  Being able to do what I love and take that passion to help clients is an incredible feeling. Kyle Garay  by Skip Cohen With each new artist in the Tamron Kitchen, the comparison to fine dining and your favorite cuisines gets a little stronger. "Chef" Kyle Garay joins us on Tamron Recipes this month. Again, like a great chef, he uses different ingredients to create each image. The question asked of each Tamron Chef is, "Can you send us a couple of your most favorite images to share and talk about?" Both images were captured with the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens. And like so many artists, it's hard to define Kyle's favorite specialty. But there is an underlying theme to every click of the shutter, which he explained on his About page; At the end of 2020, I decided to take the leap and go full-time with photography. I had quit my career of almost 10 years to pursue my dream of making a living being a professional photographer. By no means was it an easy decision. I would stay up all night thinking what a stupid idea it was, but nonetheless, I kept pushing. I now work full-time as a professional product/brand photographer. I work with a multitude of companies to help them showcase their products through the art of visual storytelling. Being able to do what I love and take that passion to help clients is an incredible feeling. There were two different clients involved in these images. The top photo of the group celebrating what might have been a touchdown was captured for a hotel chain. They wanted a lifestyle image related to the rooms they offer groups like this. The client for the other photo was Kyle himself. I love that Kyle was just out with his camera shooting for his own pleasure, something many artists often forget about. One of the fun aspects of this industry is following the careers of relatively new artists. Kyle launched his business into photography just three years ago, but I'll match his passion and love for the craft with any seasoned veteran. Click on either of his two images in today's post and put him on your radar. Follow him on Instagram too. It's going to be fun to watch his career continue to grow.
Along with Kyle, Tamron's passion for quality is also unstoppable. They're manufacturing some of the finest optics in imaging today. And they never slow down on educational support for the industry. Check out their published event schedule for the year so far. It's just a click away. Don't miss the significant savings on these last days of their Winter Savings program; just click the banner below. 
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 by Skip Cohen Ian Plant is in the Tamron Kitchen this month. He's an incredibly talented chef with expertise in multiple cuisines, especially landscape and wildlife. Just like fine chefs who have favorite dishes they like to cook, Ian's recipes are in various specialties. I wanted to feature two of his landscape images for this month's Tamron Recipes. Shot with the same lens, the two images have a completely different feel. But Ian, like a fine chef, is also sharing his love for mixing up the seasonings - in this case, composition and exposure. I saw the top photograph first and loved it. Then, scrolling through his images, the one below appeared. I can picture either printed as large as a wall could handle in a home or office. The only thing more impressive than Ian's images is his love for the craft. He's a photographer, artist, writer, podcaster, and educator. From his About page: Known for his inspiring images and single-minded dedication to creating the perfect photo, Ian has reached hundreds of thousands of people around the world in his mission to inspire and educate others in the art of photography. Ian is a frequent contributor to many leading photo magazines, the author of numerous books and instructional videos, founder of Photo Masters, and co-founder of Photo Wonders. But what I love the most was his Artist's Statement that followed: I can't draw, paint, or carry a tune, but I can press a button with my finger. Of course, if you want to make inspiring photographs, there's a lot that needs to happen before that button is pressed. These days, too many photographers rely on the crutch of digital manipulation to bring magic to their images. Personally, I'm more interested in capturing the true magic of the moment, not concocting it on the computer. For me, photography is as much about the experience as it is about the final product.
Ian needs to be on your radar and you'll find him in a few different places. First, check out his website with a click on either images in today's post. Then, if you're looking to raise the bar on the quality of your images check out his live workshops. And online, you'll find terrific articles and ideas at his Photo Masters website.  Tamron manufactures some of the finest optics in imaging, and they never slow down. Visit your Tamron dealer and take advantage of some great offers going on right now with their Winter Savings program. Just click on the banner below for more information.     Click to view in the SCU Lightbox by Skip Cohen Just for the fun of it, I decided to Google, "What is a chef?" Google's answer: A chef is an individual who is trained to understand flavors, cooking techniques, create recipes from scratch with fresh ingredients, and have a high level of responsibility within a kitchen." Marcie Reif joins us in the Tamron Kitchen this month and clearly meets the definition above. Only instead of "flavors" and "techniques," she understands composition and exposure, focal lengths, depth of field, and every photograph is from "scratch with fresh ingredients." And as we've seen with each Tamron Chef, the "kitchen" is whenever and wherever they've got a camera in their hands! It wasn't easy picking the images to feature in this month's episode; Marcie has a lot to choose from. While she's best know for her family portraiture, shooting sports has become one of her favorite hobbies, especially when it's her son. I wanted to lead off with the black and white photograph above but also share the shot on the right. It adds to demonstrating the versatility of the 70-300mm lens. 
