by Skip Cohen

It's summertime, and even with gas prices being absurd, so many of you are traveling both locally and hitting your bucket list on vacation. If you're a wildlife photographer, there's a lot of great content to make you drool in the video below. But regardless of what you photograph, I love how this film was produced...you don't need any more than great music and stunning images to tell a story.

Luke Stackpoole takes us to Namibia with his 150-500mm F/ 5-6.7 Di III VC VXD for Sony E-Mount lens. With its focal length and being lightweight, it's perfect for a trip like this. And in terms of the quality of the images, keep in mind that I'm grabbing screenshots from a video. So imagine the quality of the originals!

Tamron's making some of the finest glass in imaging. This lens is just one example. As you watch the video, you'll also understand why this lens won a 2022 TIPA Award!

But there's one more reason I love sharing a video like this...think about how you'd tell your own story. Sure, this is about exotic travel and wildlife, but how would you tell your story? Put together music with great images, minimal text, and whatever your specialty, there's the potential for a terrific marketing video.

by Skip Cohen
 
There's something a little sadistic about the joy of winter weather when I'm sitting outside in my backyard in June writing this post. Plus, living in Florida, everyone whines when we hit those bone-chilling sixty-degree temps in the winter!

I wanted to share this short Tamron video for several reasons. First, it's so well done. Even the music they chose leaves you wanting more than just two minutes! Plus, Ken Hubbard is a buddy who regularly puts Tamron lenses to the test in virtually every kind of weather. Over the last few years, he's taken us all over the world. Last but not least, Alaska is still on my bucket list!

Regardless of what lenses you shoot with, the video is a great break from whatever you're working on.

And if you haven't checked out Tamron lately - it's time to visit your Tamron Dealer and take a serious look at the 28-75mm F/2.8 G2 lens Ken's traveling with here. Just click on the thumbnail to the right for more information about this remarkable NEW lens from one of the industry's finest manufacturers.

by Skip Cohen

I love this video from Tamron because it's loaded with great tips about shooting handheld. Jake Sloan does a terrific job of advice for capturing better landscape shots. Whether you shoot with Tamron lenses or not, if you're interested in landscape photography, Jake's tips in this short video are going to be so useful. 
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If you haven't visited Tamron's YouTube channel, it's time to check it out. There are 384 videos, many of them featuring some of the most respected artists in the industry. Plus, they're covering virtually every specialty, sharing good solid ideas on technique to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images.

With the Father's Day countdown underway, and more people traveling this summer and spending time outdoors, now's a great time to visit your Tamron dealer. The 70-180mm F/2.8 lens is a phenomenal piece of glass and it's part of Tamron's very limited time Father's Day promotion, with a $100 rebate. The program ends this Sunday, June 19.

There are eleven different lenses featured on this new promotion with "Instant Savings" from $50 to $200. Just click on the link below to find a Tamron dealer near you.

by Skip Cohen

​Great photographers are like terrific chefs. They have a favorite cuisine or, with Lewis Kemper, a specialty. They have a restaurant they're associated with, with Lewis, it's the outdoors. And they have their favorite tools of the craft; with Lewis, one key set of tools is thanks to Tamron.  

We're excited to welcome Lewis Kemper back to the Tamron Recipes series, featuring favorite images from some of the very best artists in imaging. He's a photographer, author, and educator who redefines passion for the outdoors and wildlife. Based out of Sacramento, his love for the outdoors and telling the story of North America has become his signature. He has been to 47 states, from Alaska to Florida. And his international travel has taken him to over ten countries, including China, Tibet, India, and Iceland, to name a few.

Having followed Lewis' work for many years, while his images are stunning, it's his passion for the craft I appreciate the most. His love for the wildlife and landscape has been a constant quest for the ultimate image for over 40+ years. He simply doesn't slow down!​

by Skip Cohen

​Now and then, a great sale comes along you need to know about. There are six lenses in Tamron's new "Flash Sale," but it's only active for two weeks, and it kicked off yesterday. So with Mother's Day, graduation, and Father's Day all around the corner, here's an opportunity for saving on some of Tamron's best for the perfect gift - better yet, maybe it's time to expand what's in your own camera bag.

