 Click to enlarge in the SCU Lightbox  Missed a past Tamron Recipes? Click to access every guest chef in the archives. by Skip Cohen It's 2021, and what a kick to launch a new season of Tamron Recipes with a chef whose specialty is outdoors and pandemic-perfect. We started this series in 2019 when words like "hunkering down" were pretty removed from our vocabulary. While the pandemic changed everything in our lives, it hasn't dampened any of our chefs' enthusiasm. Many of them have used the challenge of downtime to expand their skill set and mix up the "cuisines" they're best known for. Michigan based artist Nick Irwin joins us on this first Tamron Recipes for the new year. He's a part-time fine art and landscape photographer with a full-time love for the craft. His website and Instagram page especially present one outstanding image after another. It made it hard for us to pick a favorite for this first part of his series! After the first few chefs in the series in 2019, I started sharing a quote that seemed to describe each featured artist best. For most of them, like Nick, the quotes have been based on my first introduction to them through both their images and a phone call or two. One phone call with Nick, and it couldn't be easier to find a quote that describes his love for photography and the outdoors! Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you. Oprah Winfrey About Chef Nick and This Image: When I first spoke with Nick about his love for photography, the energy of that passion came through loud and clear! It's obvious how much photography, the outdoors, and Michigan are part of his life. What's impressive is how short a time he's been working with "real" camera gear. His love for imaging starting through photographs he was posting using his phone. People liked what he was sharing, and somebody suggested it was time he got a real camera. Scott Bourne once wrote about photography being the great equalizer. To paraphrase, It doesn't matter what your background is, your financial status, what you look like, etc. - the quality of each photograph is how you're judged. About the image above: This was last July. I went to shoot the comet Neowise as I did the night before at a different lighthouse. I did not expect the Northern Lights to show up. I was actually done shooting the comet which was in the north sky and walked to the other side of the lighthouse for milky way shots towards the south. Then I saw the green glow in the sky. Off I went back up the opposite dune and took several shots, even helped a couple other photographers with their settings. Little Sable Point Light in Michigan is one of my favorite places to do night photography because the sky is dark and it’s only an hour away. This photo was published by National Geographic with another one of mine this past August. Take the time to visit Nick's Instagram page. You'd never know he was relatively new to the industry when you scroll through the images he's shared.
The most challenging adjustment many of us have had to make due to the pandemic is not being in physical proximity with our peers and the various vendors/manufacturers who support our love for imaging. While many companies have reduced their activities to a minimal presence, Tamron isn't slowing 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. And, if you currently own any Tamron lenses, don't miss out on the benefits of the Tamron V.I.P. Club. Check out the short video below, highlighting just one of the advantages of being a member, but you only have a few more days to get your lenses registered!  The lens Nick used for the image above was the 28-75mm F2.8 zoom. Specifically designed for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras, click on the thumbnail to the right for more information. I feel like I've written this same thing just about every month for almost a year - Remember, hunkering down is about your health, NOT about growing as an artist and expanding your skill set. There's very little that grows in your comfort zone, which makes the downtime we're all experiencing perfect for raising 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!  Click for more information on Tamron's "New Year, New Gear" savings program!  Chef Nick's podcast is just a click away!
