by Skip Cohen

I know I've shared this several times over the past 17 years of blogging, but given the current political climate, there are a lot of politicians who have managed to hold this position. And regardless of which side of the fight you're on, this is the way everybody on the "other" side seems to be perceived.

Here's the backstory on the shot, because it was all BEFORE digital!

Having spent my entire adult life in the photographic industry, I always try to be sensitive to copyright issues. I first saw the photo above on the Internet over twenty-five years ago. A few years back, I wanted to share it in a post and decided to research who owned it.

Google makes it impossible for anything or anyone to hide for very long. Searching for the copyright holder, I found that Davidson & Company, out of Atlanta, owned the image. It took a little time to explain to one of their staff, who had no idea what I was talking about. Think about how it sounded answering the phone and hearing, "I'm trying to track down the company that owns the right to the shot of a guy with his head up his butt. Are you the Davidson & Company that owns it?"

A few minutes later, I was on the phone with Ken Davidson, and not only did he give me the okay to use it, but he also shared a little of the backstory. The story adds to my appreciation for the journey so many of us have been on in this industry. The image was shot on film and manipulated with conventional retouching. It was created for a commercial client in the late 1980s!

If you visit the Davidson & Company website, on their About page, you'll see a number of testimonial quotes, all with a few common denominators: "extraordinary service, trust, Customer Service, quality, consistency," and the list goes on. They're a company that's stayed on course with their original goal—establishing a reputation as one of the very best! Taking time to talk with me about the image is a great example of going beyond the usual support for an inquiry like the one I was making.

A BIG thanks to Ken for allowing me to use the image, which he described as one of the most ripped-off shots in photography!

PS These people are professionals—do not try this at home. Any similarities to today's political personalities are absolutely intentional!

by Skip Cohen

Yesterday I shared the first of what I had thought were lost recordings of podcasts from the GoingPro project, which Scott Bourne and I started in 2010. But scrolling through more Dropbox files, I found more great memories with a series of images, all thanks to Tony Amat.

Skip's Summer School ran for 3 1/2 days every summer from 2009 - 2013, but in March of 2013, we ran the GoingPro Bootcamp at the Hampton Inn in Las Vegas, just two days before WPPI. The pictures in the collage above are all in the album below.

What a kick to take this walk down Memory Lane and friendships that last a lifetime! The images in the collage above are all in the slideshow below - check it out - you'll definitely spot a few well-known faces in photography.

If you haven't taken the time yet today to hunt down some of your own throwbacks, grab a coffee, open some of your older files and start strolling down Memory Lane. Throwbacks are a great way to remind ourselves of the power of photography and the way they bring back memories!  Each throwback photograph unlocks a collection of backstories you've probably forgotten. There's very little in this world that beats the power of imaging!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

The expression about diving your plan comes from scuba diving. Your time underwater is valuable and limited, so you always want to make the most of it. The same thing applies to any convention or workshop you're headed to in the months ahead. You want to maximize your investment and get the most out of every trip.

It's Throwback Thursday, so I thought I'd have some fun with convention shots over the last ten years. And I'm combining my "albums" with a post out of the SCU archives to help you get the most out of every conference you attend, starting with IUSA next week. ​ Check out more photographs below.