With better weather just around the corner and more of you shooting outdoors, I grabbed the video on the 150-500mm lens. Plus, a few of Ken Hubbard's images, (Click to view in the SCU lightbox.) But this is only one of six focal lengths for you to check out at your nearest Tamron dealer!

Over the last decade, Tamron's manufactured some of the finest glass in imaging! Time to add a few to your camera gear.

by Skip Cohen

Now and then, I run across an image that's far more than just an older photograph. I know I've shared this image a few times over the years, but for me, it represents the epitome of what a great throwback is all about.

To start, the image itself is a perfect example of great storytelling, all in one photograph. "Forever Alone" is about Cupid forgetting to keep one arrow for himself. He's at the bar, drowning his sorrows, without a chance at love on Valentine's Day. And to add to the fun of the image, that's the artist himself in the far back left corner!

The image was created by an artist who's become a great buddy over the years. It's one of the early images I shared of Jonathan Thorpe's. It was captured eight years ago, just about to the day. Jonathan is no stranger to the SCU blog. He's a Tamron Image Master, and his work has been featured in guest post images, an episode of "Why?" and the Tamron Recipes podcast.

The backstory gets even better in this BTS video from 2013: 

​Throwbacks also help us stay in touch. I caught up to Jonathan for a few minutes at IUSA last month. I also called him this morning to determine when the "Forever Alone" was created and make sure it was okay to share. Just the fun of catching up to him was a great way to kick off the day.

Last but not least, Valentine's Day is Monday. So that makes the timing of today's Throwback Thursday post the perfect preview to the holiday.

Whether you share Throwback Thursday images or not, take the time to go on the hunt. That's half the fun. It's a reminder of how important photographs are. There are few things more valuable than looking at an old photo and appreciating the memories it brings back.

And as a marketing tool, throwbacks are a perfect way to remind your clients it's time to update that family portrait. For most of you, your target audience is "Mom."  With the renewed focus on family because of the pandemic, now is the time for you to plant a few seeds of ideas, especially for children and family portraiture. 

Happy Throwback Thursday!

PS Interested in seeing more of Jonathan's work?  He needs to be on your radar. Just click on Cupid to visit his website.

by Skip Cohen

It's Tamron Tuesday, and regardless of whether or not you shoot with Tamron lenses, their newsletter is outstanding. It's always filled with good solid content sharing what other artists are doing to grow their brand, skillset, and creativity.

Depending on the stories they run in each issue, you'll pick up valuable information about shooting with different focal lengths too.

Click on the subscribe banner to the right to sign up - it's free, and Tamron doesn't bury you in spam, just great content.

And, if you're looking for more worthwhile content, check out their YouTube channel. With 346 videos and growing more every week, you'll find topics covering virtually every aspect of photography.

Here are two examples - First, their 60-second tips series, and second, an in-depth profile travel log featuring Luke Stackpoole. He fulfilled a long-cherished dream and traveled for several weeks through one of the most beautiful countries in Africa: Namibia. It's loaded with stunning images and great content. You can learn a lot "traveling" with another artist, even for just a few minutes.  

I love sharing these longer videos because they not only tell the story from the artist's perspective but watch it and think about the production values and how you'd tell your story.

by Skip Cohen

​For me, the fun of Tamron's YouTube channel goes a lot deeper than just great images and "hanging out" with artists from around the world.

​For example:

• Pay attention to the way they tell the story. Sure it's about a lens and getting to know Kenna Klosterman, but it's also a storyboard for how you might tell the story about your own photographs or business.
• The videos Tamron shares are even more fun when I know the artist. I first met Kenna many years ago when I did a two-day Creative Live segment on business and marketing. As one of the directors on the sidelines, she often helped me look better than I deserved. LOL, I refer to that project as "the most fun I don't want to do again." With over 900 slides over two days of marketing/business education, it was a remarkable experience. 
• Never been to Seattle? Kenna's the perfect guide - In just two minutes you'll go from the city to the sea.

Let's not forget the lens itself! The 28-75mm F2.8 is perfect for travel. While you'll often hear people argue that one lens can't do it all, combined with Sony gear, it comes pretty close! Remember, these are screen grabs I'm sharing - so, think about how sharp the original files must be.

Click on any of the three screen grabs to visit Kenna's website and see more of her work!

