by Skip Cohen

In 2009 I left Rangefinder Publishing and WPPI to start my own company. One of the very first projects was "Skip's Summer School." Besides old friends who joined me on the journey, a new friend brought his skills to the party - Ron Dawson.

​Relatively early in his career, he was a talented film producer, artist and videographer. Ron came to Ohio and spent an afternoon with me creating the video below. Today, he's doing some exciting things in the media and tech industries with brand and content marketing. 

I had forgotten all about the video, until Greg Schrader, also a new friend back then, sent it to me yesterday attached to an IM. Greg's based in Michigan and we've stayed in touch over the years thanks to Facebook.

I know it might seem like I'm on an ego trip to share a video of myself, but as I listened to my own pitch, I realized how much I've strayed from recognizing when I need to recharge my battery. I'm betting most of you are the same - we've all gotten so caught up in the challenges of the pandemic and business that we've neglected our most important client - the face in the mirror every morning! 

One more fun aspect to today's post - Throwback Thursday is about savoring memories. We lost Molly the Wonder Dog two and a half years ago. While two pups have filled the hole in my heart, the fact that Ron worked her into this video makes it that much more special.  So, take the time for a look in your rearview mirror today and find a memory or two that simply makes you smile.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

One of the first projects for the new company I started when leaving Rangefinder/WPPI in 2009 was Skip's Summer School. It took place in Las Vegas every summer for the first three years, and then we moved it to Chicago. 

In July of 2013, my buddy Adam Sherwin, who was then with Resource Magazine, did a post on Facebook that said, "Resource Magazine is giving away four scholarships to the Skip Cohen University Summer session in Chicago." The composite above was with the post of all our speakers that year. It was an incredible program.

Sadly, it was the last year for the series. It became incredibly labor-intensive, and there was more and more to choose from in online education. Plus, the economy was stronger, and hotel shows were getting more and more expensive to do. 

But the fun of Throwback Thursday is always about the smiles and memories old photographs bring back. And to all the instructors over the years, including the ones pictured above, thank you for your help and support. It's great looking back, but it's even better being in touch with most of you today. What a kick!
​
Happy Throwback Thursday!

​by Skip Cohen

One of the fun aspects of Facebook is the way photography keeps us connected. In 2014, Anselmo Rascon shared this image on Facebook of Frederick Van Johnson, Bob Coates, and me doing a live broadcast. We were in the Panasonic booth. It's not my best moment, as Anselmo caught me on a blink - I wasn't dozing through the discussion. LOL

However, there's an especially poignant moment that stands out in my memory. We talked about fine art photography, which led to a discussion about image manipulation and the challenge with filter junkies who think they can clean up a bad image with lots of manipulation. I took the opportunity to share one of my favorite quotes, "Remember, you can't buff a turd!"  It took Frederick and Bob a minute to regain their composure, but it was well worth sharing.

I made that statement in a workshop years earlier about the importance of getting clean images "right out of the can." Then, a week later, I received a link to this MythBusters video, where they proved you could polish poop!

It's Throwback Thursday - so take a few minutes and turn back the clock and share an old image that brings back great memories. We all need to be looking forward these days, but a quick peek in your rearview mirror helps keep you grounded.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

​It's Throwback Thursday and this is a fun post to share. I've been blogging long enough to share a favorite backstory from my own archives. I originally shared this story on a Sunday Morning Reflections post in 2014, but Ansel Adams has lately come up in a few different conversations about my Hasselblad days. So, it seems appropriate to show you his camera gear through the eyes of my good buddy, Nick Vedros.
 
That's Ansel Adams' camera gear on the right. It was loaned to him by Victor Hasselblad. In later years, Victor passed away, and then sometime before Ansel died, he gave it to his assistant, Rod Dresser, and told him, "It's consigned to me, just use it and keep it in good shape. When Hasselblad wants it back, they'll ask for it."

The years went by, and nobody knew the gear was out there. Rod called me one day, probably around '94, and told me about the equipment. He didn't feel right still having it.

