Missing Bill Hurter - A Throwback Classic

by Skip Cohen

It's Throwback Thursday, and I recently came across a file of classics from Bill Hurter's birthday in 2007. Living in the Los Angeles area, you can find virtually anything, especially a Marilyn Monroe lookalike, to sing Happy Birthday!

Bill Hurter passed away in June 2015, and so often something comes up that reminds me of him.  He was the finest editor in the industry, taking Rangefinder and AfterCapture magazines to record highs. He was also one of the most beloved editors and authors in imaging, and all of us who worked with him had fun. It was a work-hard-play-hard environment.

But besides simply missing him, when I found these images, I was blown away remembering how we used to do the magazine - It was all manual. The production office had metal walls, and we would put the magazine together page by page with magnets and a lot of help from Gennie Kiuchi!

It could have been done on the computer back then, but it would never have had the quality. By laying it out as a team, we established the flow of the magazine - positioning editorial, advertisers, and sometimes, even setting things up for an upcoming future issue.

Here's why I love sharing throwbacks: First, they transport us to another time. They take us back to people, places, and events that most often make us smile. Second, they bring back memories, and when those thoughts include people no longer with us, the look in the rearview mirror is even sweeter. Last but not least, throwbacks remind us of the value of imaging and the industry we're all so passionate about! Where would the world be without photography?

And to "Mr. Bill"—buddy, there are no words to describe how much you're missed and how much you continue to be loved and respected by so many people in the industry!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

Note: I'm not sure who captured these images and the video below that day. But when I talk about the value of "imaging" that includes video. What a kick! 

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