Marcie's all about family photography, but like every artist with a primary specialty, she loves the spinoffs that come along with other activities. But there's a common denominator in all of her work, which comes out loud and clear in her "About" section. My goal is to deliver you a unique set of images that are artistic, natural, and warm by mixing childhood images with connections to love...I always try to deliver my clients images of their family "being" a family. This may mean singing, dancing, playing together, or maybe just some ginormous hugs! I LOVE to capture kids being themselves because best moments come when you set them up, sit back, and wait. You'll find more of Marcie's work with a visit to her website. Just click on her images in this post and check out her galleries. She's got a never-ending passion for family and children's photography. It's a new year, and Tamron has some outstanding savings, which just kicked off yesterday. Tamron never slows down on their quality, and today manufactures some of the finest glass in photography. Equally impressive is their focus on education - Check out their scheduled programs - all designed to help you raise the bar on your skill set! Happy New Year!  Headed to IUSA?  If you're headed to Nashville this month for IUSA, make it a point to swing by Tamron, booth 823. Taylor Brumfield will be doing demos at 2:00 PM on Monday, January 23. There are some outstanding savings (up to $100) on lenses available at the show. And, Tamron's raffling off a 28-75 mm G2 lens!
 Images copyright Cecil Holmes. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen Think about your favorite restaurant - the atmosphere, the food, and most importantly, the staff, especially the chef. My wife and I have one of our favorites where we've gotten to know the chef. His cooking is remarkable, but his style and personality are part of what keeps bringing us back. Tamron Recipes isn't just about the images but the personalities of the "chefs" who create and capture them. The analogy between chefs and artists works all the time. Each one is different in the way they capture/create images (or cuisine) that, in turn, capture us! Cecil Holmes is in the Tamron Kitchen, and he's the perfect guest chef to bring the 2022 series to a close. It's not just his images that have appeal, but spend a little time with him, even just a phone call, and you'll meet an artist with an unmatched passion for the craft. Nothing complicated - just a great guy in love with his family and friends first and his camera second! I wanted to share a statement in his bio that describes his love for the craft, far better than I can: Rather than list a "resume" of every accomplishment I have had or received, I would prefer you to look at my art to determine my qualifications. I do put a lot of work and pride into it, after all. I am up really early on some days, out really late some nights, and some days I do not sleep at all when I am in search of a photograph. I also spend quite a bit of time behind the keyboard in an effort to further perfect my art. I can only hope you see this dedication and pride in each of my photographs. If you truly need a list of accomplishments, feel free to reach out to me via email and I'll gladly send one over. Cecil is all about sharing what he captures - and I find myself living vicariously through his travels. So whether it's wildlife in Alaska or hanging out in the Grand Tetons, there's always something to make me smile. We shared two of Cecil's images this month for two primary reasons. First, they're at opposite ends of the range of focal lengths, starting with Tamron's 50-400mm and then moving to a shorter zoom. Second, landscape and wildlife photography have become two of the most popular genres over the last few years. Coming out of the pandemic, more of us are staying within the US and traveling to all those bucket list parks we've had visions of for many years. And then comes Cecil, right on target for places so many of us want to visit!
 Cecil loves hitting the parks in the West. After dozens of phone calls and even a few guest appearances on the SCU blog, I finally got to meet him LIVE at IUSA several years ago. What a kick to meet both Cecil and one of his sons on the convention floor. One more thing about Cecil - it's his love for his family, and it comes out loud and clear on his about page: I live in Huntsville, AL with my family that consists of my wife and 4 boys. They are all awesome. I have heard people smarter than I say you take on the personalities of people you spend a lot of time with. So either I made them awesome, or they made me. Cecil needs to be on your radar. Click on either of his images in today's post, to link to his website. If you're hitting IUSA in January, swing by the Tamron booth (#823) and they should know where he is too! It's holiday time and Tamron has some outstanding savings going on right now - including the 28-75mm G2 lens Cecil talks about in the short podcast and used in the landscape image above. Tamron is manufacturing some of the finest glass in imaging today - but they don't stop there. Check out their scheduled programs - all designed to help you raise the bar on your skill set! Happy Holidays! 