We replaced it for him with newer gear as long as he'd help us promote it for charity. In the end, we raised $100,000 for The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the Center for Creative Photography, when shock jock, Don Imus, put in his bid...and later wrote me a check!

But the fun of Throwback Thursday images isn't about the photographs themselves, but the memories and stories that come bubbling to the surface when looking at an old photo. They become catalysts to memory launches, and through the pandemic and losing touch with so many friends, they've never been more important!

Today's backstory is a perfect example:  I wanted to run an ad for the fund-raiser, and Nick Vedros offered to help us with an image. His concept was to create something that looked like part of a shipment of artifacts to a museum. He wanted to establish historical value with one shot. Remember, this is all in the film days with no chance to play around on a computer!

Nick built a box and stylized the shot, finishing with a little light painting to give it the intense look of a shipment of valuable relics. The idea was brilliant, and it worked, but the most fun as I look back on those days is my cherished friendship with Nick.

Today's Throwback Thursday post isn't really about old photographs but friendships. I've spent my entire life in this industry and, along the way, met some amazing people - one of them, Nick Vedros. I've repeatedly described him as one of the finest and most creative commercial photographers in the world today. But his success isn't just about his creativity and skill set. It's about the commitment he makes to his friends, the integrity he puts into every client relationship, and his unmatched passion for life.

I've written this a few dozen times and just mentioned it in a podcast recently: the best thing about this industry has NOTHING to do with photography directly, but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft.

I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in the industry because I keep getting opportunities to work with some of the most creative artists in the world! Through the pandemic especially, I did my best to stay in touch with old friends, but I met a lot of new people through the three podcasts Chamira Young, and I do, along with my role at Platypod.

In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.
It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being.
We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
Albert Schweitzer

To my buddy Nick on this Throwback Thursday, thanks for being a pyromaniac and setting so many "inner spirit" fires over the years. My head is jam-packed with Vedros stories. But, we're overdue to make some new ones!

And to all of you - Throwback Thursday comes once a week - don't let it slip by without taking some time to appreciate all those great backstories that are part of your life. Then, get out and start making new ones for the future!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen
 
In the summer of 2009, I launched Skip's Summer School. I had left Rangefinder/WPPI just a few months before to start my own company, and doing a summer workshop series had been on my mind for a lot of years. Plus, I'd been told it would be a failure, and those of you who know me, know my mantra:

​It was anything but a failure and would run every summer through 2013. It was incredibly labor-intensive, though, and it was just me, Sheila, and a bunch of great friends. In the hunt for a Throwback Thursday image, I found this video from my good buddy, Jerry Ghionis. It's a perfect share for a throwback, and even though it might be politically incorrect here and there - it truly demonstrates the creativity and outrageous sense of humor of one of the industry's most incredible educators. Jerry shared this video ten years ago. 

So, as we come out of the pandemic - if you see Jerry and/or Melissa Ghionis on the schedule for any of the upcoming conferences - run, don't walk to get a seat! And to Jerry and Melissa - thanks for so many priceless moments, great memories, tons of laughs, and the inspiration you bring to the industry. Now it's time to get back to creating new memories!

​Happy Throwback Thursday! 

by Skip Cohen

In 2019 the industry lost two legends, Jay Stock in July and Terry Deglau later in September. For those of you "kids" out there who think I'm just sharing a portrait of two old guys - these are two of the trailblazers who helped build the professional portrait side of the industry.

Terry was one of my very dearest friends, and there isn't a week that goes by that something doesn't remind me of our adventures together over the years. From spending almost a week in Yosemite driving Ansel Adams' Cadillac to conventions where we worked together for Kodak and Hasselblad, there was never a dull moment.

And while I didn't know Jay very well, he was known for his stunning classic portraiture. Terry featured him in Kodak's DreamMaker ad campaign, which I wrote about last January. It included this image of Jay. 