1. Why are you going to this convention? It might sound like a stupid question, but some of you go to party, others to buy, and more of you to learn and network. Figure out what the most important thing is you want to get out of the show before you get there.
2. Check the weather forecast wherever you're headed! It's pretty obvious we've aggravated Mother Nature this year around the country. You're going to be out in the evening, so pack accordingly. I know this seems so basic, but I'm amazed at how many people never check a couple of days before.
3. What companies do you need to visit? Take a few minutes and look around your office, studio, or the trunk of your car. Isolate every product you use as a photographer and list its manufacturer. Now, look at every company whose services you use. Your lab, frame company, web design, album company, etc., should all be on the list. Your first goal BEFORE you get to the show is to isolate every company that's involved in your business. ​Here's the link to the IUSA list for next week.
4. New products and companies: Are there products you need for your business or new services you require?  For example, you've read posts about Marathon's Bella Art Prints and Albums here on the SCU blog. Make it a point to stop by Marathon (booth 347) to check out their complete product line and services.
5. Walk through the print exhibit. This is a terrific time to get a feel for imaging trends, as you'll see just about everything in the prints submitted for competition.
6. Walk the trade show, aisle by aisle! One of the best things about any convention is finding out about companies you may not have worked with before! Start in one corner of the show and work your way through EVERY company exhibiting, even if they're showing products you don't use.
7. Wear comfortable shoes!
8. Make plans for breakfast and dinner meetings NOW. Nothing beats time with old friends, as well as new ones. Never eat a meal alone! When it comes to dinner reservations, they don't come easy in any convention town, especially like a venue like the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. If you're heading out for dinner, it helps to know where and when you're going. Think about making a couple of reservations in advance, even if you don't know who you'll be having dinner with!
9. Update your phone book! Make sure you have the cell numbers for friends and associates you want to catch up with. There are few things as frustrating as wanting to meet somebody at a convention, but you've got no way to contact them.
10. Put the "social" into social media. So many of you have friends you talk to all the time online, but have never met in person. You hang out in various forums with them and share a lot of great discussions about photography. Check who's going to the convention you're headed to and set up a time to get together. It's a lot of fun to physically meet people whom you've talked to regularly, but only in cyberspace!
11. Check out the special programming going on in the various booths.
12. You snooze, you lose! Look, I was young and stupid once, too, and there are few things as fun as going out with friends and bar-hopping. However, you're at the show for a reason, and if you need to sleep in late the following morning, your evening out with friends might become the most expensive BAD investment you can make if you miss appointments or presentations you had planned to attend.
13. "Growth only happens outside your comfort zone!" Review the programming and decide in advance which speakers you want to hear. Plus, always pick at least 1-2 programs entirely out of your comfort zone. 
14. Call your insurance agent! If you're taking any serious gear with you, check to make sure you're adequately insured. I remember one year, a woman left all her camera gear in her room but didn't check to make sure the door closed completely when she went out for dinner. Everything was gone when she got back, and she was NOT covered by her insurance. Another photographer had two lenses lifted out of his camera bag while he was listening to a presentation.
15. Publish a couple of press releases! Let's talk about those pictures you're taking while at the show - use them for your own publicity campaign. For example, let's assume you want to expand your business and you're attending a few programs outside your comfort zone. Get a photo of you and the speaker, then write a short post about expanding your business into that new area of expertise. The same goes for any new equipment you might be considering buying at the show. A large-format printer, for example, would be a great topic for expanding your services to the community. In the same respect, working with a new lab would give you access to new products to talk about.
16. Utilize their assets without depleting yours! Get yourself approved for a leasing or a higher credit line before you leave for the convention. If you're going there to shop for new gear, it's so much easier when you know what you can afford before you hit the trade show floor.
17. Talk to the people around you when you attend any program. A photography convention is unique because you're all there for the same reasons. Make it a point to get to know the people sitting on either side of you. It's amazing what you can learn by just talking to each other.
18. Talk to the icons! I'm always amazed by how many of you are intimidated by your favorite photographers. The truth is, they're there to teach and meet other photographers interested in their work. Just walk up, introduce yourself, and thank them for whatever inspiration they've given you. They don't bite!
19. Analysis Paralysis: Take time at the end of each day, before your head hits the pillow, to do a quick overview of who you saw, what you learned, and what companies you can scratch off your list. If you wait until you get home after the convention, it will be too late!

The one thing I find most frustrating with attendees at a big convention is that they just haven't planned their trip. They got their tickets and made it to Nashville or Vegas, but then everything fell apart. Plan your experience so you're not wasting time and, even more important, your money.

Like the main rule in scuba diving...Plan your dive, dive your plan!

by Skip Cohen

It's Throwback Thursday, and I'm not sure if it's a takeoff on an old episode of Dr. Who or Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Either way, it's a sci-fi return to 30+ years ago, and what I love most about time travel.

Today's subject is prompted by the "bone-chilling" 65-degree weather here in Florida, along with my good buddy, Glen Clark.

First, it's true that the longer you live in a warm climate like Florida, the thinner your blood gets. The cold weather this week hardly compares to growing up in Ohio, and the cold up north today. Nevertheless, when it drops below seventy, I start pulling out the sweatshirts and flannel! 

