  A big thanks to Glen Clark for sharing a better copy of the ad than I shared originally. by Skip Cohen Sometimes the fun of Throwback Thursday goes well beyond the photograph itself and includes a few backstories. Let's start with the portrait above. Sometime around the mid-90s, Kodak launched their DreamMaker ad campaign featuring noted professional photographers staring in their own fantasy portrait. That's well-respected photographer Lisa Evans above. The campaign was for Kodak's VPH films, and the ads ran in just about every photographic magazine. In addition to Lisa's, one of my favorites was Al Gilbert's on the right. Before sharing Lisa's fantasy portrait, I called her. What a kick it was to catch up on the back story. She sent me an email and wrote: Thanks for taking me down memory lane. Being invited by Kodak to be a part of their Dream Maker campaign was a real treat. As I mentioned I got to choose the photographer I wanted to create my Dream portrait. After my first choice. Annie Lebovitz was unavailable, I chose Mario Casilli who did a wonderful job. Known for his incredible portraits of the stars that dawned most of the TV Guide covers for so many years, and of course as head photographer at Playboy Magazine, he had the skills needed to help create a Mermaid. Kodak gave me one of the most memorable experiences of my lifetime. From working with the costume designer to fit my mermaid tail and hand made shell bra, the makeup artist and even getting hair extensions and hair styling. A team of five people flew from NY from Kodak and the ad agency to watch the making of the mermaid in what used to be the old Pasadena Library, which Mario Casilli had converted into his incredible photography studio. To top it all off after the shoot, Mario Casilli himself drove me to the airport in his Rolls Royce. The Mermaid image was on the back cover of The Professional Photography Magazine, Rangefinder Magazine and more.  For a little better view, click on the image to use the SCU Lightbox But that's only the first chapter of the backstory. Last fall, I wrote about the industry losing one of its biggest and best supporters, Kodak's Terry Deglau. At his memorial service in Pittsburgh, I caught up to Bill Burbank. Bill and his team were responsible for putting together so many of the Kodak ads and programs back in those days. A couple of weeks ago, he sent me a phone shot of Lisa's DreamMaker portrait with a comment, "Look what I found!" That led to me calling Lisa, her email back to me, and the two images above. And while they're her phone shots of the experience and won't win in print comp, they're perfect for capturing the fun of the story. As I've written a few dozen times in the past, the best thing about this industry has little to do with photography but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft! And, as it turns out, Bill's brother lives just a few blocks away from us. Bill's no longer in the photography industry, but that doesn't take away from the fun of getting together whenever he hits Florida for a visit! Happy Throwback Thursday and a BIG thanks to both Bill and Lisa - what a kick to turn back the clock. Throwback Update: My buddy Glen Clark posted the image below with his comments on my Facebook post, then did a great version of his own Throwback on FB. These are the first truly clean copies I've seen that show just how beautiful the campaign was. That's the legendary Jay Stock as Buffalo Bill, and Glen also had an original of the Lisa Evans ad. THANKS Buddy!