It's Throwback Thursday and time for you to dig back through your own archives and share a memory-making moment from the past. And trust me, a great look in your rearview mirror is the perfect reminder of how special an industry we're so proud to be a part of.

by Skip Cohen

I published a post about my headshot in 2013, but today's throwback goes deeper than this portrait. We all have our heroes in the industry and Gregory Heisler is one of mine.

​One of the highlights of my career was spending three weeks with Gregory when we were both asked to do portfolio reviews at Hallmark Institute. Sadly, Hallmark closed many years ago, but that doesn't change the value of the throwback memories when it comes to looking in the rearview mirror. 

For three weeks in 2009, three judges reviewed the portfolios of the graduating students in front of a live audience. It was one of those projects I describe as "the most fun I don't want to ever do again!" Reviews often took up to an hour, as each image in every student's portfolio received a full critique from three different judges.

On our way out to dinner one night, it just happened to be my birthday. The headshot to the right was done by Gregory, who simply said, "Come on, we've got to do a fast headshot of you for your birthday!" There's no way I was going to pass up my headshot by Gregory Heisler! 

He set it up with a vertical softbox about a foot from the left side of my face. His Hasselblad was set up about 18-20 inches in front of me. He shot wide open and had an assistant hold in an opaque card between the softbox and camera to keep the flair off the lens.

Here's the funny sidebar - my daughter was a photo student then and asked how the shot was set up. I gave her all the information, and she called me a few days later. "Dad, I'm trying to create a similar image, and I keep frying my subjects!" Oops, I forgot to tell her Gregory only used the modeling light and never turned on the strobes!

Gregory Heisler is one of the finest photographers in our industry. Back then, he had already photographed at least 75 covers for Time Magazine. Although we've lost touch over the years, nothing changes my respect for his work, and hanging out with him for three weeks is a definite highlight of my life in imaging.

In 2013 Profoto included a video interview with Gregory as part of their Master Series. While many of the videos are no longer available, I wanted to share this one to help you meet one of the finest photographers in the world. And while it may have been recorded eight years ago, his insight is timeless, just like his work!

by Skip Cohen
 
Well, when your birthday lands on Throwback Thursday, there's only one series of photographs to share - baby shots! And while they're almost as old as I am, at least they're proof that Matthew Brady didn't capture any of them. (That's for Scott Bourne's benefit, who's regularly suggested I was there in those early days of photography!)

That's my folks and me almost at the beginning! Plus, since Facebook threw me out years ago, suggesting my real name wasn't "Skip," it's a great time to reshare my birth announcement.

​I was "Skippy" right out of the womb and shared my birth announcement in a blog post to Mark Zuckerberg and the Facebook team back in 2016. At the time, they were challenging people with nicknames, and I got caught in the crossfire. Fortunately, a long list of friends came out to help, and by the end of the day, I'd been reinstated!

Meanwhile, since today's my birthday, I decided to do a fundraiser, which didn't seem to post right, but regardless I'm almost at my initial goal. It's a link to the Senior Friendship Centers here in Sarasota, and I wrote:
 
I figured I'd tie in my birthday this year with my favorite nonprofit. I'm raising money for Senior Friendship Centers. I know this is a very local nonprofit, but they do so much for the community, and every little bit helps.
My Dad and I started attending the Caregiver Support Group each week in 2012 when we were dealing with my Mom's Alzheimers. The Friendship Centers saved our sanity and especially helped Dad.

So, whether it's $5 or more, every little bit helps because it's a pretty amazing organization. Just click here to check out my FB Fundraiser page if you'd like to donate.

And to so many of you who have wished me Happy Birthday today - Thanks so much! There's a point in your life where birthdays are just another day in the week, but after the last year, this one's pretty special, and it's going to be a great day with Sheila and the pups!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

​This is another page from the Graphistudio "Day in the Life of WPPI" project I've written about before. It's definitely the gift that keeps on giving. After a year of hunkering down, nothing beats a quick look in your rearview mirror combined with a few smiles and the faith that we'll get back to days of being together at LIVE conferences!