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 Images copyright Molly Dombroski. All rights reserved. “The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too.” Samuel Butler  by Skip Cohen As we cross the nine-month mark of the pandemic, life has changed for all of us. Just about every photographer and business owner have seen their fair share of challenges, drops in business, and the necessity to refocus and expand into other specialties. And speaking of specialties, in the hierarchy of why people hire a professional photographer, the top three have been brides, babies, and pets for years. This was based on a Kodak survey done over twenty-five years ago, and I doubt it changed - until the pandemic. With so many weddings and events on hold, I'm betting brides have dropped in the ranking, and new parents have many of the same health concerns. That puts pets up at the top. Our timing couldn't be better to step into the Tamron Kitchen with "Chef" Molly Dombroski. And while her body of work is clearly about the relationship between her and two pups, Mylo and Summit, she shares some great tips about photographing the furriest members of your family. Chef Molly's recipe is a click away, which we shared last week. And for more information about Tamron's 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III RXD lens, click on the banner at the bottom of today's post. There's also a pretty remarkable savings program going on through the holidays. For all the information and the products included in the promotion, just click on the banner to the right. I share the same closing comments every month related to the frustrations we're all feeling. The level of freedom we took for granted has been severely limited. But despite the difficulties, the pandemic has given us something extraordinary, TIME. And with that time, we're seeing new creativity from artists all over the world. Things have changed for all of us, but not the potential to expand our skill set, creativity and become a better, more diverse artist. Tamron's team never slows 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! Check out Tamron's programs for rebates, online education, and even some terrific contests to share your work. Whether you've got "kids" to photograph like Chef Molly or not, click on any image to visit her Instagram page. She regularly shares great content featuring Mylo and Summit! 
  Images copyright Molly Dombroski. All rights reserved.  Missed any past episodes? They're all just a click away. by Skip Cohen If there's one thing everybody agrees on, it's that 2020 was a tough year. The pandemic changed so many different things in our lives, but it didn't stifle creativity. Downtime seems to have spurred some artists on, often going beyond their comfort zones as they grew their skill sets. This is our last "Chef" in the series for this year, with a whole new set of episodes planned for 2021. Thanks to support from Tamron USA, together with my co-host Chamira Young, we're going to continue introducing you to artists who are making their work stand out. It all starts with one of their favorite images, and then whether they're a seasoned veteran or a relative newbie, it's their body of work that helps define their love for the craft. Each backstory and "Chef," just like your favorite restaurant, is unique. The chef analogy has been with us since the very first episode. Every good photographer knows the basics, but each one has a unique style and often vision for the final images. Like enjoying a great meal at your favorite restaurant, each Tamron Chef has shared their recipes, as well as their passion for the craft and continued growth as an artist. Molly Dombroski joins us in the Tamron Kitchen this month. Her work is all about her two best friends, Summit and Mylo, and her work is simply fun to view. It's also so relevant at this point in time - the pandemic brought a substantial rise in pet ownership. All that downtime with families stuck at home made it ideal for adding new furry members to families across the country. Near the beginning of this series, I started searching for a quote to help describe our guest Chef just a little better. Well, the only thing hard about finding a quote for Molly was selecting one of the dozens of great quotes about what dogs mean in our lives. “The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too.” Samuel Butler  About Chef Molly: Chef Molly, a recent college grad, may well be the youngest chef we've ever featured on Tamron Recipes. But that also points out something unique about our craft. In a blog post, a good buddy of mine once referred to photography as "the great equalizer." Like The Voice, you're judged on your results, nothing else. Molly started her journey as an artist with help from two furry friends, Summit and Mylo. Summit is a Siberian Husky, and Mylo is an APBT mix she rescued. Then, playing off of one of the most popular movie series in contemporary history, the @TheFastnFurriest ( now @FindYourSummit) was created on Instagram. Her passion for the pups, combined with her growing skills as a photographer, are the perfect combination for images that draw you into the story. Hiking in Colorado and describing today's feature image, Molly wrote: We hiked up the sand for 45 minutes, which is a lot harder than it sounds. We weren't expecting much because of the clear skies but the sunset really showed off! Please take the time to visit Molly's Instagram page. I love the way Summit and Mylo are described, "Two brothers wrestling through life." You can't help but pick up on the love between the pups and Molly. At a time when the pandemic has so limited our contact with each other, there's very little that beats our furry friends!
