There's a group of incredibly talented artists with an unmatched level of diversity and passion making up Tamron's Image Masters  and it's Tamron Tuesday. I always profile one of Tamron's tech staff or an Image Master.  This week  in the spotlight is landscape, portrait and sports photographer, Kevin Gilligan. 

Kevin wrote on his Image Masters' page:

My visual perspective grew out of a love of the ocean, surfing and swimming. I have always lived near the ocean and have always been drawn to the water and its forms, sounds and interactions with light. Growing up on New York’s Long Island Sound and now living in L.A.’s South Bay, I have a keen appreciation for beautiful ocean, beach and water landscapes. My interests are eclectic and take me in many different photographic directions. Art, portraits, sports photography, especially martial arts and boxing are also near and dear to my heart. I have studied martial arts for 28 years and hold black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Krav Maga. I’d like to think the discipline, work ethic, and curiosity from martial arts has carried over to my photography. I am curious about many things and strive to keep learning everyday.  Travel photography is also a passion.

For me, one of the fun parts of these spotlight posts is the challenge of picking out some representative images to share. It's not easy with Kevin - I'm not sure there isn't anything he can't shoot. I love the fact that he threw in the casual comment about travel photography being a passion. He's got some stunning work and I had a blast wandering through his galleries. Visit his website yourself and you'll see what I mean.

To make sure Kevin is on your radar check out his website and follow him on Twitter and Facebook.   

Kevin's Tamron Gear Box

SP 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II (model B001)
SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC (model A007)
16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD (model B016)
18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD (model B008)
SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC (model A011)
SP 90mm F/2.8 Di VC Macro (model F004) 

Intro by Skip Cohen

While this post today is primarily about helping you raise the bar on your client presentations with video, there's a great little sidebar point I want to make.

Neal Clipper and I have known each other for years, going back to my early WPPI days over ten years ago. We share a ton of mutual friends and in spite of a little skirmish over a program he did at WPPI years ago, the friendship prevailed and continued to grow. In fact, we just caught up to each other last month at PPE and here's my point...

Networking and maintaining great friendships are all part of the key reasons you need to attend virtually every convention and workshop you can. Getting time with new and old friends is a key to recharging your battery and building a stronger brand. You can't do that if you don't get out of your office/home/studio.

We're all part of a relatively small industry and share so many of the same friends, companies and experiences. In the newest search contest, The Ultimate Wedding Video, with Photodex, it was a kick when they asked if I knew Neal Clipper when they chose him to be one of our three judges.

So, check out Neal's tips on creating videos for your clients and make it a point to catch his WPPI program, How to Make More Money With Social Media and Onsite Printing, Wed, Mar 4, 2015 - 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM.

Neal Clipper, owner of Abbey Photographers took over his parent’s photography business in 1994 with hopes to expand into more wedding and commercial photography. He never dreamed how quickly the business would expand, and over the course of 17 years he took the company from shooting 50 weddings, bar mitzvah’s and corporate events per year to 250. 

Today Abbey Photographers is known for giving clients maximum coverage with, when the event dictates, four, or more photographers at a single event, and for capturing rare moments and reactions at life’s major events exceptionally well.

While building up the business, Neal focused on separating himself from the competitors by giving his clients something to really “wow” them. He sought out tools to draw more attention to the events and showcase his images as the event was unfolding.

ProShow has proven to be an invaluable tool for Neal and his team and gives them the ability to create professional photo + video slideshows in very little time. In return, Abbey Photographers  receives thousands of website hits per wedding after posting video slideshows online and through social media channels, and giving clients instant gratification by uniquely incorporating digital slideshows at their events.

                                                                 Tips from Neal Clipper

Create Excitement: Video slideshows help to create excitement at both the weddings and bar mitzvahs. We make shows using ProShow's built-in wizard and project them live at an event. Our customers and guests are so thrilled to immediately watch their photography unfold before their eyes instead of waiting for weeks. They have the instant gratification packaged in a way that is meaningful, professional and most of all gratifying.

Set Yourself Apart: With ProShow, the special effects and possibilities are really limitless. It’s what separates me from ordinary photographers. People seek Abbey Photographers because of our unrivaled service and ProShow has no doubt helped us stand out as one of the best full-service photographers in our market.

Experiment: For photographers new to video slideshows, don’t be afraid to experiment. It’s the best way to find out your perfect formula for success.