For the 2007 book, Victor Sizemore, Calvin Hayes, Catherine Hall, and Jim Garner were the featured four artists. What a kick to go back and see the event through their eyes!

by Skip Cohen

​The fun of Throwback Thursday is always in the hunt! The series above was from Graphi Studio's "Day in the Life of WPPI" book for the 2007 convention. Jim Garner was one of four photographers whose work was featured in the album for that year. 

That's Charles Maring teaching a portrait class above, and there were probably 500+ people in the audience. And the image on the right, since it was his birthday yesterday, is Mike Colón, also teaching that year.

I'm not totally sure, but I think Mike's program was part of the Champagne Shoot-out series, an evening event we did in one of the larger ballrooms each year.  They usually started around 9:00 pm and one year went almost to midnight. We had four different photographers, one in each corner doing live shoots and teaching at the same time.

Then, in the middle of the room, rather than cheap champagne, we had $10,000 of Häagen-Dazs ice cream with a sundae bar. Nothing beats the combination of great education with decent ice cream!

I remember one year two young photographers complaining to me about no champagne. Champagne was the original plan until the hotel hit me with their prices for the really low end stuff. My answer, "Which would you rather have, a hot fudge sundae or cheap champagne you won't like?" His buddy smacked him and said, "Shut up and get a sundae!"

I started with WPPI/Rangefinder in 2001. With an incredible team, the show grew to be the largest professional photographic convention in the U.S. And while there were always challenges in matching the right size rooms to the speakers, terrific hands-on education was a common denominator with so many of the programs. 

Don't let Throwback Thursday go by without your own hunt for great memory-making images. It's a great feeling to look back and appreciate the growth of the industry and the friendships we all made together, starting so many years ago!

by Skip Cohen
 
​It's 2010 or 2011, and Jerry and Melissa Ghionis came to Ohio to teach as part of the Akron Photo Series. While living in Ohio, I put together several of these programs to help raise money for Akron Children's Hospital while at the same time bringing some excellent education to the area.

That's Brent and Teri Ann Watkins on either side of us, along with the Sylvart Photography Studio team. We did an evening program the night before and then a whole day of hands-on shooting at Brent's studio. But while the image above is a fun one, the image that really makes me smile is the outtake when Brent just wasn't fast enough to beat the self-timer!

It's photographs like this that remind me of what I love most about this industry - the friendships. Yeah, photography is a kick, and it's great working with people we all respect, but it's the mutual love for the craft that builds the bond that keeps all together. Even through the pandemic, we've all kept in touch.

You should be following Brent's Mentor.photo group on Facebook. He started QuaranCon early in the pandemic and just did another online conference last week. And Jerry and Melissa are always out there, both on their own and helping WPPI. They should ALL be on your radar.

Meanwhile, use Throwback Thursday as an excuse to focus on memories and friendships. As I've written before, you don't have to turn the clock back very far to find the "good old days!" Those looks in your rearview mirror are energizing and will definitely help you focus on the importance of keeping in touch with friends and associates!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

My good buddy Steve Troup shared this in 2011 on Facebook, and I ran across it yesterday. With the image, he wrote:

Here is a real blast from the past. The PPA Industry Advisory Committee, photographed, I think, in front of Agfa Headquarters in maybe 1997. Good times, good friends.

I'm going with Steve on 1997, and we were definitely at Agfa. Mark Roberts from Art Leather was the chairman of the Industry Advisory Committee. He handed off the gavel to me for the next 4-5 years, and then I passed it on to Steve Troup.

Sadly, there are too many people in this photograph who are no longer with us, as well as a few no longer in the industry. However, the memories looking back on those days in imaging still brings a big smile to my face.