Images copyright Tony Shepherd. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen Like some of your favorite restaurants, the cuisine often changes along with the chef. And just like deciding whether you're going out for Italian, French, Mexican, or American, the comparison from photographers to fine chefs is always on point. In the Tamron Kitchen this month, we're mixing it up a lot and going to a "cuisine" we haven't visited in the new series - abstract fine art. Tony Shepherd joins us in the "kitchen" with a well-defined foundation for "turning the mundane" into something special. And just like those favorite dishes by a great chef, each presentation is unique in what's being captured. All around us is extraordinary beauty hidden in the plain sight of ordinary things. Pixbyshep is a gallery that celebrates the dignity and beauty of the mundane in black & white (sometimes with a splash of color). Tony's another guest "chef" who left me feeling like I've been hanging out with him for years. In this short podcast, with some of his Instagram images going over 20,000 hits, he talks about the key ingredient - reaching out to every visitor. He's built his own community of followers just like a great chef. Have you ever been to a restaurant where the chef comes around to the table at some point in the evening and asks how your meal was? It doesn't seem to happen as often these days, but from past experience, it always made us want to return to that restaurant again. That's the way I find myself visiting his Instagram page. Tony is all about building relationships. Based out of Nashville, you'll find Tony out and about, just about everywhere, on regular photo walks. He's like a treasure hunter for the mundane, and I especially enjoy his choice to capture so much of it in black & white. There's a quote in business that applies so much to Tony's approach to building his brand... "The customer doesn't care how much you know, until they know how much you care! Damon Richards
Tony's an artist with a passion for not only the capture of his images, but showing his appreciation to each follower. He's built a community around his love for simplicity. That quote above doesn't just apply to his philosophy with his followers, but I'm betting everyone he comes in contact with. From my first phone call with him through recording his short podcast - there's a wonderful feeling of a growing friendship. Tony needs to be on your radar. Follow his website and his Instagram page. At a time in all our lives complicated by so many forces outside our control - Tony's trips to discover what seems so ordinary is a breath of fresh air and one that simply made me smile. Tamron needs to be on your radar, too. They never slow down on manufacturing some of the finest performing glass/optics in photography, and the Tamron team is just as impressive. Obviously, they want to sell lenses, but their first focus is always on how to help you raise the bar on your skill set. And, if you're headed to Nashville in January for IUSA, wander over to Booth 823 and check out their complete product line while getting to know one of the finest tech teams in imaging!    Image copyright Justin Haugen. All rights reserved.  by Skip Cohen The comparison between great chefs and artists in imaging continues this month with Justin Haugen in the Tamron Kitchen. And, just like following a favorite recipe, this month we're including an outstanding behind-the-scenes shot showing Justin's setup. Every chef has a unique technique for the way they combine the key ingredients. With Justin, it's not just about capturing a stunning image but his understanding of lighting that goes into the creative process. Based out of Tucson, his primary focus is most often on engagement and wedding photography. But taking everything he's learned over the years, he's applying it to another specialty, commercial portraiture. As an educator and a well-respected photographer, he shared a lot of terrific detail about why he lit this image the way he did in the short podcast above. A big part of the fun of this series for me personally, is getting to know the "chefs" we feature in each post. I've only had a couple of phone calls with Justin, plus the recording, but there's a quote from David Levithan that says it all. With some people, the minute you start talking it feels like you've known them for years. It only means you were meant to meet sooner...  Justin is an artist, educator, and podcaster with Rob Hall on High ISO. He regularly teaches at Shutterfest and will be at WPPI 2023. He should be on your radar. His website is just a click away, follow his Facebook page, and check out @photowarlock on Instagram.
Tamron needs to be on your radar too. They're manufacturing some of the finest glass in imaging, but just as impressive is their dedication to helping artists raise the bar on their skillset. From workshops and educational programs to terrific rebates and promotions, they never slow down. There are now four FREE eNewsletters to choose from, or subscribe to all of them. Click on the banner below for your free subscriptions.  Click on the banner below and check out Tamron's current Fall Savings program!   Image copyright David Akoubian. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen Before starting this series, I really hadn't thought much about comparing great chefs with great artists. But here we are several years later, and with each new Tamron Recipes, the analogy fits. Every chef has a cooking style - a way they blend the ingredients with just the right seasoning and presentation that keeps bringing us back for more. Artists are the same, and we caught up to one of my favorite Tamron Chefs this month, David Akoubian. He's based in Georgia, but his heart is wherever he's shooting. And while his passion is definitely wildlife and landscapes, I'm not sure there's anything David can't photograph. What I love most about so many of David's images is the way they tell a story - they're not just beautiful pictures. I found an interesting quote that captures so much of what David is all about: Storytelling is about connecting to other people and helping people to see what you see. Michael Margolis
David didn't just step into the scene, click the shutter and move on. Just like a fine chef, David had a goal in how he wanted to capture the image above and the story he wanted to share. When I approached the scene I was attracted to the area below the falls, but to me it wasn't strong enough to stand out on its own. As I studied the scene I liked how I could almost use the fallen tree as a leading line to the falls. I knew I would need to either move way back to use a regular or slightly wide angle lens, or I could use an ultra-wide angle lens and stand close to the log. The added bonus would be with the ultra-wide angle lens it would give a feeling of decompression making the log look larger than the falls and much further away than it really was. That would lead my viewer's sight from foreground to background.
