changed in our lives, the lines between great images, memories, and classic skill sets are all blurred. Technically it's Throwback Thursday, and the fun of the day is typically looking back at a moment in the past captured in a photograph. Well, I'm combining a little of everything this morning. The image above is thanks to the outrageous passion of Erik Kuna. It's a 9-minute long exposure streak of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching across the sky and the booster turning back and landing on earth. It was taken from an abandon launchpad from the '60s at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, with a Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon in the Foreground, since Elon Musk actually named the Falcon rocket after this iconic Sci-Fi Spacecraft. Erik captured it with his camera set up on a Platypod Max, but that's not where the story about the image ends.  Erik Kuna, Scott Kelby and yours truly on "The Grid" March 11. Here's where the "throwback" comes in... For so many of us, the fun of a throwback image only requires turning back the clock a few weeks! Erik shared the image on The Grid last month. I was a guest on that show and arrived much later than usual because I was stuck in traffic. (There's a throwback all its own - traffic!) I remember joking that it might be our last time all seated together for awhile. Even then, we didn't really understand the full impact of the "social-Tsunami" headed our way. The image of the three of us is actually my last photograph taken while being with other people outside my home/office. Right now, it seems like it was so long ago. But there is a brighter side to all of this, or maybe it's better described as an enduring side. Social distancing makes it tough to spend direct time with friends now, but it doesn't stop the support available or the willingness of so many people, like Erick and Scott to help us through the challenges. Start with all the support you'll find at KelbyOne, including ongoing articles and great online educational programs. Then, tune in The Grid and catch up on past episodes. Follow Scott Kelby's blog for more good solid content. Last but certainly not least - check out Erik's website. It's jam-packed with incredible images. And while some of you will think they're a long way from your specialty of weddings, portraits, etc. they're right in line with the passion so many of you share for having a camera in your hands! I love the way Erik describes his passion for space: Driven by a passion to create images that inspire, I work with artists and media focused on creating photos, animations, motion art and videos that communicate the story and capture the beauty, wonder and amazement of space exploration.
"The value of beauty and inspiration is very much underrated, no question." - Elon Musk The greatest gift we can give humanity today is to look beyond our current generation to the future of space exploration. Democratizing space for everyone, the next frontier for all of us to explore.  Click on the banner above to join us for "lunch" at 2:00 pm EST by Skip Cohen There's a lot going on this week, and I grabbed information on four programs I recently spotted. Obviously, the "f64 Lunch Bunch" is near and dear to my heart since I'm the knucklehead who, with help from some great friends, got it off the ground. This week we meet on Wednesday at 2:00 pm EST, and we're moving in a different direction. We'll have three couples joining us; all focused on wedding and event photography. Our guests will be Bob and Dawn Davis, Charles and Jennifer Maring, and Brent and Teri Ann Watkins. I can promise you a great webinar with a lot of depth in the skill sets of the guests to answer your questions. Dealing with the severity of the changes in business is no fun, but you do have the ability to get a lot out of the downtime. When the pandemic finally ends, it's going to be your expanded skill set that helps you get business back to what you want it to be! Click on any of the banners in this post for more information. From Photofocus.com: From Tamron USA: DSLR VIDEO AND FINDING YOUR OWN STYLE In this webinar Charley will describe three different styles of production, basic videography, commercial work and cinematic films. He will layout entry level packages of accessories and a production approach for each. From Kelby Media: You can either spend your time at home parked on the couch, or you can find a fun and kick butt online community to join and stay connected to your passion. Seems like a clear choice to us!
Looking for a budget friendly place to start? New members can enjoy their first month of a Plus membership for just $3!