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  by Skip Cohen It's Throwback Thursday and like the old Monty Python series, "And now for something completely different." My good buddy Glen Clark was packing up to move from California to the Carolinas. In the process of cleaning out his garage, one great piece of memorabilia after another appeared, which he collected and shipped to me. Well, I couldn't just write about these priceless artifacts...I went for the video below. Besides the fun of the friendships we've all made in this industry, there are so many events and spoecial moments we've all shared - including all our business cards over the years. Glen's were priceless, but if you want to see the largest industry-wide collection, catch Tony Corbell's, which are all stored in one big binder! I have a whole footlocker of items collected over the years. While you can never go back, the fun of Throwback Thursday is dedicating a little time to that look in the rearview mirror beyond photographs. From trade shows, conventions, new product launches, and promotions, all of us have our own stash of priceless memorabilia that just can't be thrown away. So, Glen couldn't throw it away, but he could ship all this stuff to me, and now I'm trying to figure out where to put it! LOL And to my buddy Glen - thanks, pal - I'm looking forward to the pandemic being over and getting time with you guys to laugh about everything that was in this shipment! And now that you're moved in - don't be surprised if I start sending you stuff from my stash. Happy Throwback Thursday!  Click on the image to enlarge in the SCU Lightbox by Skip Cohen I know I shared this photo a few years back, but cleaning my office recently, I found the album it came from. Alan Karlin sent me two small books many years ago. They're his shots from WPPI 2004, and this one is a classic. I'm not sure I've ever seen a group shot jam-packed with more industry legends. Click on the image to view it a little larger in the SCU Lightbox! And on that note, I can't think of a better way to wrap up 2020 than a sprint down Memory Lane. We're all tired of the pandemic, wearing masks, using words like "hunkering down" and "social distancing," but none of those things are in your rearview mirror! So, wrap up the year and look back to a time when life was simpler and extraordinary - we just didn't know how special it was at the time. And one last time in 2020 sharing Jodi Picoult's quote about photographs - BECAUSE THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO DESCRIBE THE PICTURE ABOVE... This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect. Happy New Year - here's to 2021 and having faith that moments like Alan Karlin captured in 2004 will soon return! Stay safe, healthy, and thank you for your support and friendship through another year in imaging!
 Welcome to the 2020 Circus "Stay positive, Test Negative" Ali, Bleu and Fisher by Skip Cohen It's Throwback Thursday, Christmas Eve, and a year we'd all like to forget is quickly coming to a close. So, I'm covering all bases with today's post, starting with my annual favorite holiday card for at least the last decade! Ali, Bleu, and Fisher Cotton do it up big every year. I've shared so many of their past holiday extravaganzas! It wouldn't feel like the holidays without their creativity! This is one part Throwback with a few of their past cards and another part, a marketing reminder. Doing your own holiday card is one of the best marketing tools you have. It doesn't matter if it's one of your images or a staged family portrait like the Cottons do every year! And if you missed this season, then think about something to send out to clients and friends in the first quarter - you'll stand out even more!  Next on my "Borgasmord" of content is to wish all of you a terrific holiday season. Whatever you celebrate, be it Christmas tomorrow, Chanukah, which ended on the 17th, Kwanzaa on Saturday, or any other holiday, Sheila and I want to wish you the very best. It's been a tough year and an especially difficult holiday season as family and friends are more than six feet out of reach. But, the year is almost to a close, and there are certainly more positives than negatives in the air right now for 2021. We couldn't get our act together to do a family card this year. It's the first time we've missed it in a whole lot of years. However, that doesn't change our appreciation for all of you, the fact that we feel blessed to be together, and how grateful we are for your support and friendship. And last on the list because it really is Throwback Thursday, and there aren't enough of you who remember the Underwood commercial with Mason Reese from the '70s or my use of the word "Borgasmord." On that note, and hopefully a smile on your face, I'm wrapping up today's post. Happy Holidays and thank you for all your support, feedback and encouragement over the toughest year any of us will hopefully ever face! It's really true - "I get by with a little help from my friends!"
   That's my Dad by Skip Cohen Throwback Thursday, especially during the pandemic, has become one of my favorite days of the week for two primary reasons. First, I love the role photography has played in ALL of our lives, going back as far as you want to search. Second, I take time at least once a week to wander through life looking in my rearview mirror, and while this is my Dad's life I'm sharing today, it doesn't change the fun of it all. I found these two class photographs from 1934 and 1936, 7th and 9th grade, looking through some old albums. Obviously, those were growth years for Dad going from twelve to fourteen. And his signature was a full head of hair, and great sweaters, right up until he passed away five years ago at 93.  Dad at '87 - Cantrell Portrait Design This year has been a tough one for everybody. The power of our photographs and their memories, at least for me, has an almost therapeutic effect. Whether it's the photographs themselves or the hunt through the past, they take my mind off the challenges of the pandemic.