And check out everything going on at Tamron too. In addition to manufacturing some of the finest glass in imaging, their support for the photographic community is the very best. From workshops and educational programs to terrific rebates and promotions, and their FREE newsletter, they're always watching your back when you need support. Their website is just a click away on the banner below.   Copyright Nader Abushhab. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen With each new Tamron Recipe, I become increasingly aware of how much great photographers are like our favorite chefs. Every chef has a specialty, and the twist they put on each dish served becomes their signature. Artists are no different, and Nader Abushhab joins us in the "Tamron Kitchen" this month. Based in Phoenix, Nader's a full-time photographer. Over the last decade, while there probably isn't anything he can't shoot, his passion is clearly in portraiture and fashion. And just like great chefs with diverse backgrounds, Nader started his career in animation and multimedia design. Throw in working with designers and models from around the world; then combine the experiences with ad agencies all over the country, and you've got the perfect mix to appreciate his style today. There's a great quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson I've always enjoyed. Put together all the things Nader's done in his career in imaging and combine them with his passion for the craft: it fits so well. "I am a part of all that I have met."
But there's more to a recognized chef than just their cooking. That's a big piece of what I enjoyed getting to know Nader. It only took one phone conversation to feel like I've been hanging out with him for years. Being a successful photographer isn't just about knowing when to click the shutter, but about relationship building and how you work with people. You've got to be personable, upbeat, and make them feel like they're your only client. When I asked him why this was one of his favorite portraits, his answer said it all: "From an experience perspective, this image showcases working quickly with a subject in a short amount of time to get them comfortable, perceive their angles, and execute a portrait that feels iconic. A lot of real world scenarios will call for that in photography." When you look through Nader's galleries, that's a lot of what you see. Natural expressions of people who are having a good time working with him. He needs to be on your radar, and his website is just a click away, as well as his Instagram page. Along with Nader, put Tamron on your radar. They're manufacturing some of the finest glass in imaging. Plus, their focus on education and never-ending support for photographers is legendary. Just click on the banner below to visit their website as well as their new promotional offers.   Image copyright Lisa Langell. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen When we started this series, I hadn't really thought about how appropriate it was to compare photographers to chefs. Like your favorite restaurants and cuisines, your passion as a "foodie" is based on the flavors and style of cooking each restaurant represents. It's always driven by the chef. Photography is no different; we fall in love with an artist's work, style, and subject manner. But, just like dining out, the consistency of quality becomes important too. And like great chefs, they have their favorite tools to work with. This month's Tamron Recipes piece was a particular kick because we caught up with Tamron Image Master Lisa Langell while she was still in Alaska. Adding to the fun, it was just days after she captured the image above. Based out of Arizona, she's been teaching Alaska workshops for many years. There's a quote on her website which truly defines her level of passion for the craft. "Great photography shouldn't just document what you saw...or even how you experienced it. It should capture how you want your audience to experience that moment!" --Lisa Langell
I've followed Lisa's work for a lot of years. In fact, she was a guest on one of the very early episodes in the Tamron Recipes series almost three years ago. Lisa needs to be on your radar, starting with a visit to her website. And stay tune to her workshop schedule - she's got some exciting news coming up in the very near future about her Magic of Alaska photography tours. There's a common denominator with every Tamron "Chef," their love for the gear they're using, especially Tamron lenses. As I've written so many times before, they're manufacturing some of the finest glass in imaging today. If you haven't visited your local Tamron Dealer, it's definitely time! Just click on the banner below for more information.   Click on image to view in the SCU lightbox! Image copyright Lewis Kemper. All rights reserved. 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!
Lewis Kemper should be on your radar. Check out his website and definitely visit his galleries. And if you've got an interest in terrific hands-on workshops, take a look at three trips he's got coming up later this year to Alaska, Kenya, and Death Valley. Just before recording the short backstory that went with today's post, Lewis and I talked about Tamron lenses. They're manufacturing some of the finest optics in the world. On June 6, they launched a limited-time Father's Day promotion, making this an ideal time to visit your Tamron dealer. Just click on the banner below.   Images copyright Jonny Hill. All rights reserved. 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.   
     Image copyright Jonny Hill. All rights reserved.  Missed any of the previous episodes of Tamron Recipes? They're all just a click away. by Skip Cohen Time really does fly when you're having a good time. The fun of the Tamron Recipes series never slows down with each new "Chef" sharing something different every month. This is our thirtieth episode, and as I've written before, my cohost, Chamira Young and I underestimated the diversity of work we would be sharing and the insight shared by each chef. And the more artists we work with, the more the analogy of comparing them to fine "Chefs" is appropriate. Their love for the craft never slows down, and their passion is infectious. Landscape artist Chef Jonny Hill joins us this month, combining his love for the outdoors with his ability to capture one image after another that is breathtaking. Jonny's work was featured in the Tamron Newsletter not too long ago with one image after another that drew me into wanting to see more of his work. Like all Tamron chefs, each new episode starts with a phone call and a conversation about the project. Jonny and I initially played a few rounds of email tag, but what a kick to finally talk with him and be introduced to his enthusiasm! Over a year ago, I decided to go off in search of a quote that described each new chef. Well, after I hung up the phone with that first phone call, it wasn't hard to find one that seems appropriate for Jonny. Ever talk to somebody on the phone who you knew was smiling through the entire conversation? 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 About Chef Jonny: If a picture's worth a thousand words, then Jonny's writing volumes with every photograph he shares. He's a British photographer living in Utah. While his main passion is creating landscape photographs, he never slows down on what he offers his clients, including video, product work, weddings, and events. But most of all, he loves the great outdoors and is an avid hiker, camper, and explorer. About the Image: My original plan the morning of this photograph was to wake around 2am to photograph the Milkyway. However, it was completely clouded over. I went back to bed a little bit defeated as the clouds looked like they were going to stay throughout sunrise. Despite that I still woke before light and hiked out to this spot to go ahead with my sunrise plans. It was still cloudy and gray as I sat on this ridge overlooking these incredible monoliths. As I started to lose hope, all of a sudden, these patches of pink and red started to appear as somewhere high up there, light was breaking through, creating these beautiful colours. It only lasted a few minutes but made it all worth it. I hope you'll take the time to check out more of Jonny's work on his Instagram page, along with his website and growing YouTube channel. He's always sharing great content!