 On a podcast recently, in reference to the pandemic, I was asked, "So, what do you miss the most?" There was no hesitation in my answer, "I miss bumping into people, literally!" As conventions all move to an online virtual presence, I miss those handshakes and hugs with so many people in the industry - many of them my friends at Tamron USA. But Tamron isn't slowing down on their presence, online and off, in small programs around the country. Check out their listing of local events, all within safety and physical distancing guidelines. And, take the time to visit Tamron's website, always loaded with great content, as well as their YouTube channel. One of Molly's favorite lenses is also featured in the current Tamron savings program, the 28-75mm zoom for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras. Click on the banner below for information on their current promotion or to the right for more info about this outstanding lens. And while I've written that same words every month, as we wait for a vaccine and an end to the pandemic, remember - Hunkering down is about your health, NOT about growing as an artist and expanding your skill set. Growth only happens outside your comfort zone, and right now, for the first time in everyone's career, we've got something unique - TIME. Use it to keep in touch with your clients. Stay active in social media and spend a little time with your camera in your hands every day, capturing images for your most important client...YOU!   Chef Molly's new podcast is just a click away!  Images copyright Dan Walters. All rights reserved. “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 McCullin “In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” Robert Lind  There's that line we've all heard and used, "Timing is everything!" Approaching nine months of dealing with the pandemic, talking about outdoor photography couldn't be more appropriate at this time. As we all hunker down, being able to get outside with a camera in your hands has become one of a photographer's greatest assets. We're stepping out of the Tamron Kitchen but into the world of a great Tamron Chef. Dan Walters joins us on this new podcast, and it's loaded with solid content. While his main passion for subject matter involves the birding world, it's his love for the craft, no matter what he's focused on, that comes across loud and clear in the conversation with Chamira Young and me. And, while I usually only share one quote with each Tamron Recipe, the two I found above highlight what I've learned about Chef Dan. Chef Dan's recipe is a click away, which we shared last week. And for more information about Tamron's 150-600mm G2 lens, click on the banner at the bottom of today's post. There's a pretty remarkable savings program going on through the holidays. For all the information and the products included in the promotion, just click on the banner to the right. I know it's getting a little old, as I share these comments in so many blog posts - We're all feeling the same frustrations. The pandemic has restricted the level of freedom we took for granted. But at the same time, the pandemic has given us something we NEVER have - time. Don't let your passion for the craft get buried under the stress of the pandemic. Things have changed a lot for all of us, but not the potential to expand your skill set and become a better and more diverse artist. Tamron's team is taking full advantage of that time and not slowing down in their support for photographers all over the country - they've just moved to cyberspace. Check out Tamron's programs for rebates, online education, and even some terrific contests to share your work. And while Dan may live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country - when it comes to critters to photograph, they're all around us - no matter where you live. To see more of Chef Dan's work, just click on any of his images in this post. 
 
  Click on the banner above for information on this outstanding lens!  Image copyright Dan Walters. All rights resereved. by Skip Cohen As the year winds down, it's hard to believe this Tamron Recipes post is the 23rd in the series. With support from Tamron USA, my co-host Chamira Young and I have shared some great content, thanks to some remarkable artists' insight. Each backstory about their favorite photograph has been unique, and then a week later, our podcast conversation with the "chef" has introduced you to even more of their work. The chef analogy came into play right from the beginning. While every good photographer knows the basics, each one has a unique style and often vision for the final image. Like enjoying a great meal at your favorite restaurant, each Tamron Chef has shared their recipes, as well as their passion for the craft and continued growth as an artist. Dan Walters joins us in the Tamron Kitchen this month. The timing is perfect for sharing his favorite cuisine, outdoor wildlife. The pandemic has changed so much in all of our lives, especially as more photographers head to the safety of outdoor shooting. Near the beginning of this series, I started searching for a special quote that seemed to describe some aspect of the enthusiasm and love for the craft brought out in the conversations with each chef. In regards to Dan, I loved two quotes that, after getting to know him better, seem to fit: “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 McCullin “In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” Robert Lind  Click to visit the Tamron Kitchen and more recipes! About "Chef" Dan: In Dan's short bio on his website, he has a statement that sets the stage for his photography and fits perfectly with those two quotes above: When I capture an image, I try not just to document what I saw but try to engage the viewer with the subject. I do this by combining light, eye contact, and a clean background. Dan's passion as an artist, photographer, and educator clearly comes through in the upcoming podcast. Living in Colorado, he doesn't have to travel very far to find new subjects, often just a short bike ride, and he's found plenty to photograph. About one of his favorite images above, he wrote: These egrets can be very territorial in regards to their favorite fishing areas. This egret saw another egret that was a little too close and promptly chased it off...What I like about using this zoom is that I was able to zoom out a little and include the whole bird without clipping the wings. Please take the time to visit Chef Dan's website. And, if you're in Florida in the spring of next year, Dan will be teaching at the Birding and Photofest in St. Augustine. Click on the banner below for more information.