Don't let Throwback Thursday go by without enjoying your own hunt for great memories. Then share them on social media. It's especially effective when the image ties back into reminding clients it's time for a new family portrait!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

​by Skip Cohen

It's Throwback Thursday, and in my hunt for old photographs, I found this classic of my grandparents, folks, and me. And with every old picture comes a series of backstories that simply make me smile. So, here's the inside scoop on a print from the mid-fifties.
​

• My Uncle, during his tour with the Army, was based in Germany. This was after Korea and before Viet Nam. It was during peacetime, and upon his return to the US, he came back with a Triumph TR3 and lots of gifts for the family.
• He brought my Dad his first "real" camera, a rangefinder Agfa with split circle focusing and a manual self-timer built into the lens. It became the family camera for thousands of slides over the years to come.
• For me, it was a pair of lederhosen, and they were a little beyond comfortable to wear. The leather was anything but soft! Obviously, from the pained look on my face, you can tell that Skippy isn't happy!
• Those are my grandparents in the shot, and my grandmother loved the small fur my grandfather had bought her. Today she'd risk being hit by a can of spray paint from an animal rights activist!
• My mother has on a maternity top. She was pregnant with my sister.
• The last thing that hits me, while I know it was the style, if my Dad wore his pants any higher, he'd have hurt himself!

So, throwbacks become "waybacks" when they're really old, or they just bring back so many different memories, smiles, and memorable moments. Take the time today and go off on your own hunt for a time capsule that simply makes you smile!

​Happy Throwback Thursday!

​by Skip Cohen

For me, half the fun of Throwback Thursday is the hunt for old memories. When it comes to photographs and videos too, I've got files, prints, and albums all over the place. Yesterday, in search of something fun to share in today's throwback post, I ran across a folder from my last party with the industry's dream team - the staff of WPPI and Rangefinder Magazine.

While a few key people are missing, this was the team that took the company to record highs. The March 2009 issue of Rangefinder Magazine broke 350 pages. WPPI grew to be the largest professional photographic show in the industry, hitting an attendance of somewhere around 15,000 that year. That was also the year, with Nikon's help, we took over the MGM's Garden Arena for a live concert with Blues Traveler. 

It was twelve years ago today I gave the owner of the company sixty days notice that I was leaving to start my own company. The decision was later made to leave earlier, but I was a "lame duck for the next two weeks."  

Webster's Dictionary defines "lame duck" as one whose position or term of office will soon end. It was a strange time, but the party at my place, just a couple of days before moving, puts the biggest smile on my face. Watch the video and you should recognize a lot of the team from those days and the industry today!

​Three days later, I was on my way east with Molly the Wonder Dog. The movers had picked up everything, except they refused to take any bottles of liquor or wine, so Molly's bed in the front seat was on top of a couple of dozen bottles of liquor! 

We were in Ohio just a few days later. By May, my new company was established, and the adventure began. I chose Ohio because Sheila and I were moving in together, and she was in Ohio. Plus, starting a new business in California, my taxes alone would have been more than the income the first year. 

My best advice this Throwback Thursday is to go on your own hunt. Find some of those old images that simply make you smile and bring back those incredible memories. After being somewhat isolated over the last year, all those special memories out there are waiting for your energy. Best of all, as things get better in terms of the pandemic, more and more memory-making moments are going to come back!

​Happy Throwback Thursday!

Intro by Skip Cohen

​Here's what happens when you cross Throwback Thursday with a great friendship, and then, like a chef, add a little good advice for seasoning! My good buddy, Scott Bourne, shared the post below eight years ago, and I shared it again in 2017.

But here's where there's a twist - the pandemic has changed everything in business today. Right now, your most effective marketing tool is relationship building. Advertising, publicity, promotions, community involvement, a great skill set, etc., all play essential roles. However, everyone has been hunkered down for the past year, and as we slowly get back to a level of normalcy, your customer needs to hear from you - NOW! 

The fun of sharing a Marketing Monday kind of post on a Throwback Thursday is pulling old photographs from your stash. From the first Skip's Summer School in 2009 to the SCU blog and dozens of projects in between, Scott Bourne has been an incredible influence, sounding board, and truly good friend.