Second, in the process of moving many years ago, Glen was cleaning out his garage and found the two sweatshirts on the right. He sent them to me, along with a few other souvenirs of time gone by, and they went on a shelf in my closet. The white shirt still had the tags on it. When I pulled them out to wear yesterday, it really felt like time travel back to the 90s, when we started Hasselblad University.

I know I've written about this before, but here's the short backstory: I was president of Hasselblad USA from 1987 to 1999. Sometime in '93, I came into the office one morning furious. Mamiya America, our number one competitor, had done an ad congratulating Annie Leibovitz on her new exhibit. It didn't come out and say she was a Mamiya shooter, but the inference was obvious. So, I started thinking - what could we do that would pull together all the great names, then using Hasselblad.

The answer was to launch two different weekend workshop programs, one in Santa Barbara at Brooks Institute, the other in Rochester at RIT. The instructors at both locations were among the finest and most recognized artists in imaging. However, the program was a dismal failure. Nobody wanted to go to Rochester, although there was plenty of interest in Santa Barbara; we underestimated the popularity the weekend before Labor Day. Room rates were absurd. In the end, we quietly canceled both workshops.

But, this is where the expression about a "silver lining" comes into play. The Hasselblad University logo, designed by our ad agency, Kalmar Ad/Marketing, won a couple of awards. It later became the brand symbol for everything we did in education, which then evolved into road shows with 3-4 speakers and 4-6 cities per series. It also became home for Tony Corbell, who joined us as the first and only Dean of Hasselblad University.

by Skip Cohen

​It's hard to believe it's been over sixteen years since I started blogging. It's Throwback Thursday, and it's fun to go back to one of my earlier posts, especially when it's a post about somebody EVERY photographer should know about. Last week, I mentioned Mary Ellen Mark in one of my posts. Digging around my archives, I came across the video interview with Mary Ellen Mark from Profoto's Icon Series many years ago. It's a video EVERY photographer should be required to watch.

​I met Mary Ellen in 1987, back in my Hasselblad days, and even had the honor of presenting her with "Photographer of the Year" at a PMDA dinner in the 90s. Sadly, she passed away ten years ago, but her spirit, love for imaging, and influence are still very much alive.

In a podcast I did with her around 2010, I asked her to explain why she has students shut off their LCD screens during her workshops. She talks about this in the video below: When we look at the screen and think we've got the shot, we let go of the scene, when in reality, there might still be more to happen. How do we know we captured the decisive moment if we've accepted what we already have? 

For example, many wedding photographers might see a scene: Grandma giving her granddaughter, the bride, a kiss on the cheek. The photographer sees the shot, clicks the shutter, might do a quick "chimp," and then moves on. But the best image might still be coming, and the tear rolling down Grandma's cheek was missed. But had the artist stayed focused on the scene for just a few more seconds, the photograph would have been incredible!

by Skip Cohen

It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday. While I've shared the challenge of posing tall grooms and short brides in the past, this morning in my hunt for old photographs, the print below came up, followed by a set of 5x5 proofs from the original shoot for the book, "Don Blair's Guide to Lighting and Posing Body Parts."

Talking about 5x5 proofs is a throwback all in itself. So, for those of you who grew up exclusively with digital, everything used to be shot on film. Once developed we'd get a set of printed proofs for the initial viewing. From those proofs, the final images, whether for a stand alone print or an album would be selected.

Here's the backstory:

Don Blair and I wrote a book together in the 90s that covered most of the biggest challenges of portrait photography. From hand-posing to kids with braces, to subjects wearing glasses, masculine and feminine posing, etc. - It covered just about everything, including tall grooms and short brides.

We shot all the images for the book in Las Vegas with local models so that when the book launched a year later at WPPI, we could use the actual models from the book for our program. Body Parts was the opening event for the convention that year.

The two pictures at the top were examples of how people typically pose couples with a height difference - he was 6'4" and she was under 5'. Don wanted to get people to think outside the box! His favorite pose for this kind of combination was to seat them on the floor and create one of his signature bridal portraits.