  That's a 30x60 print hanging outside! Click for more info. by Skip Cohen It's Marketing Monday, and there isn't a better topic right now than Spring seasonality! Just because we're all in various forms of lockdown doesn't mean Mother's Day, graduation and Father's Day are going to go away. You've still got a remarkable opportunity to create a little excitement and sales. 1. Start with a call to your lab and simply ask, "What's new?" Remember, before the pandemic, most of the pro labs were showing new products and ideas at both IUSA and WPPI. Those products didn't disappear. One of my favorites is Bay Photo's Performance EXT Metal prints. I wrote about one over a year ago. It's outside our home, and it's still stunning. That's twenty months in the hot sun and rain in Florida with no visible change in quality. Think about how everybody has a back porch or patio, and an outdoor print becomes a novel idea, especially when we're spending so much time at home inside these days. 2. Coloring books of family portraits: The idea is thanks to Steven Gotz, and I shared a post about it last week, but let's turn this into a product. If you're a children and family photographer, imagine the pure joy a grandmother would have with a Mother's Day gift of a coloring book of pictures of her family her grand-children have colored. Obviously, this has the most potential for families with young children. All the information is a click away.   ,3. Graduation opportunities: The class of 2020 is definitely in transition when it comes to graduation ceremonies and celebrations. While some graduations might be postponed until later in the year, most of this year's seniors are going to miss out. That makes the photographs you took of them before the pandemic even more valuable. So, from grad cards and Marathon's BOGO program to prints and albums, you've got a chance to play a significant role in acknowledging their accomplishments.
4. Slideshows: If you're in any of the portrait/social categories, you've got images in your files of clients and their families. That makes this the perfect time to build slideshows for your clients. Great photos put to music and even short video clips if you have them make, creating a slideshow a remarkably strong product/service. 5. Education: Use your blog to share tips on being a better photographer. Whether Mom and Dad are using their cell phones or a real camera, give them advice on how to make their images better. Share tips on posing, lighting, exposure, and composition - all things you do every day without a second thought. Be helpful and let your blog be the gateway to your readers for ideas about photography. 6. Photo Flash Drive: They are NOT paying me for mentioning their products - I just simply like what they offer, and there's a reason why their booth is always so busy at every convention. Once again, here's a unique gift idea and one that keeps on giving. One idea involves a series of images from a client shoot, put to music, and on a flash drive together with prints. It's a perfect memory-maker and a reminder of the life every client is looking forward to returning to. And that's just their flash drive presentations. From their classic Playbook video player to gifting presentations with a bottle of wine, the combination of great ideas is virtually endless. Note: watch the short video on their website about the Playbook. This is a time in history where photography and video have an unprecedented ability to enrich people's lives. The images you've captured have never been more valuable to your target audience than today! Don't miss the opportunity to support the needs of your clients through the seasonality on your doorstep right now! Intro by Skip Cohen The Internet has made the world a smaller place, and with it have come some terrific cyberspace friendships. Meet Steven Gotz. Based in California, I first "met" Steven when he joined us for lunch with the f64 Lunch Bunch. During one of those webinar gatherings, he shared an idea for converting images to coloring book pages. Well, that led to a phone conversation and the start of a great little friendship. I made the offer to help share his coloring book idea with my readers, and Steven was kind enough to do a guest post. Now, think about the power of this for any family with young children who are hunkered down trying to find things to keep the kids busy. Even more valuable is the concept for those of you who are children and family photographers. Here's a way for you to share something with your clients - coloring book pages of their own family portraits! A BIG thanks to Steven for sharing the idea and writing the post. He's a perfect reminder that we're all in this together! More of Steven's work with his FREE Shelter-in-Place coloring books and Wordsearch puzzles is just a click away below, as well as his KelbyOne Class, "The Art of Zootography." by Steven Gotz By way of introduction, I am a Headshot Photographer, as well as a Zootographer and Docent at the Oakland Zoo in Northern California. With most of us forced to stay home due to shelter-in-place orders, and with most zoos being closed, in order to continue to give back to my community I have been keeping busy making coloring books of my animal images for the Oakland Zoo web site. My takeaway from a lot of the Zoom sessions, chats and tutorials I have been watching lately is that photographers are looking for constructive ways to stay in touch with their clients. And, at the same time, many of them are looking for ways to keep their own children constructively occupied. Or, at least, quietly occupied. It occurred to me that while children are enjoying coloring my photographs of animals, they might also enjoy coloring photos of themselves and their families. If a photographer who shoots family or pet photos could keep in touch with clients by sending them a PDF with one or more coloring pages of the family, the children, the family pet, etc, then that photographer might well be remembered when we come out the other side of this crisis. How about if the client were to take a smartphone photo of their children in their favorite superhero shirt, or their favorite sports team’s jersey, then send that photograph to the photographer? It only takes a few minutes to turn that photo into a coloring page and send it back. Now there is truly a two-way communication with clients.   While photos of families with younger children would most likely be more useful, for the purpose of this post, I chose to use a family with older children to respect privacy issues.