In 2013 at Skip's Summer School in Chicago, one of the classes focused on video skills, created a short film featuring Scott and me as battling competitors. It was a lot of fun to do, except for one component where the class missed a beat - using copyrighted music. So, while the video never saw the light of day to the public, this is one of my favorite still images from the project.  

Scott and I met years ago in my Hasselblad days, but not until 2009 did the friendship take off. We started working together on so many different projects, including writing "Going Pro," which is still one of the best books ever written about getting started in the photography business.  

To Scott's point about caring about your customers in his guest post below - you can't truly care about them if you don't know them! All the answers on how to build a successful business are out there - you just need to listen to your target audience and understand what's most important to them!

by Skip Cohen 

Once upon a time, there was a Fortune 500 company called Polaroid. They represent 17 1/2 years of my photography career and the foundation for so many things I believe in when it comes to business today. Well, a chapter from the past, going back to my Chicago days, bubbled to the surface a week ago.

Here's another fun aspect to social media, and especially Facebook. Lori Hawk is a photographer based out of Kentucky. She collects cameras and recently received a Polaroid SX-70 for her collection. In with the camera was the service card below. 

She recognized my name and sent me an IM on Saturday morning. A phone call later, we had determined the camera had been repaired twice, once in 1980 and again in 1985.

​Most people don't know that the first production run of the SX-70 camera was over 300% defective. Each camera came back repeatedly for service. If the Internet had been around then, Polaroid would have gone out of business! Instead, thanks to an amazing man, Jon Wolbarst, a  Polaroid VP, who had responsibility for Customer Service, Polaroid became a leader in consumer support. We were one of the most pro-active and recognized corporate service departments in the industry.

Jon felt Customer Service was the company's conscience and never eased up on manufacturing or the company executives to stay pro-active, always fighting for the customer. The response card above went out with every repaired camera. We needed to make sure our service was the very best!

They were so worried about a class-action suit that we made "roving rep" calls, heading out on personal visits to those consumers who screamed the loudest. We made house-calls to teach people how to use the camera.

I was based out of Chicago and got a call one night to fly to Detroit the next day to meet with a woman who couldn't take a decent picture. It was because she could barely see, and the camera had an incredibly sensitive follow-focus system. So, with flash, if she took a picture of me and focused on my ears, the front of my face would be completely blown out.

To help correct the problem initially, they added the distance scale on the front of the lens. Later on, the technology changed, so the problem eventually disappeared. 

A BIG thanks to Lori for helping to keep the world a tiny place. What a kick to be contacted with this snippet from my history. I was with Polaroid from 1970 to 1987 and based out of the service center outside Chicago from 1976 - 1981. 

There's nothing like a trip down Memory Lane to make you smile!​

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

The pandemic has turned photographs captured only a year ago into valuable "throwbacks," but today's post is truly a collection from the good old days. It was 2005 and the twenty-fifth-anniversary celebration of WPPI.

GraphiStudio had a great idea of producing a day-in-the-life of WPPI album. The albums were stunning, as four different photographers, working independent of each other, captured their story of the convention each year. They were given no guidelines except to capture memories.

I grabbed a few favorites for today's post, but it's not just about Throwback Thursday. Memories like this, while they're a fun look in the rearview mirror, they're an opportunity to look forward. None of us know what the first convention will be when we feel safe again, but there is finally light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm hearing stories of business starting to pick up in various parts of the country. We're also headed into the second biggest seasonality of the year with Mother's Day, graduation, and Father's Day. Now is the time to be blogging about the importance of family portraiture and capturing those special moments. Use Throwback Thursday as a marketing tool to help remind your audience of the need to grab new memories!

That means you need to be ready. I'm not suggesting it's easy, but too many of you have pulled away from your business and simply shut down. Now is the time to be boosting your skill set and keeping in contact with your customers and community. As I've written so many times over the last year:

by Skip Cohen

In 1997, one of the all-time best ad agencies, Kalmar Ad Marketing, had an idea for an inflatable Hasselblad that would join us at many of the photographic shows on the calendar each year. So, from the floor of WPPI to the "lobby" of Javits, Hasselblad University programs, and even a few dealer events, "Big Blad" made an appearance.