 Jonny shoots with a variety of Tamron lenses, but the 35-150mm is one of his favorites. Click on the thumbnail to the right for more information, and join us on his podcast next week. Through the pandemic and now, coming out of the challenges, I'm not sure there's ever been a time when more photographers have an interest in landscape work. If you're going to take the time to capture and create beautiful images, then you need the very best tools! Tamron never slows down in their programs to help artists raise the bar on the quality of their images. Check out their listing of local events, all within the appropriate safety and physical distancing guidelines. Life is slowly getting back to normal, and with normalcy in imaging comes creativity. None of us will forget the restrictions of the last year, but now it's time to get back out and keep growing your skills as an artist. With Father's Day right around the corner, you've only got a few days left to take advantage of Tamron's new savings for the holiday. Don't miss out on some of the finest optics in photography today! Just click on the banner below for more information.   Chef Jonny's NEW podcast is just a click away!  Images copyright Taylor Brumfield. All rights reserved. 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 by Skip Cohen 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.   
Images copyright Taylor Brumfield. All rights reserved. 
Both images above captured with Tamron's SP 90mm F2.8 Di VC USD Macro lens  
    Images copyright Taylor Brumfield. All rights reserved.
 Missed any of the previous episodes of Tamron Recipes? They're all just a click away. 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.
 While Taylor has a number of favorite Tamron lenses, for all three images in today's post she used the SP24-70mm F2.8 Di VC G2 lens. Click on the thumbnail to the right for more information, and join us on her podcast next week when she'll talk about the importance of diversity in your skill set and knowing when to pivot. Tamron never slows down in their programs to help artists raise the bar on the quality of their images. Check out their listing of local events, all within the appropriate safety and physical distancing guidelines. While I'm looking forward to the day when I don't feel the need to mention anything about the pandemic, some of you are still missing the point. Business is slowly coming back and creating some incredible opportunities for photographers to demonstrate leadership in creativity and marketing. Hunkering down has always been about your health, NOT about growing as an artist and expanding your skillset. Growth only happens outside your comfort zone. Now it the time for you to increase activity in social media and spend time with your camera in your hands every day, capturing images for your most important client...YOU! There are eight different lenses featured in Tamron's new rebate program - going on now through July 4. Click on the banner below for more information.   Chef Taylor's new podcast is just a click away!
 Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass, but learning to dance in the rain! Unknown Author  Click to read the ingredients Chef Lewis used to capture this image. by Skip Cohen The pandemic changed so many things in all of our lives, but one of the biggest challenges has been social distancing. But that sets the stage for the perfect guest chef this month, outdoor photographer Lewis Kemper. He shared a lot of terrific information in this podcast, including the background on his long exposure shot of the night sky from Mono Lake, which we featured last week. Chef Lewis was shooting with Tamron's SP15-30mm F.2.8 lens. Just click on the banner below for more information about this remarkable piece of glass! Even though things are slow to get back to normal, being outdoors with a camera can be incredibly rewarding, as well as safe. And Lewis never slows down working to help photographers raise the bar on their skills. Long before the rest of us were learning to use Zoom, Lewis was out there teaching. Check out his website, galleries, and workshop schedule. I especially like his galleries because they're truly meant to be works of art on display and for sale. Each image is matted, framed, and signed, giving the viewer a much more realistic collection to appreciate. Visit Lewis Kemper Photography with a click on any of the images below. Viewing his galleries, you'll understand why I had such a hard time picking my favorites! Looking for an incredible photography trip in 2022? Travel with Lewis on his 2022 Eagle tours to Washington State and to Alaska and on his Africa tour. And while the pandemic didn't slow Lewis down from capturing and creating beautiful images, 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 Mother's Day Savings promotion going on right now! Remember, "hunkering down" is about your health, not about your business, skill set, or your creativity!   Images copyright Lewis Kemper. All rights reserved. 