While I know everybody in these two photographs has probably passed away, they were all part of what Tom Brokaw referred to as the greatest generation. From the Great Depression to Pearl Harbor and WWII - this is the generation of kids responsible for so many of the freedoms we've taken for granted for so many years. It's holiday time and perfect to take a long look back on your family's journey. Happy Throwback Thursday!  Click to view in the SCU Lightbox Where is it written that you can't share a Throwback Thursday image on a Friday? I totally missed sharing this yesterday, and it's too good to leave it in the stash. This photograph is bittersweet, but it's still a pretty special memory. It was taken at breakfast the day of Don Blair's funeral in Utah. And while there are no words to describe how much I miss "Big Daddy," nothing changes the power of the legacy of friendships he left behind. Here's the backstory: We were all in Murray, UT, for Don's funeral. His favorite breakfast place every morning, along with his son Gary and a whole bunch of local buddies, was Amber's. They were regulars, and at some point, somebody had a sign made up honoring "The Breakfast Club." So, a bunch of us from the photo industry made it a point to grab breakfast together. There's one more sad reminder that time never stands still. The industry has lost four talented people from this photograph over the last sixteen years - Ken Whitmire, Terry Deglau, Sam Pallia, and Roy Madearis. The pandemic has given us something we NEVER have enough of - TIME. Don't squander this downtime. Make it a point to stay in touch with people you care about, regardless of how long it's been since you caught up to each other. Memory is the diary we all carry about with us. Unknown Author This is an amazing industry filled with incredible artists, managers and educators. And if my memories are my diary, I've got volumes of stories I've collected over the years and many of them are thanks to the people in that photograph above.
Wishing everybody a terrific weekend and time to fill that diary of yours with more great memories.  Click on the image to view in the SCU Lightbox  by Skip Cohen
Everyone is familiar with the 7:1 ratio when comparing a dog's life to a human's. Well, I'm starting to think something similar applies to "pandemic months." So, while this group shot was from July 2015 and only 5 1/2 years ago, it feels like twenty! Here's the short backstory - for many years, Marathon did their MAP Getaway, a three-day program for members of the Marathon Advantage Program. It was one of the best workshops I've ever attended with a fundamental concept for its foundation - sharing new ideas in marketing, business, and even technical skills. It was a great program and one of those events where everyone left with new friends and ideas on attacking the challenges in running a stronger business. While the MAP Getaway is no longer an annual event, Marathon's support is still available. "Along with discounted prices, you have the ability to get your marketing help when you need it. You can ask any of our knowledgeable staff basic marketing questions and if you need a little extra help, our experienced Marketing Advantage Program Director and Educator is available via email and appointment." Here's one of the most significant benefits: Most of you are small business owners. You don't have a big staff or a lot of depth in the support you need to keep growing your business. Even in the pandemic, there are so many things you can be doing to maintain a strong presence in your community. Marathon has the ability to expand your marketing presence. Need a little more information? Just click on the MAP thumbnail. And whether you decide to learn more about the program or not - it's Throwback Thursday! Take the time to find some of those old photographs from great times in the past. At the very least, they'll make you smile.   Me, Kayce and Bob: Diving off Catalina Island (I used the Popeye tool in Photoshop!) by Skip Cohen
Happiness is having a buddy call you and say, "I need your help - they screwed up the order for my guy at the market and sent him big lobsters rather than a bunch of small ones. They're big ones - you want to cook tonight?" That's all it took - a couple of hours later, Bob Rose and Kayce Baker were at the house, and the water was boiling. They were six pounds each, and we also cooked a few smaller ones. But the real fun of Throwback Thursday is about great memories. I hate always referring to the pandemic, but it has created time to look back and cherish a level of freedom we took for granted. In my friendship with Bob, it's been nothing but adventures. After finding the picture above, I needed to call him to confirm my facts - over the years; those six-pounders had doubled in size - just like stories fishermen tell. Bob reminded me the claws were so thick we had to wrap them in towels and beat them with a sledgehammer. Kayce had found a recipe for cooking larger lobsters, resulting in an incredibly good dinner. We had anticipated the meat to be tough but prepared the right way; they were perfect. Bob and I had known each other for years, but the friendship really launched when I needed a dive buddy for a trip to Bonaire. Somebody told me Bob liked to dive, and that was it *poof* a friendship that's gone on for over twenty-five years was launched. After I hung up the phone, Sheila noticed a sort of disturbed/distant look on my face...it's what I'm calling the "Pandemic Blues." It's all about bittersweet memories. I know this will sound pretty sappy, but I miss time with Bob and Kayce. Here's my point - Throwback Thursday is the perfect way to stay focused on things that make you smile. And while at times it might send me into the "Pandemic Blues," missing friends and that exceptional freedom to be a knucklehead, nothing beats a look in the rearview mirror.  by Skip Cohen