Neal Clipper is one of the judges in the Ultimate Story Wedding Video contest. Enter your best wedding video today to win prizes from Panasonic LUMIX, Profoto, Photodex, Colormunki and Resource Magazine.

Intro by Skip Cohen

I first met JB Sallee when he won the first WPPI Hy Sheanin Scholarship. It must have been at least ten years ago. Time really does fly when you're having a good time. He and and his wife, DeEtte, were only engaged then and here we are today with two kids and a well established photography business.

This is a little different guest post than I normally share, but that's what makes it so much fun. While the image itself is spectacular, I love the post because it's really a tribute to JB's grandfather, who first put a camera in his hands. That, along with ongoing encouragement and exposure to art, launched his career.

We all have somebody in our past who was so influential in our direction to choose our current career path, but now you're in a position to pass on that legacy. It's through photographers/educators like JB that so many new artists are being influenced every day. JB really put it in perspective with his last line...

      "Life is precious and very short!  What small token will you create that will shape the life of someone you love?"

You'll find more stunning work of JB and DeEtte's on their website. Plus, if you're walking around WPPI and you have a chance to meet them, just walk up and say hello - you'll never be disappointed!

I am very proud of this particular wedding/bridal image that we lovingly named “Prada Marfa” that we shot in the freezing cold at 3am in Marfa, Texas at the famous Prada Marfa Store as seen on “Gossip Girls”!

I owe a lot of appreciation to a lot of people in my life for guiding and moulding me into the man/photographer I am today. One person in-particular was my grandfather who took me to this Prada art installation piece years ago.

My grandfather was the one who not only introduced me to art but also put a camera in my hands when I was 16 years old and told me to do what I love and never settle for less. I took that advice to heart and I have never regretted my decision to pursue professional photography. Along the way, that one old Nikon opened a lot of doors for me. I met my beautiful wife and was her photo lab instructor in college, together we followed our dreams and opened up our own small photography business in Dallas, Texas. We have met thousands of other photographers who share our same passion and made many life-long friends. 

It’s crazy to think how one camera started a new path in my life and now it is our turn to mould and guide our two small children and bring them up in life with love and compassion for others, like our loved ones did for us. I worry everyday that I am inadequate as a father and not prepared to guide two little ones to face this harsh world but then I remember to take it one day at a time and one day I hope to give that one special gift to them that will change their prospective of life and help them to see the beauty that life has to offer.

My Grandfather always wanted me to do a wedding shoot at this Prada store in the city where he lived so he could show it off and “brag” to his friends about his “pro photographer grandson”. As hard as I tried, I could never find the right bride to convince into doing this shot. Unfortunately he passed away last year and I never got to give him this shot that he wanted when he was living, but I did find just the right bride. We went down to the store and created this shot. Without question I know he is up in heaven bragging to his new friends!

Life is precious and very short!  What small token will you create that will shape the life of someone you love?

The diversity of Tamron's Image Masters represents some incredibly talented artists.  But, even more impressive than their work is their passion for the craft.  Well, it's Tamron Tuesday and I always profile one of Tamron's tech staff or an Image Master.  This week Stephanie Elie is in the spotlight and she's no stranger to SCU. Check out her guest post from this past September and a terrific idea for a photowalk with your kids.

Her short bio on the Image Master's site really tells a lot about Stephanie...

Stephanie Elie is a writer, photographer and web designer. She's been blogging for over 8 years on BizzieLIving.com and has pinned several articles on other websites like lifetimemoms.com, Shutterfly, Momtastic and several others where she covers a variety of topics like technology, photography and entrepreneurship. She is currently working on a photography project on her blog called Captured Living, to help encourage everyone to take some time out of the day to capture life. Visit BizzieLiving.com to learn more. When she's not writing she spends her time shooting family portraits and promotional head shots. Her favorite things to capture are dancers and food and you can find her work at BizziePhotography.com.

She's a "Super Mom" with a passion for education, writing and photography. Just the diversity in the images I pulled from her work shows a dedication to everything that's put in front of her camera. From food photography to people and portraits to macro work with flowers, there's nothing Stephanie does just half way.