   
     Image copyright Lewis Kemper. All rights reserved.  Missed any of the previous episodes of Tamron Recipes? They're all just a click away. by Skip Cohen If you've followed Tamron Recipes for even a short time, you'll notice a common denominator with every "chef," their absolute love for the craft. And the analogy of comparing great photographers to fine chefs keeps getting more and more accurate. This month we're bringing in a new "cuisine" with Chef Lewis Kemper. Lewis is all about capturing beautiful images outdoors and often shares photographs that simply take our breath away. Although I doubt there's anything he can't photograph, it's landscapes and wildlife that seem to own the biggest piece of real estate in his heart. He's a photographer, educator, fine art printer, and author, plus a good friend to so many people in the industry. The fun of having Lewis join us this month is the history my co-host, Chamira Young, and I both share with him. Chamira had Lewis as her guest on one of her first podcasts, and Lewis and I did an episode of "Why?" on the SCU site in March 2018. Then there's another element that made working with Lewis so much fun; we share so many of the same friends. New photographers don't realize what a small industry we are. We've all been to many of the same conventions, rubber-chicken dinners, stuck in airports over the years, or just waiting in line for an event. We've worked with many of the same vendors, and when people use the expression, "It takes a village," we're all part of that team. Every episode of Tamron Recipes starts with a phone call, and the conversation with Lewis couldn't have been more on point. It was easy to find a quote that fit his love for the craft and how much he wanted to share in the podcast as both an artist and educator. Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass, but learning to dance in the rain! Unknown Author About Chef Lewis: In the upcoming podcast, scheduled to air on April 27, Lewis was very open about the challenges through the pandemic. One of the benefits of focusing on the outdoors is not being restricted by social distancing. He was out every day in his kayak with his camera. That pandemic also gave him time to start working with and developing some new techniques in night photography. He definitely learned to "dance in the rain." About the Image: I have been taking night images for quite some time, but recently have gotten more interested in trying new techniques. In the past, I had done all my images as one exposure, but that is very limiting. Now I am experimenting with stacking images and also with using a star tracker. I am learning new things every day! Take the time to visit his website and especially his galleries. And if you've got an interest in outdoor photography, check out his workshops. Between his teaching modules and live workshops, there are already eight programs on the calendar for the rest of 2021 and an extraordinary trip to Kenya in 2022.
 Even through the pandemic, Tamron has never slowed down in their efforts to help photographers raise the bar on the quality of their images. Check out their listing of local events, all within the appropriate safety and physical distancing guidelines. The lens Lewis used for the image above was the SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2. Click on the thumbnail to the right for more information, and join us on his podcast next week when he'll talk about the challenges with doing long exposures of the night sky. He also used Starry Landscape Tracker. Knowing many of you have an interest in the capturing the night skies, here's the link. While I'm looking forward to the day when I don't feel the need to mention anything about the pandemic, some of you still are missing the point - Hunkering down is about your health, NOT about growing as an artist and expanding your skillset. Growth only happens outside your comfort zone. So, stay active in social media and spend time with your camera in your hands every day, capturing images for your most important client...YOU! There are eight different lenses featured in Tamron's Spring Rebates - going on now through May 2. Click on the banner below for more information.   Keep up your enthusiasm. There is nothing more contagious than exuberant enthusiasm. Harry Houdini by Skip Cohen Eugene Manning joins us in the Tamron kitchen this month. His focus is all on fashion photography. Based out of NYC, he's in one of the most competitive markets in the world for fashion. But as you'll pick up in the podcast, nothing slows down his love for the craft or goal to keep raising the bar on the quality of his images. Over the last almost two and a half years, we've shared chefs' stories from so many different "cuisines," but Eugene is our first exclusively from the fashion world. He shares a lot of great insight into his craft, especially the importance of relationship building. Chef Eugene's recipe is a click away, which we shared last week. Eugene was shooting with Tamron's SP 90mm F2.8 Di VC USD Macro lens. Just click on the banner at the bottom for more information about this remarkable piece of glass! Follow Eugene on his Instagram page; He shares both new images and information about his shooting schedule regularly. As things start to improve, There are so many levels of freedom we're all realizing we took for granted. But the pandemic has also created opportunities to demonstrate leadership and have your work stand out from the crowd. Tamron never slows down making great products with the quality needed to help raise the bar on your images. Remember, "hunkering down" is about your health, not about your business, skill set, or your creativity! Spring Savings! In need of great optics and new gear? Check out Tamron's new Spring savings program going on until May 2, 2021.   Images copyright Eugene Manning. All rights reserved.