To create your own coloring pages, start by opening your photo in Photoshop. You can use a raw file, an edited PSD or TIF, or even a JPG. However, if you are using anything other than a raw file, please remember to edit a copy, not the original. Step 1: Duplicate the background layer. Step 2: With the background copy selected, Image / Adjustments / Desaturate Step 3: Duplicate the desaturated background copy Step 4: With Background copy 2 selected Image / Adjustments / Invert Step 5: With Background copy 2 still selected change the blend mode from normal to Color Dodge. This will likely make the layer almost completely white. No worries, that will change in the next step. Step 5: Apply a Gaussian Blur to taste. In the tiger image I chose 9 pixels. I used 6 for the family photo. You might find that using a levels adjustment on the black and white top level provides a bit better result. Each photo is different. I use the Lightroom Print Module to organize the pages, and then I simply print to a PDF. It is my hope that you find making coloring pages out of your photographs a constructive use of your time while staying home, and staying safe.
Intro by Skip Cohen We're all at home and hunkered down looking for things to do that are more than just fun, but useful. My buddy Mark Toal switched gears this week with a great App that solves the challenge of all those old negatives most of you have had stored in shoeboxes for years. And for those of you with young kids at home, here's something they can do to bring back great memories and capture joy! I love Mark's comment with a recent share on Facebook, which says it all: "Scanning negatives with my iPhone sure beats watching the news!" Check out more of Mark Toal's work with a visit to his website and blogs. As a member of the LUMIX team at Panasonic, you'll also find a lot of solid content on making the most of LUMIX cameras. Follow the LUMIX Ambassador team too. The group is one of the most diverse and creative teams in photography, and all the ambassadors should be on your radar. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how much great content they share.  Click for info on this app by Mark Toal I accidentally stumbled onto something that is bringing me great joy during this time of isolation. While surfing the web I came across a reference to a free App, FilmDeveloper, that turns my iPhone into a negative scanner. With time on my hands and thousands of old 35mm negatives I stared scanning and posting the images to Instagram and Facebook. The scans aren’t very high resolution, but they are good enough for online use, plus fast and easy to do. I scan in the evenings and post them fairly late. The joy comes when I press the button on my phone that turns the negative into a positive, then again when I wake up in the morning, and see how much people have enjoyed my trip down memory lane.
 by Skip Cohen Every imaging artist is feeling the same pain right now - business disappeared with the flip of a switch, and now you're struggling with what to do. Sound familiar? This is an industry where we all watch each other's backs. It's never been more evident than right now! Just like that lifebuoy being thrown above - you've got access to so many different places for help. There's no need for me to write a lot of text today - but I am going to give you the links to six great resources available with a click of your mouse - RIGHT NOW. There's a long list of great programming, and it covers everything from expanding your skillset to changing your marketing strategy! This is only the beginning - I'll be sharing more places you can find help as I hear/read about them! I know it's hard to see downtime as an asset when it feels like a monstrous liability. Take advantage of this time to build a stronger brand, skillset and relationships! And if you've got questions or need help you sure know where to find me!    Due to recent developments surrounding COVID-19, we’re offering free weekly webinars, free access to some of our top-watched classes, and discounts on our Plus and Pro memberships. We hope these resources help during this trying time as you work from home or self-quarantine for safety.    