Throwback Thursday's fun is in two parts - First, there are the memories old photographs bring back. Second is the never-ending reminder of the important role photography plays in our lives. It's been eight months since most of us hunkered down, and spending a little more time looking in the rearview mirror has become a welcome change from the Covid-19 reports and politics - or for that matter, just about anything in the news! The year is 1985, and Polaroid was a sponsor of an IMG event that turned the rodeo into team sports for two years. While many of us aren't in strong rodeo markets, if I remember my numbers, the rodeo was right up there with NASCAR when it came to popularity and attendance. IMG's push to get Polaroid involved was based on the fact there was a huge segment of the market the company's advertising just didn't reach. For two seasons, I was the manager of Polaroid's rodeo team. The cowboys on each team contributed to their sponsor's points, and at the same time, maintained their individual standing with the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.) leading up to the Nationals. If you follow rodeo, some very special cowboys were on our team. Right next to me, I'm the knucklehead with his eyes closed, is a bull-riding champion, Tuff Hedeman. He won the world championships three times, not mention dozens of other accomplishments over the years. You might also know a little more about him if you saw the movie "8 Seconds." It's the story of bull-riding champion Lane Frost, played by Luke Perry. One of Frost's best friends was Tuff, who in the movie was played by Stephen Baldwin. Next to Tuff are Bud and Jimmie Monroe. They're both national champions; Bud as a saddle bronc rider and Jimmie as a barrel racer. And right behind Jimmie is Rod Lyman, who was also a national champion steer wrestler, and president of the PRCA for many years. Every industry has its champions, not just because of their personal achievements but their support of their industry and local communities. I may not remember everybody's name in the group above, but I sure remember their attitude and love for the sport. I went into the assignment, not knowing anything about the rodeo, and came out totally impressed with the athletic ability and each member of the team's outlook on life - not to mention so many great memories. It was simply a great group of people, and always focused on giving back. So, when you look back on your career, what are some of the more random and out-of-the-ordinary things you've done? Meanwhile, one of the best lessons I learned is that when the cowboys start practicing backflips off the barstools, it's time to go home! Happy Throwback Thursday! Take the time to wander down Memory Lane. These days you don't have to go back very far to find moments that will make you smile.  This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect. Jodie Picoult by Skip Cohen
I've used that Jodi Picoult quote at least a dozen times, but I have yet to find one more appropriate when it comes to looking at photographs. Here's the short backstory: Sheila and I moved to Florida in 2011. My Dad was 89, and although he had help, he was still alone most of the time, dealing with my mother's Alzheimer's. It was the one time in my life I could live anywhere there was a computer. Sheila supported the idea, and took an early retirement from Akron Children's Hospital. We got out of Ohio and moved to Sarasota, six miles away from my folks. At least once a week, we'd take Mom out for ice cream, and she loved riding in the convertible. I had a Solara, which was perfect for her, Sheila, Dad, and a caregiver. The minute we got her into the car, she never stopped smiling. The pandemic has changed everything in our lives, but NOT our ability to appreciate those moments that made us smile. And while everything wasn't "perfect" at the time, looking back, it's one of the moments that bring back the pure joy and blessing of having both my parents still around. I used to say; there aren't many guys my age with their parents still living, let alone parents I liked being with! It's Throwback Thursday, and odds are you've got a little downtime - use it wisely and find a few old pictures that make you smile. It's a perfect break from the negativity that seems to surround us a little each day. And share those images on your blog - they're the ideal marketing tool to remind Mom it's time for a new family portrait. The pandemic hasn't slowed down the growth of the kids!  by Skip Cohen