 
    Missed any of the previous episodes of Tamron Recipes? They're all just a click away. by Skip Cohen When Chamira Young and I started this series, the idea of comparing photographers to great chefs just seemed like a novel approach. After all, just like your favorite cuisines, there's always a chef involved, creating the presentation and the flavors. Even the legendary portrait artist, Don Blair, used to refer to using a hair-light as the "garlic-light," always stressing that you only needed a small amount. Like great chefs, the photographers we've featured are passionate about their work and love for the craft. Fashion photographer Eugene Manning joins us this month, and his passion for the craft matches any great chef you've ever heard about. The process of featuring a photographer starts with a phone call. We wanted to feature Eugene after a story about his work was featured in the Tamron Newsletter. (You need to sign up for this publication if you don't already receive it.) Eugene and I talked, and a few days later he sent me several of his favorite images. Loving black and white, like so many of us do, I decided to try something a little different and feature two of his favorite photographs side by side. While the pandemic has changed so much in our lives, it hasn't slowed down Eugene's quest to capture and create! Early into this series, I started having fun finding a quote that seemed to fit each artist. It's often based on what comes out of that first phone call. Eugene was excited about the Tamron Recipes concept, and combined with his enthusiasm for imaging it wasn't hard to find a quote that fits. Keep up your enthusiasm. There is nothing more contagious than exuberant enthusiasm. Harry Houdini About Chef Eugene: Eugene's based out of one of the most competitive fashion markets in the world, New York, and without question, he focuses just as much on his skillset as he does relationship building with each subject. His work has been featured in Elle India and L'Officiel Baltic plus Vogue Italia's "PhotoVogue" curated fine art website. About the Images: I love the images for different reasons; for example, the texture of the garment in "Cyrene" is just amazing, as well as the hint of skin. I am my own worst critic, and while I love the image, I use it to remind myself that I have a lot further to go. I would have shot it differently today. For "Kinetic Energy," I love the movement in Lailanni's hair, and the peacefulness in her face. Lailanni is another very gorgeous model, and we wanted to create an image that was interesting and would have people stop scrolling and look at it. In contrast with "Cyrene," I really love the final image, and I'm happy with how it came out; I'd only make a few minor tweaks. There's something interesting in Eugene's comments about both images - his quest to keep growing his skill set. Again, think about our comparison to a fine chef - not satisfied with the flavors he put together, he's continuing on a quest for different results. Each Tamron "Chef" has shared the importance of their growth and the never-ending changes they've seen in their own work over the years. It's all part of the journey! Take the time to visit Chef Eugene's Instagram page. He's regularly sharing images from his fashion shoots.
 The pandemic may have changed travel plans for many of us attending the various first quarter conventions each year, but that isn't stopping Tamron from being accessible! Online and off, in small programs around the country, they support imaging artists as best they can. Check out their listing of local events, all within the appropriate safety and physical distancing guidelines. The lens Eugene used for the image above was the SP 90mm F/2.8 Di Macro. Click on the thumbnail to the right for more information, and join us on his podcast next week when he'll talk about why he wanted to use this particular lens on a fashion shoot. With more and more people getting the vaccine, things are starting to open up a little more each day. However, that doesn't change my need to remind you about staying focused on your skills and business. Hunkering down is about your health, NOT about growing as an artist and expanding your skillset. Nothing grows if you stay in your comfort zone. That means the downtime you're still experiencing is an opportunity to raise the bar on the quality of your images. Stay active in social media and spend time with your camera in your hands every day, capturing images for your most important client...YOU!  There's less than a week left to take advantage of Tamron's FLASH SALE! Click on the banner for more information.  “Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.” Don McCulin  by Skip Cohen Because of the coronavirus and the pandemic, there are more people online than at any time in the history of the Internet. I'm one of those millions out in cyberspace looking at photographs and meeting contemporary artists. In my travels a couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across this phenomenal black and white image by Marc Morris. I was blown away by the texture of the image and went off in search of the artist. Since the photo was tagged with "Tamron," I knew there was a possibility of a new guest for Tamron Recipes.  click to view in the SCU Lightbox In this podcast, Marc shares a lot of great insight into his love for the craft, especially landscape photography. And when I mentioned how much I loved the texture and feel of the image above, he sent me one of his favorite examples of texture with the simplicity of the toast with raspberry jam to the left. Hey, he's the Chef in this series! As I laughed about the image, I thought about what he'd sent me - and it was perfect for showing his love for that defining search every artist is on. In Marc's case, it's texture and a feeling, which he talks about in this new podcast. Chef Marc's recipe is a click away, which we shared last week. Check out Tamron's 17-35mm F/2.8-4 lens with a click on the banner below. Follow Marc on his Instagram page, but don't just look at his photographs - he often writes about what he's feeling at the time, which gives his images more depth.  Are you looking for new gear? Click on the banner to the right and then bookmark the page. Tamron's current "New Year, New Gear" promotion ends on February 28. It's been almost a year since the pandemic took hold. Over and again, I've shared the same kind of comment. It's critical to stay focused on your passion for the craft and your dreams as an artist. Everyone is dealing with the same challenges and the loss of so many freedoms we took for granted. Even with the challenges, especially in business, the pandemic has given us something remarkable, TIME. Use the downtime to build your skill set, expand your creativity outside your comfort zone and become a more diverse artist. Remember, "hunkering down" is about your health, not about your business, skill set, or your creativity!   Check out Tamron's programs for rebates, online education, and even some terrific contests to share your work. The Tamron team isn't slowing down and continues to support the imaging community the best they can. There are programs taking place all over the country, and especially in Cyberspace! Images copyright Marc Morris. All rights reserved. 