During the two-hour keynote program, we went through at least a half-dozen challenges from the book. "Big Daddy" was in his glory every step of the way. The final poses scanned from the page in the actual book are to the right.

Besides the fun and importance of bringing back old photographs for a walk down Memory Lane, think about your own skill set and how you've grown as an artist over the years. Next, think about the responsibility you have to your subjects. They're trusting you to meet their expectations and deliver your very best! That's what we wanted when we put the book together: to help portrait artists deliver their very best!

If you haven't taken the time today to wander through your own files and search for throwbacks, don't miss the opportunity. I think you'll be surprised at how much you've grown. You might even find a few throwbacks to help direct you to where you'd like to go next in terms of style and technique.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

In every Alzheimer’s story, there is also a love story.
Hold on to yours, for it can carry you and your loved one through the longest days and darkest nights.
Rosalys Peel, “Mike and Me”

by Skip Cohen

​It's one of my favorite days of the week, Throwback Thursday. While my post today connects to the tragedy of Alzheimer's, it's photography that counters the pain. It's all those old photographs that make me smile and remind me of all the good times before my mother started her battle with the disease.

The best throwbacks are often those grab shots. They capture moments from the past, transporting us back to a time far less complicated. The fun of Throwback Thursday for me is the hunt. I went back through hundreds of images, often reliving each smile, laugh, and stretch of joy that, back then, was the norm. 

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm honored to be a contributor to the Alzheimer's Association newsletter for Florida. The posts I write for them are all connected to things we learned in dealing with my mother's battle. 

These days, and it's only going to become more prevalent, everyone knows somebody dealing with the horrible disease. There are an estimated 7.2 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease as of 2025. This represents about 1 in 9 people aged 65 and older. The number of cases is expected to rise to 12.7 million by 2050. 

My most recent post is below, but here's the link to the complete newsletter, with not only my previous posts but also content shared by others experiencing the challenge of Alzheimer's.

The You’re Not Alone series is all about sharing our experiences in dealing with my mother’s Alzheimer’s. My mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother all had the disease, so I’ve seen it from all angles. If you can learn from the mistakes we made, then you’ve got room to make new ones of your own. The one point to remember is that you’re not alone.

As Mom’s Alzheimer’s progressed, she became more and more focused on misperceptions. She was like a dog with a bone when she got an idea in her head. In the beginning, I wasted so much time trying to convince her that what she was feeling or thinking was wrong.

My wife, Sheila, on the other hand, would just go along with it and agree with whatever was on Mom’s mind. Then she’d steer her in another direction with a diversion—something to change the subject and distract her.
​

• We were in the car on our way to St. Armands Circle one evening when Mom pointed out at least ten times, “That’s Longboat Key over there.” Finally, Sheila asked, “What’s so special about Longboat Key?” Mom paused and said, “You know, I just don’t know.” That was it—the topic was off her mind, and we moved on.
• On another evening, Sheila caught Mom crying. When she asked why, Mom replied, “What’s going to happen to all my things?” It took seconds to put a smile on Mom’s face when Sheila told her, “We love your things. We’ll take care of them.” Just like that, the crisis was over.
• My mother grew up in my grandfather’s neighborhood hardware store. One night, Mom went into panic mode. Even though my grandparents and the store had been gone for more than 30 years, Mom was frantic. “Dad asked me to lock up, and I don’t think I locked the door to the store!” We just went with it: “No problem at all—Skip’s over there now and just locked up.”

Insulating Mom from the challenges of the outside world also became a necessity. For example, a headline story about violence in the newspaper would send her into a state of fear. The same thing would happen if she saw anything violent on television. Whatever she saw became her reality.

We didn’t realize it at the time, but we were slowly building an inventory of things Mom loved. This became our “happy stash” of distractions for when Mom was most emotional. Coming up with diversions became an art form, and nobody did it better than Sheila.

Here’s my point today: whatever the challenge, don’t argue with your loved one or patient. If you push that button too many times, they’ll withdraw and simply quit talking.

I noticed a distinct difference in how my mother reacted when Sheila came into the room compared with other family members. There was no need for a disciplinarian, but there was a need to keep things on an even keel—with a level of pleasant positivity in our content, tone, and approach to any challenge.
​
The key to it all, as simplistic as it sounds, was love and kindness.