 Downtime has allowed so many photographers to expand their skill set and what's in their camera bag. Well, Tamron never slows down on manufacturing top of the line optics to help you expand your creativity, as well as the quality of your images. Right to the point - they make great glass! While we all miss the conferences and conventions we'd attend in the past; the pandemic also hasn't slowed down Tamron USA's continued presence with workshops around the country. Check out their listing of local events, all within safety and physical distancing guidelines. And, take the time to visit Tamron's website, always loaded with great content, as well as their YouTube channel. One of Dan's favorite lenses is also featured in the current Tamron rebate program. Click on the banner below for information on their current promotion. And I know I've written the same thing almost every month - Hunkering down is about your health, NOT about growing as an artist and expanding your skill set. You still need to maintain a strong presence in your business, build relationships, and remind your target audience you're a photographer and available to help them with their imaging needs.     Chef Dan's new podcast is just a click away!  Images copyright Vanessa Guzzo. All rights reserved. Doing what you love is freedom. Loving what you do is happiness. Lana Del Ray by Skip Cohen We all know the expression, time flies when you're having a good time. Even through the pandemic's challenges, working with the "chefs" in the Tamron Kitchen has been a kick. I find it hard to believe this is our tenth installment for the year. Each chef has shared their love for the craft, along with Tamron lenses. And through the pandemic, these creative tools have been critical elements allowing them to continue to capture and create important memories for their clients. Vanessa Guzzo is in the spotlight for this new episode of Tamron Recipes. Vanessa is all about family, children, and capturing joy. The quote I found above is perfect in describing her love for photography and working with her clients. Chef Vanessa's recipe is a click away if you missed it when it was posted last week. For more information on Tamron's 24-70 mm F/2.8 lens, click on the banner below. And check out Vanessa's website. What I pulled for today's post are just a few of my favorites. (Click on any image to view in the SCU Light Box) As you look through her images, you'll notice a common theme...love. As a result of the pandemic and everyone being hunkered down, I share the same comments so often in posts. We're all in this together, and everybody has the same frustrations. But as Vanessa talks about in her podcast, it's still important to keep in touch with your clients. Being hunkered down doesn't mean from your business or your clients. This is also the perfect time to keep expanding your skill set and take a look at adding a new lens to your gear. Tamron's team isn't slowing down in their support for photographers all over the country - they've just moved to cyberspace. Check out Tamron's programs for rebates, online education, and even some terrific contests to share your work.     