It's Throwback Thursday, and we're turning the clock back to 1987 and one of the very best educational tours ever presented in our industry, Dean Collins' World Tour. Continuing with my quest during the pandemic, cleaning files and drawers, I found a stash of Hasselblad's newsletters. This was an article in the fall issue, but the fun of throwbacks is all about everything else on Memory Lane they bring to the surface. Dean's tour brought together three great companies, Hasselblad, Sinar Bron, and Kodak. And along with the business relationships came some incredible friendships. This is where my long time good buddy Tony Corbell came into the picture, and along with Dean, there's so much we'd work on together over the next decade and more. Dean passed away in 2005, and there's rarely a week that goes by that I don't think about what he'd do in so many different situations today. He became an incredibly good friend, and in a way found immortality in the stories and memories so many of us have and share. Take the time at least once a week to look in your rearview mirror. It's one of the best ways to appreciate your growth as an artist and the changes in technology and the industry!  by Skip Cohen
The fun of Throwback Thursday goes a lot deeper than just appreciating old photographs. Sometimes an image connects the past, along with a lot of different people and events. With the pandemic's downtime, I've spent a lot of time cleaning closets, opening old boxes, and digging through file drawers. While the purpose was to get more organized, the result has been a never-ending discovery of old memories. In a collection of photographs from my Dad's things, I found the image on the right. It's me at age 5 at daycare. At that time, my mother was helping my Dad build his business, and I'd be dropped off at "Mrs. Schlee's" every day. She had a half dozen kids she took care of and a swing set in the backyard. But the part of the memory that hits home the hardest is being afraid of her dog. I think the dog's name was Lady, and she was a lovable mutt, but I was scared to death of her. Whenever it came time to play outside, if the dog was out in the yard, I'd climb up on the swing set and just stay there. I remember one time being so afraid of the dog, and refusing to come down that I wet my pants! For all I know, Mrs. Schlee took this picture to say to my parents, "I don't know what to do with your kid!" It's bizarre for me to think about how afraid I used to be of dogs. I don't recall any traumatic event in my life that created my fear of dogs, with one exception - my mother was deathly afraid of them, and it took years for us to get a dog in the family. So, I'm guessing it was her fears that were the foundation for mine. Nothing beats Throwback Thursday's for those great looks in your rearview mirror. Whether you share them on your blog or just enjoy them for your own walk down Memory Lane - take the time and go on your own hunt. It's not only a great reminder of the industry we're all a part of, but it's a kick to take a break from politics and the pandemic!   by Skip Cohen Not to suggest my usual throwbacks aren't qualified, but there's a difference when you're turning back the clock in your life versus 150 years ago! This print is from some time around 1870. It's my wife's great grandparents. Sheila's grandmother was a full-blooded Cherokee, and I shared her portrait in a blog post several years ago. What's interesting about this image is what was printed on the back: "Milton Baker & Indian wife - Martha Tredway father." The Indian wife's name was Kitty Gentry, and Martha Tredway was her daughter and Sheila's grandmother. Whoever wrote on the back of the print chose not to even mention Kitty's name! But there's more to the backstory. In later years, there was a fight between family members over how to spell "Tredway" or "Treadway." As the story goes, "Supposedly Grandma Martha has no headstone because the family couldn't agree on spelling their last name. But I'm guessing it was because they were too cheap!" The print we have is about two inches square and was probably copied from the original, but technology is a kick. The scan came out exceptionally good with a minor tweak for sharpness in Luminar. I've always been a fan of Throwback Thursday, but these days, looking at old photographs has become even more important to me because of the pandemic. Old photos underscore the importance of telling stories and being able to appreciate that occasional look in your rearview mirror. It also hits hard on the responsibility you have to your clients to never compromise on an image's quality. Think about your work today and how it's going to be shared years after you're gone, or for that matter, the subject you photographed is gone. For example, Tim and Beverly Walden don't just create stunning portraits, but family heirlooms that right from the beginning are meant to be so outstanding that they're handed down from generation to generation. Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it. It's what a customer gets out of it. Peter Drucker Take the time today and wander through your old photographs. Then share them on your blog. They're the perfect marketing tool to remind your audience that it's time for a new family portrait! Just because they're hunkered down, doesn't mean the kids have stopped growing!