Wishing everybody a terrific Throwback Thursday! If you haven't taken the time to search for some of your own throwbacks, stop what you're working on and chase down a few memories. Imaging is the mortar that holds all our memory "bricks" together. 

by Skip Cohen

​It's been a crazy time, and when I usually post 3-4 times each week, it's strange when the cycle and habit get preempted by other projects. This is my first post for the week.  I know I shared this photograph at least five years ago, but where is it written that you can't share a Throwback Thursday image a second time? 

This photograph is from 2004 —it's bittersweet, but still a 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 five talented people from this photograph over the last 20+ years - Duncan MacNab, Ken Whitmire, Terry Deglau, Sam Pallia, and Roy Madearis. Each one was special for their contribution to the industry and the legacy they left behind.

Memory is the diary we all carry about with us.
Unknown Author

A good life is a collection of happy memories.
Denis Waitley 

We didn't realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.
A.A. Milne 

Many of you, especially if you're under thirty, never met most of the guys above...and yes, it looks like the good ole boys club, but that doesn't reflect the mix of friends who were at Don's funeral or making history in the industry at the time.

This is an amazing industry filled with incredible artists, managers, and educators. And if my memories are my diary, as in that first quote, I've got volumes of stories I've collected over the years, many of them thanks to the people in the photograph above.

Wishing everybody a terrific Throwback Thursday and a chance to fill your diary with more great memories.

by Skip Cohen

It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday, and every time I think I've run out of images to share, I find a few new ones. But the fun of #TBT is always in the hunt, and in turn, being reminded of the value of photography. 

The three images above were captured approximately 100 years ago. Those are my grandparents above, with my mother around two years old. They captured a lot of images like this, always with a car in the shot. Even in the shot of my grandfather by himself, the automotive theme is going strong - that's a gas pump he's leaning on.

But besides the fun of sharing old photographs, there's a bigger, more important point I want to make. I never sat down with my folks or grandparents while they were still alive to talk about the backstories with each photograph. Today, I have hundreds of images and no idea where they were taken or, for that matter, who's in each picture!

Building a Legacy Program: There's an old expression that goes, "Shoemaker's children need shoes!" As photographers, don't be a shoemaker.

As we approach the holiday season and family gatherings, take the time to gather those backstories from the senior members of your family. And if you don't have the time, then it's a perfect project for your kids! Whether it's simply taking notes on old images or video, capturing the stories, all of you have the ability to record your family's history!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

​I first wrote about this topic ten years ago, after following a thread on Facebook Wedding Photographers where a group of photographers were upset over the changing landscape in the business of imaging. Yes, things have changed a lot over the years, but these artists were all focused on the negative. It all comes out of the frustration of things not being as easy as they used to be, and they always sound like the sky is falling! 

You have to work harder today to get through the noise and reach your target audience. You can't slow down on building brand awareness and establishing your reputation. Technology, especially AI, the Internet, and social media, has changed the way we market ourselves. New gear is pushing you to expand your skill set, and is being introduced regularly. However, at the same time, your reach is the strongest it has ever been, and you have the most creative tools in the history of photography.

Think back to any convention or workshop you've attended in the last few years. The best part is the time you got to build your network. If you did it right you met a few people who have since become, or are on their way to becoming, good friends.

Think back to when you first met - You probably talked about the challenges of the industry, your common passion to keep raising the bar on the quality of your work. You might have shared some ideas you're considering for your business. Most important of all you recharged your battery with associates who had the same goal. It's that positive energy that keeps us going.

Today's post goes back to SCU Bootcamp 10-12 years ago...and it's true what they say about how time flies when you're having a good time! 

If you missed it yesterday, the fun of looking in your rearview mirror isn't reserved for just one day of the week. While you can never go back, you can look back and savor friendships and those people you've met along your journey! So, grab a coffee, kick back and chill for a few minutes and think about a few people in your network who have contributed to who you are today!

​Happy Throwback "Friday!"