  Click on the banner above for information on this outstanding lens!  Image copyright Vanessa Guzzo. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen October marks our tenth episode of Tamron Recipes for the year. Thanks to support from Tamron USA, it's been a kick for Chamira Young and me to help showcase the work from some very talented artists. But more than just their images, have been their backstories and insight to an industry they each love dearly. We always share one of their favorite photos to start and then follow a week later with the podcast interview. When we started to build the concept, the idea of the chef analogy came into play. We had no idea how relevant that comparison would become. Like a fine chef at your favorite restaurant, each artist has their unique style, favorite cuisines, and their kitchen is home to hundreds of recipes, each demonstrating their passion for the craft and dedication to their clientele! Vanessa Guzzo joins us in the Tamron Kitchen this month. Her favorite cuisine is about kids and family. She's all about people and couldn't love the craft more than she does. At the beginning of this series, I started searching for quotes that seemed to match what I felt following my first conversation with each chef and looking at their work. It wasn't hard to find one that seemed to fit Vanessa. When her podcast airs next week, you'll definitely pick up on how much she loves the craft and her clients! Doing what you love is freedom. Loving what you do is happiness. Lana Del Ray  Click to visit the Tamron Kitchen and more recipes! About "Chef" Vanessa: Vanessa is all about families, lifestyle, and capturing memories. And as often as we all hear expressions about the importance of capturing those special moments, Vanessa makes it a point to stay in touch with her clients. She's the "palace guard" for every family she works with, guarding the gate making sure those special moments don't just disappear. There's a statement on her website that describes it all: Vanessa's stunning portfolio captures love, laughter, and joy, through an artist's eye with a keen attention to detail that only she can provide. Consistently going beyond creating images to making memories that last, it's no wonder so many families turn to her again and again for the most important moments in their lives. I hope you'll take the time to visit Chef Vanessa's website. You'll notice a couple of common denominators in her images - JOY and style. And while I usually don't share more photographs than the first one in the Recipes series, her headers on her portfolio caught my eye. It doesn't get more appealing to "Mom" than this one.  About the Image: A well known photographer in our industry, when I asked him once to send a couple of his most favorite images replied, "Wow- that's almost impossible. It's like asking me which one of my kids I love the most." Well, It wasn't easy for Vanessa, but what she wrote about the image for today's recipe explains why it's a favorite. This image was taken in Long Island City, NY. The inspiration for this image was “I LOVE NY”. Being a native New Yorker I always feel so alive and inspired by the glitz of the Big Apple. I also wanted to relay the feeling of being on top of the world.
 Click for information on this outstanding lens. Tamron never slows down on raising the bar on their optics' quality and creating the tools you need to expand your creativity. Quite simply, they make outstanding glass! And, they're a leader in educational support for photographers all over the world. When it comes to workshops and conventions, the pandemic may have changed a few things for us, but Tamron's maintaining their presence through the support of local events around the country. Check out their listing of local events being held this fall, all within the safety and physical distancing guidelines. And, take the time to visit Tamron's website, always loaded with great content, as well as their YouTube channel. And their tech team is regularly teaching online with workshops supported by Tamron retailers all over the country. One of Vanessa's favorite lenses is featured in the current Tamron rebate program. Click on the banner below for information on their current promotion. Hunkering down is about your health, NOT about growing as an artist by expanding your skill set. This is a great time to expand your gear and take full advantage of the downtime getting to know a new lens and taking your creativity to a new level.  Click on the banner above for information about Tamron's current special promotion!  Click to listen to the new podcast with Chef Vanessa!  Images copyright Ian Jones. All rights reserved. "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelou by Skip Cohen There are two primary common-denominators between all the chefs who have joined us in the Tamron Kitchen. First, is they obviously love working with Tamron gear. However, the relationship with Tamron USA started for each of them; it's in full swing because of the quality of their lenses and the members of the Tamron team. Second is their love for the craft. There's nothing they'd rather be doing than be out with a camera in their hands. Ian Jones joins us in this new episode, and his love for the craft is right up there with the most recognized artists. And, along with his passion for the craft comes his trademark of listening to his clients and then working hard to exceed their expectations. He's also a DIY guy, preferring to experiment, practice, and then experiment and practice some more. He's not a fan of structured education but instead likes to learn things on his own. Chef Ian's recipe is a click away if you missed it when it was posted last week. And for more information on Tamron's 17-28 mm F/2.8 lens, click on the banner below. You can also see more of Ian's work on his website, rr click on any of his images in this post. We all share many of the same frustrations today, dealing with downtime and the challenges of the pandemic. So, as you're hunkered down, spend some time thinking about your skill set and your portfolio. Things are starting to open up a little as business slowly improves, and you want your skills to be as strong and diverse as possible. Just remember that being hunkered down doesn't mean from your business or your clients. This is the perfect time to follow Ian's lead and make it a point to be out regularly with your camera. Work on expanding your skill set and building new relationships while reinforcing older ones. When the pandemic is behind us, your clients will know just who to call when they think about photography! Ian's not slowing down in continuing to grow as an artist, and neither should you. Tamron's support team doesn't slow down either - they've just moved to cyberspace. Check out Tamron's programs for rebates, online education, and even some terrific contests to share your work. 
