I’ve talked a lot about networking and how small an industry we really are.  Usually it’s been in the form of advice to newbies about being careful of what they say when it’s negative, because you never know who’s close to who.  This morning it’s just for the fun of it.  What got me going on the subject was finding an old friend yesterday resurfacing at another company within photography…”he’s back!”

So, have some fun thinking about all these links…

Tony Corbell is the educational manager over at Nik, but he and I worked at Hasselblad together.  But we met when he was working with Dean Collins, which led to working at Brooks Institute and co-ordinating with just about everyone in the industry.

Kayce Baker over at Fujifilm and I link back to her days in retail at Samy’s in LA, but most recently  Scott Bourne and I just used one of her amazing images in our new book GoingPro. 

High Roller Park - Heavenly, Lake Tahoe - C. Haeberlin

Image by Kayce Baker – All Rights Reserved

Scott Bourne and I go back at least 15 years when he sent me images at Hasselblad taken with the then new Hasselblad X-pan.  I sent them over to Studio Photography (no longer in business) and they ran a profile story on Scott and his images, which led to a monster project in the middle east.

My good buddy Bob Rose and I go back to his Ilford days, but the fun really started when I needed a dive buddy for a trip to Bonaire.  Then came working together on all sorts of projects, including Bob writing for Rangefinder Magazine.  He’s a writer, (Google him and you’ll find things he’s written all over the industry!) a photographer and the ultimate tech-weenie!  The computer I’m working on right now wouldn’t be working if it wasn’t for Bob’s help!   During all these years life has just been one amazing adventure.

Kenny Kim came to a program we were doing on the road in Cleveland five years ago.  Also speaking were Mike Colon and Jeff Jochum, which was a Pictage sponsored series.  Then Kenny seemed to show up at every program.  He recently published a new book and took some great images at the last Skip’s Summer School.  Then, two days ago I was talking to Tracy Moore, a photographer from Montana.  She’s assisting Kenny at an upcoming wedding in Chicago in the next week or so.

Vern McClish, now at Hallmark, was at Polaroid for many years, although we really didn’t work together until I left and joined Hasselblad.  Polaroid at the time made a back for Hasselblads.   We’ve worked together on and off for years on various projects related to Hallmark Institute, but the most fun is that we actually went to high school together!  For years he’s been suggesting I get to know lighting expert, Bobbi Lane, who recently just co-anchored the Lighting Lab at Skip’s Summer School.  Now throw in good buddy, Rich Parker from The MAC Group, who brought in all the Profoto lighting gear.  Rich and I go back to before his MAC Group days when I tried to talk him into leaving the west coast and moving to NJ to work for Hasselblad.

The other day I did a blog and talked about Ansel Adams…well, John Sexton, Chris Ranier and Rod Dresser were all assistants of Ansel at one time or another.  They all went on to become incredible photographers in their own right.

Okay, the list could go on and on, but here’s the point – no heavy thoughts – just pay attention to the incredible roots of everybody you meet in photography.  The longer you’re in the industry the more you’ll realize we’re all addicted to it! Nobody ever really leaves.