Happy Throwback Thursday!   by Skip Cohen
Maybe it's the pandemic or just aging, but there are times when NOTHING beats looking at old photographs. It doesn't get any better than the walk I'm taking down Memory Lane right now. I recently found the proof-print above, and I have no idea where we were or why, but it redefines friendship, love, and support - Four best friends, Terry Deglau, Tony Corbell, me and Don Blair. I've looked at it so often since finding it that I think I might have shared it many years ago in another blog post. They were the three musketeers, and then I came along in 1987 when I joined Hasselblad. It was shot in 1994, although I don't know who the photographer was. I'm guessing it was Don's son Gary or one his other "Numbs." Don used to refer to all of us as "Numb Nuts," and I still have a polo shirt embroidered with "Numb 1," I wear with great pride. I remember a bunch of us at Don's wife Donna's funeral. We had all gone back to the church, where lunch was served to at least 200 people. Six of us were sitting with Don when a buddy of his walked by, and he yelled, "Hey, Numb Nuts!" In unison, we all turned and said, "What!" Don passed away in 2004 and Terry last year, and it's hard to find the words to explain how much I miss them both. But here's the most wonderful thing about the business we're in - we give people, including ourselves, the ability to take intangible moments and turn them into memories we can hold in our hands and cherish for a lifetime. I've often referred to myself as one of the luckiest guys in this industry...those three knuckleheads above are a big part of why I feel so blessed. Between Tony and me, I'm betting we could do a Don Blair and Terry Deglau story marathon that would go on for days! Take the time today and go off in search of a few old photographs. You'll be amazed at how uplifting, even though sometimes bittersweet, those memories will be. Happy Throwback Thursday!  by Skip Cohen
Even with business starting to pick up a little, we're all going to have a little downtime still, here and there. Well, it's Throwback Thursday, and part of the fun of the concept is the hunt for old images. It's the perfect way to remind yourself how much photography means and use a little of that downtime. I found this shot of my grandfather in a batch of old photographs from around 1910-1920. And while it's at least a hundred years old, check out everything from his tweed suit, complete with vest and skinny pants, to the cigar in his hand and the pose. There's that expression, what goes around comes around. He'd be in perfect style today - just take off the straw hat. My grandfather smoked cigars most of his life, and one day decided to quit - cold turkey around 1959. He continued to put the money away he'd typically spend on a box of cigars and a few years later took my grandmother on vacation to Mexico! It's so easy to let the stress of the pandemic grind you down, but stay focused on the career path you chose to be a photographer. You're magicians who turn intangible moments into tangible memories your clients can hold in their hands and cherish forever! Physical distancing makes it tougher right now to work with the same creative freedom you have in the past, but that doesn't mean people don't still have memories to capture!  Four Hasselblads, two Rolleis, three Nikonos plus dive gear. A trip meant 400-500 lbs of luggage!  