by Skip Cohen
Last summer Chamira Young and I did a podcast with Gareth Rockliffe on "Beyond Technique." He talked about the way we start out in life and as we grow older, we expand our creativity. He then compared life to being a photographer. Everyone starts out shooting in "P" mode and later develops the skills to use "A","S" and "M." This is a time in history when, as an artist, you need to find ways to make yourself different. You've got to get out of "P" mode, both literally and figuratively. For example, there are too many photographers who have taken shelter in place to mean everything, including their skillset, marketing, and business. It's Mirrorless Monday, and Mark Toal is taking us out of "P" mode and in a new direction for most of you. He's sharing some great information on how to set your camera up for time-lapse photography. Check out more of Mark Toal's work witha visit to his website and blogs. Then follow the LUMIX Ambassador team. The group is one of the most diverse and creative teams in photography, and all the ambassadors should be on your radar. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how much great content they share. And in terms of taking full advantage of the time you've got on your hands now - One way to start is to make a list of everything you've always wanted to practice and learn but never had the time. We're stuck in a new way of living, and none of us know whose crystal ball is more accurate in when the pandemic will end. But one thing we all can agree on - there's time to do a lot of new things!
Mark's shooting with a LUMIX G9, one of my most favorite cameras. Just click on the thumbnails below for more information.
LUMIX G9 Mirrorless Camera Body, 20.3 Megapixels plus 80 Megapixel High-Resolution Mode, 5-Axis Dual I.S2 - DC-G9KBODY
by Mark Toal
I’m trying to think of things that I’ve been putting off doing and time lapse photography came to mind. I fell in love with time-lapse a couple of years ago when I made this video about how to set up time lapse in Panasonic Lumix cameras.
It’s perfect for this time since all you need is a camera, tripod and time, which we all have right now. In this video I use a Lumix G9, but almost all current Lumix cameras and many other brands have this feature built in.
Space Needle Time Lapse from Mark Toal on Vimeo.
I shared the time lapse video below which Mark created a few years back. It's a different application from the video above, but makes the point about a technique so many of you should add to your skillset for the future.
 by Skip Cohen If you've followed me for even a short amount of time, then you know I love this industry, but it's not just about the magic of capturing memories for your clients - it's the friendships and projects we all work on together. It's the way, so many of us help each other and utilize our skillsets to share information. Today's post is just one of those moments, thanks to Charles and Jennifer Maring. After WPPI last week, they headed out for a few days in California before returning east. Along with their LUMIX Gear (they're both LUMIX Ambassadors for Panasonic), they had two working prototypes of Platyball, the Elite, and the Ergo. Charles did a full review of the product in the video below. Having a chance to test drive the new ball head, he was able check it out firsthand. And, with six days to go, this is the community's last chance to acquire Platyball at a 20% savings and receive it before anyone else. And, it's a significant saving - $50 on Ergo, $76 on Elite, and $175 if you're buying both. More information is just a click away. 
Image copyright Scott Bourne. All rights reserved.
by Skip Cohen
I can't deny I'm a little partial when it comes to my good buddy Scott Bourne. He became one of my best friends out of the respect I have for him, and the fact that he NEVER does anything halfway. He's an incredible artist, teacher and has been an inspiration to so many of us. Talking with him yesterday, he mentioned he's got four seats open on his Bosque del Apache trip coming up in November. Opportunities like this don't come along very often. If the tour itself isn't on your bucket list, then hanging out with Scott for a few days with a camera in your hands should be. For more information, click on the banner below - but don't wait too long. These four openings are going to fill quickly! 