Check out Tamron's rebate page for great deals on other Tamron lenses. They're manufacturing some of the finest optical glass in the world, and you owe it to yourself to capture the very best images for yourself as well as your clients.

by Skip Cohen

​This could well be my favorite video that Ken has done for Tamron over the years, and what better time to share it than on a Tamron Tuesday?

First, is the video itself. Just trust me on this and grab a cup of coffee and kick back and spend four minutes of your day as Ken wanders along the east coast of New England photographing lighthouses. I don't know if it's the music, the birds, the sound of the ocean, or just Ken's love for what he's doing, but it's incredibly soothing to watch.

​Second, it's not a hard sales pitch - in fact, it couldn't be more soft-sell. And regardless of whether or not you shoot with Tamron, it's got a little educational twist and will leave you wishing you were hanging out along the Maine coast.

Third, special projects are a key to keeping your sanity, especially these days. None of us know what to believe in the world, and stepping away from your direct business and just being out with your camera is the perfect way to get your head back in the game. Special projects stimulate creativity and help you focus your priorities.

Ken's shooting with Tamron's 24-70mm lens. If you'd like more information, just click on the thumbnail to the right. And if you're thinking about some gear, Tamron's got a great program going on right now.

Tamron's making some of the finest glass in imaging, but don't take my word for it. Visit your Tamron dealer. And to my buddy, Ken Hubbard, nicely done and team from Tamron - nicely done!

by Skip Cohen

With all the challenges coming out of the pandemic and travel for many of you limited, David Akoubian shares some terrific insight into how he turned his backyard into a bird sanctuary. David's a phenomenal artist and Tamron Image Master, now with one of his favorite subjects literally on his doorstep every day!

​I love the way Tamron and David have put this video together with a solid "how-to" approach to the sanctuary and great tips on technique and learning the behavior of the birds themselves. But there's a sidebar backstory I appreciate even more - this is about "Personal Projects." Projects like this help keep you stay focused on the passion for why you became a photographer in the first place. Personal projects help save you from being buried under the stress of the day-in-day-out challenges of building your business!

​Tamron never slows down in support of photographers. In addition to over three-hundred videos on their YouTube channel, you'll find their tech team regularly supporting events around the country to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images.

Check out the links below for information on Tamron's NEW 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Lens for Sony E Mount cameras, along with their ongoing active schedule of events in your area! If you haven't checked out Tamron lenses lately, they're making some of the finest optics in imaging! 

And check out David's website for information about his workshop schedule, along with his blog and great images in his galleries!

by Skip Cohen

I've worked with the team at Tamron on different projects for many years. While it's their never-ending quest for quality in their products that's made them a leader in optics, the passion and enthusiasm of their staff sets the standard. They never slow down in working to help photographers raise the bar on their skillset.

Check out the short intro on "Tammy Talk" about their new 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD Lens for Sony E Mount cameras in the first video and then watch pro photographer Glynn Lavender in action with the second. And besides the information about the new lens, pay attention to the way they tell the stories - short, sweet, and to the point. While I know it's a lens they're talking about, think about how you'd tell the story of your business, and all in two minutes or less.

Tamron's entire product line continues to grow. Check out the complete lineup of Sony E-mount lenses now available with a click on the banner below.
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Intro by Chamira Young

As our economy opens up across the nation, it's fun to see music concerts come back. There's nothing more thrilling than the vibe and energy of people coming together to unify behind a great musical artist. And if you're the photographer, you get the extra thrill of documenting the event! That's why we get such a kick out of sharing photographer Andrew Dobin's work today. You'll get a glimpse into how he takes stunning concert photos that are downright breathtaking. You'll feel like you've got the best seats in house! 

Using his trio of lenses - the SP 45mm F/1.8 VC prime, SP 70-200mm F/2.8 VC G2, and SP 15-30mm F/2.8 VC G2 wide-angle - he's able to capture crisp, dynamic photos. Click on any of lens images to learn more about them. Check out the post below and learn about his evolution as a visual artist, as well as his creative process. You're sure to be inspired! 