Helmut with 300-400 lbs of camera and dive gear on the road in the '90s. by Skip Cohen As bizarre as this might sound, there is one fun aspect to the pandemic - with so much downtime old friends regularly surface, and it's fun to catch up! Meet an old friend, Helmut Horn. We met in the '90s when he bought Ansel Adams' '77 Cadillac through a Hasselblad fundraiser. A few months later, he called me "Chicken" because I was afraid to get my scuba certification. He kept on me, and thanks to his support, I got my certification at Cheeca Lodge in the Keys, early the following year. That one event changed my life and introduced me to an experience and hobby, unlike no other. Through Helmut, I met other divers, friends from the industry, and my first trips with Tom Danielson and Bob Rose - two of my best buddies to this day. Their names are in my logbooks through at least 300 dives over the years. When I spoke with Helmut a few weeks ago, we talked about one of the biggest scuba challenges - getting all your photography gear on a dive trip. The shot above is Helmut and his friend Peter Kühn with their combined camera and lighting gear. Remember, unlike today's lightweight camera gear, this was all back in the film days. Housings, lights, and even the brackets were heavy.   LUMIX GH5 4K Mirrorless ILC Camera Body with 20.3 Megapixels, 4K 60p & 4:2:2 10-bit Internal, Dual Image Stabilization 2, & WiFi + Bluetooth Helmut's introduction of the ocean into my life resulted in dozens of trips over the years all over the world. The shot above was to Cocos Island - 36 hours by boat from Costa Rica. I refer to the trip as the "most fun I don't think I want to do again," but incredible nonetheless. Strong currents and definitely for advanced diving, each dive kept you on your toes. It wasn't relaxed, but unbelievable to be an observer and in the water with thousands of sharks who had no interest in us at all. It's an experience I cherish and one that few people can relate to. A typical dive would be to follow the mooring line down to a section of the reef and then grab a rock to hang on to and watch the hammerheads swim in and pause at a cleaning station. Dozens of tiny butterflyfish would come and eat the parasites off the sharks. Essentially it was the equivalent of nature's car wash for sharks. I found the very short video below, captured with Panasonic's LUMIX cameras. In fact, there's one shot of a GH5 in the video, one of my favorite cameras in the LUMIX line. Click on the thumbnail for more info I figured I might as well add a little entertainment to today's post. As with any place we've traveled, it's a kick to be back, even though it's only in video. It's a definite reminder of the importance of staying healthy, getting through the pandemic, and back to a time with friends and trips like this! Take time to wander through your archives and find a memory that makes you smile. Between old photographs and talking to friends, there's no better therapy to help you stay positive during downtime! Happy Throwback Thursday!  Starting in the bottom left corner: Karen Hart, Tony Corbell, Jim Morton, Bob Finucane, Terry Deglau, Lisa Jane New, Denis Reggie, Bambi Cantrell, Bob Nunn, Skip Cohen, Jim Reed by Skip Cohen The fun of Throwback Thursday is finding old photographs and memories that simply make us laugh. The less than fun part is admitting you have no idea, whatsoever, when or where the memories were made! And to all of my old friends in the image, if somebody remembers why we were all together, please share. I know it was captured in the mid to late 90s, and on film with an Olympus Stylus. It was always a signature moment at Hasselblad when we'd all be together, and one of us would put the Stylus on self-timer and place it on the ground - everybody knew to huddle around. We've all got time on our hands these days, and I've found looking at old photographs, especially the ones I find from the film days, bring back so many smiles. It's also a great way to keep in touch with friends who have slipped away over the years. And for those of you who don't want to fool with rotating the image, here it is in the other direction.  Happy Throwback Thursday!