 
 Click to view in the SCU Lightbox  Missed a past Tamron Recipes? Click to access every guest chef in the archives. by Skip Cohen Think about how we share images today versus twenty years ago. From Facebook to Instagram and even LinkedIn, we share photographs as often as we like. No waiting for a convention to catch friends, carrying a portfolio case, or putting prints in the mail - we've got instant fulfillment at any time. Marc Morris joins us this month, and it's thanks to Facebook that we first saw his photograph above. From FB, I headed to his LinkedIn page to learn more about him, which led to a great phone call. Besides a stunning image, there are two additional reasons to feature his work this month. First, we're still in the pandemic, and restrictions abound. However, it's not hard to physically distance when you're outdoors. Second, Marc's photograph crosses that line from landscape into fine art. I want to see his image blown up to a five by seven-foot print in an office or living room with a cathedral ceiling! The pandemic has changed everything in our lives, but not the passion of our chefs. Chef Marc couldn't be more proud to be a photographer, as well as help other artists raise the bar on their skill set. Finding a quote that relates to each chef became part of this series starting early in 2019. It wasn't hard to find one that fit Marc - in fact; he wrote a lot about the photograph and the feeling he wanted to capture when he clicked the shutter. “Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.” Don McCulin About Chef Marc: Marc's based out of Denver, as a Sales Representative for Tamron USA. Members of the Tamron team don't often join us in the Tamron Kitchen, but the image was so powerful, it deserved to be shared. As Marc and I talked, it turns out he and I met a few years back at WPPI, and like so many people in this industry, we have a lot of mutual friends. About this Image: "I was in Hawaii on a work trip. There are many misconceptions about road warrior gigs, and one of the biggest (and most understandable) is that it’s a constant vacation, tourism mode activated 24/7, being that we do indeed travel constantly. However, I had never been to Hawaii, so when I was asked to head out in support of a fairly large workshop being hosted by Pro Camera Hawaii, I certainly didn’t turn the opportunity down. The trip was tightly packed, with very little room for “extracurricular activities.” Due to weather (a right proper morning to midday monsoon with flooding that the locals laughably took utterly in stride) and the workshop schedule, I was only able to find a few hours before my flight back to Denver to go exploring...I had never shot in a rain forest before...There were pockets of the trail that clearly had their own microclimate: rain would form and fall at random, and the oxygen-rich environment allowed me an energy and movement I’d not had for years. O’ahu. Island of eternal youth. I’m a highly tactile person, and this translates to my photography. When I’m scanning a subject or an environment, not only am I watching the light and its fluidity, how it fills this well, how shallow or deep others may be in their shadows… but I’m also seeking texture. Texture is what sells depth, scale, and to a certain extent, authenticity. I like images I can feel. If I’m looking at a photo and my hands itch, I know the photographer got something right: it’s in the fingertips. And the rainforest is if you’ll pardon me, absolutely saturated with texture. The image you see here is an expanse that opened up off a corner of the trail, and its dimensionality was so overwhelming I was rooted to the spot. A floor above the floor. A sky below the sky. It was unlike anything I’ve ever personally witnessed in nature, and I simply had to try to capture it to see if I could translate its depth to print. It took about 20 minutes of working that corner, about forty feet up and down the trail, changing lenses for perspective studies before I settled on the 17-35 at the wide end. It was the only lens that was truly able to fit the scene, corner to corner, at the points where I needed the photo to end while also keeping that world within a world feel I wanted to come across." Take the time to visit Chef Marc's Instagram page. He regularly shares great content and photographs that will tell you more about his love for the craft.
 In the world of photography, the first quarter of each year has always been a series of "reunions," as we all attend the various key conventions around the country. The pandemic has changed that for 2021, but it hasn't slowed Tamron down. Online and off, in small programs around the country, they support imaging artists as best they can. Check out their listing of local events, all within the appropriate safety and physical distancing guidelines. The lens Marc used for the image above was the 17-35mm F2.8-4 Di OSD. Click on the thumbnail to the right for more information, and understanding why he made this choice for the coverage of the scene he wrote about. I write the same reminder with so many posts - hunkering down is about your health, NOT about growing as an artist and expanding your skill set. Nothing grows if you stay in your comfort zone. That means the downtime you're experiencing now is an opportunity to raise the bar on the quality of your images. Stay active in social media and spend time with your camera in your hands every day, capturing images for your most important client...YOU!   Chef Marc's podcast is just a click away! |
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