You can only become truly accomplished at something you love.
Don't make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing 
and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off of you!
Maya Angelou

by Skip Cohen
 
​While we're all tired of talking about the pandemic and last year's challenges, there are some unique things to come out of the crisis. For example, within the photographic specialties, landscape photography was always accessible while still maintaining social distancing and health restrictions. And now, as we start to get back to normalcy, more photographers are traveling again, and capturing images outdoors and the landscape is more popular than ever. 

Chef Jonny Hill, when he launched his career in imaging, simply loved the outdoors. While there's probably nothing he can't photograph, hiking, camping, and being an explorer, right after his wife and newborn son, are at the very top of his list of passions. Living in Utah, which he describes as a "gateway to the west" in the podcast, has given him a never-ending canvas to capture his artistic visions, especially the night sky.

Check out Jonny's website, Instagram pages, and YouTube channel, and you'll immediately meet an artist who walks the talk with every click of the shutter. Jonny was also very specific over why he chose the 35-150 lens for his first image shared in last week's post. 
 
I made a statement many years ago about loving photography, "You can't create images that tug at people's heartstrings if your own heart isn't in it!"  Well, Jonny's heart is completely in it, and he's committed to not only raising the bar on his own skills but helping other photographers improve theirs. He needs to be on your radar, and if you've got an interest in becoming a better landscape artist, keep your eye on his website for announcements of workshops next year.

And make it a point to follow Tamron's programs, because they set the standard for commitment to helping photographers raise the bar on the skillset. They're making some of the finest optics in imaging with the quality needed to help raise the bar on your images. Click on the banner below for their special savings program going on through July 4, 2021. 

Click on any image below to visit Chef Jonny's website.

Intro by Chamira Young

While it's great to know the technical aspects of your camera, it's just as important to understand how to masterfully execute your vision within your chosen niche as an artist. That's why we're featuring the high key imagery of fine art photographer Lisa Langell today. With every beautiful image she creates, she understands who it's best suited for. Her target market is the home decor buyer who wants to adorn their sunroom, kitchen, or bedroom with tasteful images, and her pieces fall under the category of decorative art. With her craft comes a deep understanding that her perfect client desires softer, more gentle images that intelligently use negative space. Rather than a super-realistic photo, they want an artist's interpretation of that image. Lisa has found her niche, and she's such an inspiration to her fellow creatives! 

Using her Tamron SP 90mm VC Macro and the SP 24-70mm VC G2 zoom lenses, she's able to capture stunning images that will make you want to fill your home's walls. Click on either image below to learn more about these great lenses. We love the constant inspiration the Tamron team brings to the table.

Check out the post below!

​Lisa has a DIY indoor studio she uses for her close-ups, using white studio boxes lit from the outside in as her backdrop. “I light it from three sides and create a diffused light,” she says. “I tend to use less light in front of my subject, so that when I expose my subject, it’s exposed properly and my background gets blown out.”

For her outdoor shoots, Lisa takes advantage of natural light, either with or without a white backdrop. “You want a bright background, and subjects that are much darker than your background,” she says. “You also want a diffused light background, with your subject backlit, so avoid full sun. Hazy, gray sky days are perfect for high-key photography. You don't want any direct light on your subject.”

Intro by Chamira Young

As the economy and world slowly opens up post pandemic, it's important to foster your creativity as an artist. That's why we're excited to share a healthy dose of inspiration that will take you across the globe!

Today we're proud to feature photographer Shawn Ogulu as he traverses the South African terrain using the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD lens for Sony E Mount. This video is truly an adventure as Shawn travels by both foot and kayak to capture breathtaking images from dynamic vantage points. With a flair for the cinematic, you get a taste for this photographer's creativity as well as what this great lens can do.

This ultra wide-angle lens is perfect for both regular use and travel photography because it's light weight and compact. It will truly help you bring your vision to life while maximizing your enjoyment as a photographer. We love the great content the Tamron team constantly brings to the industry. Check out the video below!

by Skip Cohen
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​One of the unique things about the last year with the pandemic is that we all went through it. We all learned to "hunker down," an expression I never used before 2020. We were all dealing with a level of controlled isolation and social distancing, and a lot of us learned to "pivot." There's another word that was only in my vocabulary when talking about basketball.