​by Skip Cohen

​It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday. But today I want to share a very different kind of throwback. I shared parts of this post a few years back. The summer is rapidly coming to a close and it's the perfect time for those of you procrastinators to get more aggressive with your marketing. Even those of you who have been actively marketing, might find some new ideas below.

Here's the short backstory, going back twenty-one years!

In 2004, I met Vicki and Jed Taufer for the first time. They were on vacation in California, and we had lunch together. That was when I was introduced to her calendar for memory-making. She showed me her holiday card for the previous year, 2003 - it was an accordion-style calendar with special themed events she had created for the entire year for photographing children. (I've included two of the pages in the four-panel card below) She even included a section about her travel in 2004, planting the seed for additional portrait sessions while she was on the road.  ​ ​

​​Our industry has always relied on the natural seasonality of demand, especially during the fall and winter holidays, which begin in October and extend into the new year. But everything has changed - for the better! Thanks in part to social media, you can create your own seasonality. With just a little creativity and organization, you can boost the demand for your services - all on your own.
​

• Legacy Events: The renewed sense of family that came out of the pandemic is alive and well, all these years later. My suggestion is to put together a package that includes a portrait session with a video piece to capture Grandma and Grandpa's backstories. Those stories will become a family's most cherished memories, but nothing happens if you don't plant the seed for the idea.
• Summer Memories: In many communities kids are back in school next week, so the concept of capturing summer memories is rapidly coming to a close. But the reality is that nothing can slow down how fast kids grow. You've got to remind Mom that her kids are a day older and changing every morning - they're growing up. It's time for a new family portrait, or at the very least a back-to-school session.
• Furry Friends: Are you offering pet portraits? The pet industry is a multi-billion-dollar industry. I know from my own household that Lucy and Belle are with us 24/7 and are important members of the family. We're convinced they know and understand just about everything we say. That's why pets are number three behind brides and babies when it comes to why people hire a professional photographer. From Google: Approximately 94 million households in the U.S. own at least one pet. This represents about 71% of all    U.S. households, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA).

• Food Photography and Restaurant Decor: The pandemic years, mostly from 2020 to the end of 2022, put every restaurant on notice that they needed high-quality photographs of their food, especially for their websites and carry-out services. And if they were serving outdoors, when they were only set up for indoor dining, they needed help decorating the side of the building where tables were now set up. The pandemic is behind us, but nothing has changed in the demand for food photography. 
• Throwback Thursday: I rarely miss a Thursday post sharing old throwbacks, mostly about friends in the industry. But for you, it's an opportunity to remind your clients that time never stands still. It's like the old SNL routine of Subliminal Man. You need to plant seeds with your clients to inspire ideas for capturing memory-making events. Whether in a blog post or just shared on your Facebook page, use Thursdays to turn back the clock and remind your clients that it's always time for a new portrait.
• Headshots: The market is enormous. Everyone in business needs to be seen in the very best light...pun intended. This is where owning your zip code comes into play. Get out and introduce yourself to every business in the community! They need to know you're the local expert regarding imaging. More to the point about headshots - how's your own headshot? There are few things sadder than professional photographers with headshots on their websites that look like kids set them up!

No one post could cover all the potential business out there, but it's a you-snooze-you-lose scenario. We're headed towards the biggest seasonality of the year, and you have the skillset to make it even stronger. But nothing happens if all your plans are for mañana! 

Like the old Nike tagline..."Just do it!"

by Skip Cohen

​I know I've shared some of the stories in the past, but it's Throwback Thursday, and this morning I found a folder of additional photographs, not previously shared.

The Backstory: I don't know how it started, but it was in the 1990s, and AOL was pretty much the only forum where photographers were active. For some reason, in the Kodak Chatroom, Tony Corbell and I were challenged by Wendy Saunders and Calvin Hayes to see who could eat the most sushi. That led to a never-ending volley of trash talk over the next few months.

That year, the PPA convention was in Orlando, and that's where these crimes against all creatures from the sea took place. Now, if you know Tony or me, you know that neither of us ever does anything halfway! So before the event, we prepared:

• I bought us matching Yukatas, Japanese-style robes, so that we could look the part.
• Tony and I spent hours in a trophy shop designing the belts for the first "World Sushi Federation (WSF) Texas Death Match". You name it, if the shop had something to do with trophies for fishing, it wound up on our belts.
• At a flea market, I bought a pool cue in a professional-looking black case. I remember giving the cue to a ten-year-old kid walking by and keeping the case. I then filled the case with various styles of chopsticks, all held in place with Velcro, and included a supply of Pepto Bismol.
• We talked Ed Pierce into being the official judge. It was his job to moderate the event.