 by Skip Cohen It's a very different Throwback Thursday post this week, but so appropriate. Glen Clark and I have been friends since we first met close to thirty years ago through another mutual friend, Terry Deglau, then at Kodak. We've worked together on a long list of projects, and he's one of a small group of buddies who's high on the call list when I need a lift. He sent me the post below, and I'm ecstatic he's allowed me to share it here. It's Throwback Thursday, and these days none of us have to turn the clock back very far for the fun of old photographs and a walk down Memory Lane. During the last five months of downtime, one of the most popular activities for every photographer has been cleaning out our closets. As I look at my own collection of photographs over the years, I'm a perfect candidate for a show on hoarding. I have an attic full of prints, many of them framed that will never see the light of day - but we're out of wall space! Glen's dealing with a challenge we can all identify with - letting go of the footprints from our journey to make room for new ones. And the reason it's so hard? Jodi Picoult's quote, which I've shared numerous times says it all: "This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect." by Glen Clark I am struggling through a sad reality… As a photography professional, I've spent the better part of my life believing in and promoting that captured images represent memories, moments and milestones we will cherish during our lives and, in some cases, pass along as family heritage and precious treasures. And as an industry, we've promoted the value of large wall prints and decor items for home, office, and even commercial/business/public spaces. These "works of art" have enhanced our environments. My wife and I have accumulated more than our fair share of photographic art pieces and wall prints, each representing moments in our lives we cherish. But, we're now at that stage when we are reducing, cutting back, and "lightening the load." Our cherished print collection has become a burden. Our children and their children don't want the "Family Heritage" things we've collected (including our works of art). The sad reality is we need to let these things go. We've shared the few items wanted by family and friends. Before our treasures are tossed, we're copying them, so we at least have digital memories. I'm now creating digital copies (another story in itself), followed by destroying the originals and throwing them in the trash. An hour after we grabbed the photograph above, the prints around me were gone. It was heartbreaking…but at the same time, it was a bit "freeing." What advice would I share with my younger self if I could? Here are a few conclusions:
TRUTH – Having one readily available image when wanted is far more valuable than having multiples that need to be searched for to locate.
The one huge takeaway is this… Cherish each moment for the beauty, friendship, love, etc. it contains and, if you want, keep a few things to remind you of the good times. However, remember that today is here and now, and therefore more valuable than yesterday and tomorrow is not guaranteed. Live well, enjoy each day, share your love with people, cherish those close to you, and thank God for it all. Follow Glen on his Facebook page. You'll never be disappointed in what he's sharing!
 Left to right: Skip Cohen, Roger Layton, Bengt Förssbaeck, Jim Morton and Peter Power by Skip Cohen
Throwback Thursdays are even more fun when your friends send you old images. I just got an IM from Clay Blackmore who found this image in his files, and it's a pretty special photograph. He photographed five of us in the Hasselblad booth at what was then called Photo East, now PPE, in 1992. Clay sending it to me is a perfect example of the fun of the friendships we share in this industry, but something else makes the photograph special. Bengt Förssbaeck, in the middle, was Hasselblad's worldwide VP of Marketing. We lost Bengt to cancer a year or two after I left Hasselblad in 1999. We were both incredibly passionate about marketing and the company. Over the years, the fights we had in Board meetings became legendary, but so did our friendship. We were the very best of friends, and there's rarely a week that goes by that something doesn't come up to remind me how much I miss him. One more great thing about this photograph - in the middle of the pandemic, it's important to look in your rearview mirror and not forget the goal to get back to the good old days. We're all dealing with a new norm, but being self-quarantined makes those walks down Memory Lane even more valuable. And, if you're a family photographer, use Throwback Thursday as a way to promote the importance of capturing memories. Share older photographs on your blog as a way to remind Mom the pandemic isn't slowing down the kids growing up, and the importance of a new family portrait. Happy Throwback Thursday!  by Skip Cohen The fun of Throwback Thursday for me is never knowing what I'm going to find when I start my search for old images and memories. Today I stumbled on something I'd completely forgotten about - a small box of treasure filled with twenty jump drives. It was a collection of events in my life over the last twenty years. I wasted a couple of hours just wandering through images, articles, material for three different books, Skip's Summer School material and scans of various documents. In 2008 we started a business forum in Rangefinder Magazine and I was a contributor. I grabbed a screen shot of my article for that month which was also a teaser for an upcoming program at WPPI 2009. Here's the article:  My first paragraph says it all: ..."the economy has turned everybody's business upside down...there are some terrific opportunities and it's all about diversity."
Well, here we are in 2020 and caught in the middle of an incredible storm - the pandemic. Everybody's business is "upside down," with many of you still caught in analysis paralysis trying to figure out how to rebuild and get your revenue stream started again. The key to survival today is in diversity and your skill set. It's going to take a level of creativity you never thought possible to get things going in a positive direction again. But business is out there for artists willing to step outside their comfort zone. It's the only place growth can happen! |
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