Chef Taylor Brumfield, while hunkered down, needed to expand her skillset and pivot into product photographer, which included a touch of animation to many of her images. But here's a fun part of Taylor's backstory - she learned to pivot long before the pandemic. She expanded her teaching skills with her retouching classes just after becoming a new Mom and needing to be home with her daughter. And her husband is in the Navy, and she's had to pivot each time they've moved over the years because of relocation.

As a Tamron Image Master, Chef Taylor is shooting with a variety of Tamron lenses. We featured some of her images with the SP24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens in last week's post. Tamron's SP 90mm F2.8 Di VC USD Macro lens is another favorite, and we've included it in today's gallery. Just click on the banners below for more information about these remarkable pieces of glass! 

Check out her website, galleries, and retouching schedule with a click on any of her images in this post. And if you're headed to IUSA in January, I'm sure Taylor will be involved at what promises to be an outstanding convention.

The pandemic didn't slow Taylor down from capturing and creating beautiful images, and Tamron never slowed down either. They're making some of the finest optics in imaging with the quality needed to help raise the bar on your images. Click on the banner below for their special savings program going on through July 4, 2021. 

Things are easing up, and slowly, we're getting back to normal. So, it's time to get back out there and start rebuilding your business and make it even stronger than it was before the pandemic. 

by Skip Cohen

​For those who never shot with film, the expression "right out of the can" meant everything was done in camera. The "can" referenced a roll of film. According to Google, today, that's "Straight Out Of Camera," simply meaning that an image can be good enough to print straight from the camera without further processing.

Jonathan Thorpe shared the image on Facebook yeterday with the following "how-to" explanation:

Portrait I shot last night of my good friend and talented Daniel Duffin The cool part about this shot it it’s all done in camera! How? It’s actually fairly simple, the background is a Westcott FJ400 in a large parabolic umbrella, gelled with a mix or orange and yellow. The key light was another FJ400 into a beauty dish camera right. The affect you’re seeing is called dragging the shutter. I’m shooting at 1/10 of a second here and also using rear curtain sync. Rear curtain means the flash fires at the end of the shutter movement, not the beginning. So it is exposing, you move the camera, causing the background light to bleed into the image, then right before the exposure is done, the flash fires, freezing the face. Viola! Shot with the Fuji GFX 100 and my Tamron Lenses USA 85/1.8VC

Jonathan Thorpe needs to be on your radar. Check out his website and then follow him on Facebook and Instagram. He's always sharing great content!

by Skip Cohen
 
​When Chamira and I started the Tamron Recipes project, we completely underestimated the diversity of the "Chefs" who would be sharing their journeys with us. The analogy of comparing artists to chefs becomes more and more appropriate with each post and podcast. And just like great chefs, there's always a common denominator in their focus - their love for the craft. 

For May and episode twenty-nine in the series, we're moving to an entirely new cuisine with Chef Taylor Brumfield. Based out of Virginia and a Tamron Image Master, she's a photographer, retoucher, and educator. Passionate about growing her skill set and business, she started her journey in portraiture, fashion, and beauty, but as you'll hear her discuss in the upcoming podcast, the pandemic made it necessary to pivot into product photography and animation.
 
Contact with every Tamron chef always starts with a phone call and a conversation about the project. Talking with Taylor, it was so easy to find a great quote that matches her dedication and love for the craft. 

If you love your work, you'll be out there every day trying to do it the best you possibly can,
​and pretty soon everybody around will catch the passion from you - like a fever.
Sam Walton

I'll admit it's a quote that coming out of a pandemic might seem inappropriate, but after that first conversation with Taylor, her love for the craft, Tamron, and the industry was contagious. She believes in education, expanding her skillset, and helping other photographers to do the same.

​About the Lead Image: I had already been experimenting somewhat with adding active elements to my photography in order to elevate and broaden my client offerings. But those initial experiments were mostly stop motion where the actual product or aspects of the product were in motion or engaging with the environment.

I decided to start playing with the idea of “portals” where I open up pockets of the scene or of the product and introduce a second scene that strengthens the visual concept of the scene but isn’t necessarily something that would or could happen organically without digital manipulation. I think it brings a fantastical element to the scenes and engages the viewers imagination in a way that leaves them wanting to see more and really stretches the possibilities of what I am able to do with my personal work as well as my client work.  

We hope you'll take the time to visit Taylor's website, and if you've got an interest in expanding your skills to retouching, check out her classes.