To make sure Stephanie is on your radar check out her blog and follow her on Twitter and Facebook.  Her Facebook page, Bizzie Living, has a tagline that really says it all:

                                                              "Streamlining the daily grind - Living for the moment"

Stephanie's Tamron Gear Box

SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC (model A007)
SP 90mm F/2.8 Di VC (model F004)

 

Walk Through a Wedding is about terrific tips on technique from Justin and Mary Marantz.  The newest episode is about photographing the Hora.  I love the videos they've done, but they challenge is, while they help you with technique, they're not real world.  They don't reflect the challenges of various locations and the total chaos of a real wedding.

The images below are all from real weddings...nothing scripted - just Justin and Mary doing what they do best...showing how they can walk the talk! 

A big thanks to Profoto USA for their non-stop support of education and incredible lighting equipment, especially the new B1, now available with the new B1 Air Remote TTL-N for Nikon shooters!

Intro by Skip Cohen
 
Tamron's Image Masters  represent some pretty remarkable artists. They're as diverse as they are passionate about the craft. On Tamron Tuesday I love to profile one of Tamron's tech staff or an Image Master. It's a kick this week to put the spotlight on Hernan Rordriguez.  He's a talented artist and our relationship goes back a few years.

One of the finest and most diverse editors in our industry was Bill Hurter from Rangefinder. While he might be retired today, nobody has relationships with more great artists or for that matter has worked with more amazing photographers than Bill.  Back in my Rangefinder/WPPI days I met Hernan. He and Bill worked on a lot of different projects together. The combination of their combined passion and dedication to imaging set a standard that's rarely matched.

Hernan's done a guest post, a great podcast and his work has been featured a few times here at SCU.

Just picking out isolated parts of his Image Masters description tells you a lot about his career:

The recipient of over 30 international photography awards, including a prestigious Black and White Spider Award in the fashion category, as well as a Photography Masters Cup Nomination 2013 in the fashion category, Hernan Rodriguez operates a successful studio in the heart of Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. There, he juggles a steady roster of commercial, product, and celebrity photography, along with corporate and family portraiture.  He has art directed and photographed advertising campaigns for Guess, Corona , and AMA Racing. His client base spans from EMI Records, Sony, Universal, CURB Records, Playboy Beverage Inc., and Telemundo. Hernan has also been featured in Studio Photography, PDN, Rangefinder, and covers in both PhotoShop User, & Punto magazines as well a Light It Digital Magazine.  Hernan’s outgoing personality and fresh approach to imagery, makes him a highly sought out conference speaker both nationally and Internationally including Keynote speaker in Colombia and Mexico. He has established himself in the industry as a well respected professional photographer with the full support and sponsorship of industry leaders such as TAMRON USA, Westcott, WACOM, Dynalite, Rosco Ent., and AlienSkin.

Hernan definitely needs to be on your radar. Check out his website,  his book, “75 Portraits by Hernan Rodriguez” through Amherst Media and then follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Hernan's Tamron Gear Box

SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC (model A007)
SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di (model A001)
SP 90mm F/2.8 Di Macro (model 272)

This past June I ran a guest post from a photographer in the Alien Skin Showcase, Chris Corradino. It was a great post and in the process of talking on the phone with Chris, I gave him a standing invitation to do another guest post. He's not only a great photographer, but the guy can write!

Well, a month or so ago he sent me the post below and some times I wish I was more organized. I started to do the layout and then something interrupted my thought process and *poof* it disappeared.  Last week I found it, but even better, walking around PPE in NYC, I actually had a chance to meet Chris and talk to him. There's another great reason to attend conventions/trade shows - finally meeting people, you respect and enjoy, face to face.

This guest post is all about mirrorless technology and I'm shooting myself with a Panasonic GH3, it's totally revitalized my passion to simply get out with a camera.  The quality is amazing along with how great it is to travel light, a point raised by several of Panasonic's Luminaries in Luminary Corner.  Plus, now you've got the ability to shoot 4K video with the new GH4.

About Chris:  Chris Corradino is a dynamic photographer, leading international workshops across the globe, and recently named a Study Leader by Smithsonian Journeys. He is also a licensed teacher with the New York Institute of Photography, providing personalized instruction to students of all experience levels.

Chris admits to sitting in a small wooden blind for several hours waiting for a bird to appear, and waking up long before sunrise to capture a mountain range bathed in morning light. Yet, as majestic as these scenes are, he finds even  greater satisfaction in creating a unique photograph of something that would have otherwise gone by unnoticed.  It’s this elusive pursuit that inspires him to press the shutter and study life, one frame at a time. For more, visit online at www.christography.com

by Chris Corradino
 
A DSLR is a commitment. You make a decision to take pictures, pack your gear, and head out. This has proven to be an effective formula for a very long time. For those who needed some added motivation, activities such as "Photo Walks" became quite popular. If you listened to the chatter at these events, it was typically about what lenses were left at home because they were just too heavy. 