When the smoke cleared, the group had consumed close to $2,000 worth of sushi, of which Wendy, Calvin, Tony, and I had eaten 80% of it. My Dad was at the convention with me that year, and I remember him saying, 'Wow, when I was your age, all I had to do extra in business was play golf!"

What still amazes me is that Tony and I are not little guys and were convinced we would bury the competition. I remember being at 63 pieces and asking Wendy how much more she thought she could eat, "Probably another order or two!" That was it, Tony and I threw in the towel.

The fun of Throwback Thursday comes in two parts. First, it's the hunt for old photographs you want to share, or just enjoy for your own private walk down Memory Lane. Second, are the people in the pictures. For example, Alison Cotton, then Alison Pierce, was working with Clay Blackmore. I had forgotten she was one of the photographers who joined us that night. She's standing in the background.

Ed Pierce, the referee at the event, decided to give extra points to any team member who could eat a salmon skin handroll without using their hands. Calvin jumped right in!

With every Throwback Thursday post, there's always a point or two. First, take photographs from the special events that help create memories in your life with friends/associates at each workshop and convention you attend. Second, print them...if these were on a jump drive somewhere, I never would have found them. Third, there's an incredible value in the friends in your network, and they're part of your life to help you make those memories, whether for work or play. Just appreciate them.

Looking back, I suppose I should feel just a little guilty for spending Hasselblad's money...NOT! While the final check came to just under $2,000, Wendy and Calvin were both spokespeople for Hasselblad, and most of the guests that night had something to do with supporting the company's marketing efforts. So we rationalized and decided it was part of sponsorship!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

​PS Click on any image to enlarge and view in the SCU Lightbox.

by Skip Cohen
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While browsing through Facebook, I came across the picture to the right, which was posted on a Facebook page called Vintage Life. Click on the candy selection, and you'll be connected to their page.

Here's the fun of "old" candy...it's Throwback Thursday, and this takes me back to grade school and my Dad's business at the time. He was in the wholesale candy and tobacco business at his own company, Lake Candy and Tobacco in Ohio.

If a candy could be sold in a vending machine, Dad had it in the warehouse. Having so much candy at my fingertips gave me a different perspective on candy bars compared to other kids. It was just not a big deal, except ironically on Halloween, when I got to go out and "hunt" my own. LOL

Out of my connection to Dad's business, there are a few great memories...

The Bazooka Caper: It was third or fourth grade when I was caught chewing gum in class. The teacher asked me, "Are you chewing gum?" I'd been caught and she kept talking, "Well, if you don't have enough to share with the whole class, it's rude!" 

I was prepared and thought my response was perfect: "But I do have enough for the whole class!" I lifted up the top of my desk, and there was a whole box of Bazooka Bubble Gum! Hell, I probably had enough for the entire school!

I felt unbelievably powerful - I'd caught the teacher in her own trap. For the rest of the week, I had plenty of time to think about my victory, as I cleaned erasers and the blackboards each day. If you're not old enough to know what a blackboard was, find an old fart to ask.
 
Old photographs bring back memories, and today, the TV jingles in our lives: "Choo-choo Charlie" from the Good and Plenty commercial, B-O-N-O-M-O...Bonomo Turkish Taffy...and into the 60s and 70s -"Sometimes you feel like a nut...sometimes you don't!" Almond Joy and Mounds bars.​ Then there were candies like Three Musketeers, Snickers, Seven-Up, Mars Bars, and candy cigarettes (I "smoked" the same brand as my mother!). There were hundreds more!

I spent a few minutes on YouTube and found four of my old favorites from television commercials, which are below. Saturday morning cartoons, except for December seasonality, were loaded with these candy commercials. It's just a short look in the rearview mirror today...but then, that's what Throwback Thursday is all about.

Happy Throwback Thursday!