Bosque Photo Tour Nov 27-30 from Scott Bourne on Vimeo.   by Skip Cohen As I've written so many times over the years, the real fun in this industry is all about friendships. That's also the reason why I continue to suggest attending every possible convention and workshop you can work into your schedule. You need to pay attention to the care and feeding of your network! Rick Friedman and I had been saying hello to each other for years at conventions, but never took the time to stop and actually talk. Well, a couple of years ago, we made it a point to grab a drink while at WPPI, and that opened up a whole new chapter in the ongoing friendship. Rick is no stranger to SCU. He's joined me on an episode of "Why," been featured in Tamron Recipes, and his work has been in a guest post or two. He's based out of Boston, but travels all over the country. While his Facebook page most often tracks to his role as a photojournalist, he's become one of the industry's leading educators, specializing in lighting. Last week we caught up to each other at WPPI, and while time was short, we had a chance to talk a little. We share a lot of mutual enthusiasm for an industry we both love deeply. I requested one of his most recent images to share in a spotlight post. Well, Rick never disappoints. Captured with Tamron's SP 85mm F/1.8 Di VC USD, along with beautiful lighting is his portrait of CaraMia, it's the epitome of attitude!  Rick needs to be on your radar. Follow him on Facebook and click on his spotlight portrait to visit his website. And, best of all, if you're in the area for any of his upcoming workshops, run don't walk to grab a seat. Click on the links below for more information. March 21
Georgetown, Texas Photo Festival - Location Lighting Workshop https://www.georgetowntexasphotographyfestival.com April 24-26 CanAm Photo Expo, Niagara Falls, Ontario https://www.canamexpo.com May 8-9 The Photo Center, Brick, NJ, May 8-9th https://thephotocenter.com  By Skip Cohen Since the launch of Platyball's Kickstarter campaign on January 15, there's been a lot of great content shared all over the Internet; on YouTube; live at both the IUSA and WPPI shows; on numerous blogs, podcasts, and in the tweet streams of many of the industry's leading artists and educators. Platyball is down to the last two weeks of the Kickstarter campaign and your chance for substantial savings. As a backer, you'll save $50 on the Ergo and $76 on the Elite. Or purchase both and save $175! Plus, your Platyball will be shipped to you before anyone else. Last week "Dr. T" founder of Platypod was interviewed on TWiP (This Week in Photo) by Frederick Van Johnson. Then, Frederick later talked with photographers Gilmar Smith and Shiv Verma about Platyball. It's a remarkable product and is turning an industry-standard, literally upside down. Isn't it time you checked out what all the buzz was about? All the information on Platyball and how you can become a backer is just a click away.  Missed past episodes of TWiP? Click to visit their YouTube channel. It's jam-packed with great interviews!   by Skip Cohen I've written a lot about my role with the team at Platypod over the last few weeks. Since launching the new Kickstarter campaign on January 15, we've not only turned the tripod world upside down but set a level of awareness and performance that rocks the record books. As of this morning, the campaign has brought together almost 1100 photographers as Kickstarter backers in just the first nine days of a sixty-day campaign. To find out more about the product and how you can take advantage of the launch promotion, take a scroll through the Kickstarter page. Yesterday, Jay P. Morgan on The Slanted Lens shared the first video tutorial showing the Platyball in action which is below. What I love about the short film is that it's more than just an introduction to seeing the performance of the product. It's a perfect demonstration of what makes Jay P. one of the leading educators and filmmakers in imaging. Whether you've got an interest in the ball head or not, pay attention to how he takes you through using Platyball as well as his thought process for what he's trying to capture. Then, imagine what the rest of his presentations are like. There are almost 400,000 subscribers to The Slanted Lens on YouTube, with 501 videos to choose from. Each one brings together technology and Jay P's unmatched love for education and imaging. It's one of the best educational resources available, and subscribing is just a click away! |
The pandemic may have moved the dates for ClickCon to August 10-13, 2021, but that's NOT slowing Team ClickCon down. ClickCon Nation launches this Sunday with nine months of programs!!!
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"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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