It was pretty remarkable. Built to scale, it was approximately 14 feet high and took only minutes to inflate and deflate. It had its own internal air compressor. It was a replica of a 503CW and was in storage for many years, including my garage. My Dad made a trip to visit us in Ohio in 2010; we took it out and blew it up in the driveway. That's our granddaughter, Belle and me.

Sadly Big Blad died of "respiratory failure" - the dampness and mold from storage for so many years did her in!

It's Throwback Thursday - take the time to find an old photograph and have friends join you on a trip down Memory Lane! It's a great way to keep in touch, especially during the pandemic.

by Skip Cohen

​Wandering through my archived grab shots, I sure didn't have to go very far to find a Throwback Thursday shot or two. It's IUSA in 2018 in Nashville, and Bobbi Lane was doing headshots over in the FujiFilm booth. That's Max Alewel from Marathon Press, who I talked into going over and being abused for his portrait. LOL

Bobbi and Max are two prime examples of one of the things I miss most through the pandemic - catching up to friends! And at every convention, these two are always at the top of my list to track down. 

​The best thing about throwback images is the memories they bring back. So, take the time, and whether you share them or not, find a few throwbacks. Nothing beats a great memory and a smile.
 
Wandering through the Internet, I found this explanation about smiling from EverydayPower.com. 

​"According to scientists, smiling causes an influx of positive emotions that help in relieving stress and lowering your blood pressure. Each time you smile, you benefit your health and happiness.

Not only can smiling lift your mood, but it can also elevate the mood of those around you.
When you smile at others, it gives them a boost of happiness, helps them to lead a healthier life, and influences how they perceive you."

Like all of you, we're looking forward to that first convention where everyone feels safe enough to be together. It's not going to happen right away, but it will happen, and what a celebration that's going to be!

PS Looking for a great online program coming up on portraiture. Bobbi and Lee Varis are teaching online on March 27 at 9:00 A.M. Here's the link for more information!

by Skip Cohen

​As the pandemic continues, the importance of Throwback Thursday just keeps growing. I find myself often wandering through my files, along with albums and shoeboxes, in a therapeutic way, looking for something that makes me smile and reminds me of life pre-Covid19.

Well, nothing captures a quicker smile these days than a scuba trip from the past. I'm not sure where we were, but this is around 2006. From location destinations to live-aboard trips, there was a group of us who headed off diving at least twice a year or more.

In terms of people you might recognize from the photo industry: me, Paul Fishkin now with the Mac Group, Bob Rose, now teaching at RIT, Kayce Baker (behind Bob) back in her FujiFilm Days, and Karen Hart, who you'll recognize from so many different companies she's represented, including Zeiss, Tamrac and Hasselblad.

Outside the industry, but often with us on every trip, Karen (blue blouse) and Bill Kuglar (yellow t-shirt) from Minneapolis, Tom Danielson from Chicago, and Mitch Rubinoff from NJ.

Tom Danielson and I started diving together in the early 90s. He was essential in helping develop the H38, Hasselblad's underwater housing back then as well. Somewhere during life's travels, we became the "Nitro-Boys." Between Tom and Bob Rose, we've been together on hundreds of dives over the years.

A few months ago, as a podcast guest, I was asked what I missed most - the answer was easy - people! Zoom, Facetime, and Skype are all wonderful for a temporary solution to physical distancing, but nothing replaces real-time with friends. And scuba is one of those sports that provides an incredible quality of time, and with each trip, the friendships, along with the stories, all grow.

So, as we hit the eleven-month mark of hunkering down, take my advice and use Throwback Thursday as an excuse to catch up to old friends and relive those special moments from the past. After what we're all feeling through the pandemic, you only have to go back a year ago to find the "good old days!"