All-around zoom lenses were the preferred weapon of choice. Otherwise, the rest of the kit just sat on a shelf collecting dust. The iPhone started to change things though. It provided users with another capture device, and more importantly, one that was with them all the time. 

It wasn't long before our commitment to the DSLR began to erode.  For a while, the internet was overflowing with low res smartphone images. These devices were widely embraced not because of their superb image quality, but their connectivity. It was easy to share a moment with your friends and family in a heartbeat. Truth be told, the actual clarity and resolution was far from ideal. Then, there was the lack of manual control. Ultimately, it was an inferior point and shoot that was connected to the internet. Despite these limitations, this technology took the world by storm. 

Citizen journalists were replacing actual professional photojournalists at an alarming rate, and it seemed cameras were everywhere. One of the most powerful images of 2009 "Miracle on the Hudson" was captured on an iPhone by Janis Krums when Flight 1549 went down. The quality was lousy, but Janis managed to capture a moment in history that no one else did. 

Meanwhile, talented photographers like Damon Winters worked to push the boundaries of what someone could do with a phone camera. His prize winning collection from Afghanistan was captured with the Hipstamatic app.  As the phones improved, so did the built in camera. 

In 2012, an iPhone image by Ben Lowy graced the cover of Time Magazine. While it suffered from some noise artifacts, the image was unquestionably powerful. it seemed DSLRs, were no longer necessary to achieve professional-type results.  

All of this set the stage for the Mirrorless evolution. Photographers wanted the best of both worlds with a ultra portable, highly capable camera, with interchangeable lenses. Industry giants like Canon and Nikon were slow to adapt. No one could blame them of course, as most of their sales come from DSLRs. Meanwhile, other manufacturers seized the opportunity and started developing groundbreaking products. Panasonic, Fuji, Olympus and Sony all led the charge. They created cameras and lens systems that weighed a fraction of a DSLR while retaining all of their functionality. To seal the deal, they added features like built in Wifi, advanced autofocus, tilt and touch screens, electronic viewfinders and more. Each manufacturer continues pushing the envelope with silent shutters, built in time lapse, live composite modes, and even a full frame option. The once muted reaction has quickly grown to a roar. 

Signs of this major shift are evident all around us. Well-respected professionals like Bob Krist sold all of his DSLR equipment as did Zack Arias.  Chase Jarvis called them "DSLR Killers"   

You can't look at a camera magazine without seeing a clever headline about migrating to mirrorless. At the 2014 Photokina show, the buzz was not about the bigger, heavier Canon 7D Mark II, but the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100. The future is here now. No longer does one have to decide if they should take their camera. You can keep a mirrorless body in your bag, jacket pocket, or sling. Every minute of every day is a photo opportunity. 
  

It's another classic profile from one of Tamron's Image Masters . This is an incredibly diverse group of artists.  Well, it's Tamron Tuesday and it's time for more of you to meet Michael C. Snell. He's no stranger to SCU...he did a terrific guest post back in July on details in your travel photography that's well worth the read.

On the Image Masters site, Michael's description is a testimonial to an artist with a deep commitment to imaging.

"Michael C. Snell is a travel photographer based in Lawrence, Kansas. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Communications from the University of Kansas. After working as a designer and art director in the advertising and marketing industry for over 12 years, Michael left in 1997 to pursue a freelance career and to have more time and flexibility to build his travel photography business. Since then, he has had images published in a variety of travel publications including Travel+Leisure, Rough Guides, Fodor’s, Mobil Travel Guides, National Geographic Publications and Discovery Channel books. Shooting both on assignment and for stock imagery, Michael’s image library includes photos from North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. His stock photography is available through Robert Harding World Imagery and Alamy."

When you visit Michael's site, take the time to look through his galleries and his blog. 

I especially loved the way his galleries are laid out, giving the visitor a full page of click-on thumbnails of both older work and his latest. It's so much more fun than the usual one image at a time or the running film strip at the bottom of the page. Plus, each image comes up with a caption, related to where it was captured.

Check out his website  and his blog. You'll never be disappointed.

And don't forget to visit your Tamron dealer and check out Michael's favorite Tamron lenses.