    Image copyright Ian Jones. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen Each month, thanks to support from Tamron USA, Chamira Young and I have introduced you to another great "chef" from the Tamron kitchen. The idea started as a way to share images, insight into creativity, all while using some of the finest lenses in imaging. Well, the photographs have been outstanding, but even more impressive has been the conversations with the artists themselves - how they got started, their challenges, and especially relevant today: how they're keeping their passion alive through the restrictions of the pandemic. Just for a second, think about your most favorite restaurants from where you order a pizza to the most sophisticated place you might dine for a special occasion. Each one has a kitchen with a head chef, and each chef has something they've become known for in the flavors and selections offered on the menu. Now think about the role the artist plays in capturing and creating each image you enjoy. Each artist is a chef. Their style is a combination of how well they've learned the basics combined with their interpretation of the scene they're about to capture. Ian Jones joins us in the Tamron Kitchen this month, and he's a chef with a focus on lifestyle, family, and whatever his client's need. He's a listener, working hard to meet their mindset. I've had a lot of fun in the Tamron Recipes series finding quotes that seem to match some aspect of each guest chef's personality. Ian's quote is based on conversations from our phone conversations and his podcast airing next Tuesday. "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelou  Click to visit the Tamron Kitchen and more recipes! About "Chef" Ian: There's a line from his About page that pretty much says it all, "I love creating powerful imagery, using relentless dedication and passion to bring your ideas to life." The key words there are relentless dedication and passion. Ian's a DIY guy, and although I'm sure he's followed a few of his favorite icons, he's stayed true to practicing his craft, his own way, until he gets the results he wants. It seems like a bad pun to use the word "focus," but there isn't a better one to describe his ability to hone in on a way he wants an image to tell a specific story. Take the time to visit Chef Ian's website. Right from the beginning, you'll notice a lot of diversity - from food to cars, and even people on the street. And you'll find him on Instagram with even more variety to where he's focused his camera. About the Image: When we first picked this image of Ian's, I thought it was captured from behind a window pane. I was surprised to hear he got right into interacting with the kids on this family shoot. Ian wrote: This was one of my favorite images at the time. It was right after doing a family shoot and the kids were starting to get restless and they had all been waiting to jump into the pool. I figured they would be jumping and having a blast after being told to "smile!" and "look over here!" for an hour, haha. I quickly changed from the Tamron 28-75 to the 17-28. I got down really close to the pool and had the kids jump in. The girl you see in the photo was having a ton of fun trying to get me wet. This made for a handful of great images. I usually put my camera places that put it in danger, but if i end up getting a shot, to me it's worth it. Note: No gear, Sony or Tamron were harmed during the capture of this image! LOL - Ian dried everything off immediately.
 As one of Imaging's finest manufacturers, Tamron never slows down on raising the bar on the quality of their optics. Quite simply, they make outstanding glass! But their reputation goes a lot deeper than just technology. They're a leader in supporting the photographic community and one of the industry's most favorite suppliers. The pandemic has created plenty of challenges when it comes to workshops and conventions, but that hasn't stopped Tamron from maintaining support for artists in cyberspace! Plus, check out their listing of local events being held this fall, all within the guidelines of safety and physical distancing. Tamron's website is loaded with outstanding content, as well as their YouTube channel. And their tech team is regularly teaching online with workshops supported by Tamron retailers all over the country. Click on the banner below for information on their current promotion. It features eleven different outstanding focal lengths to help you expand your creativity. In the almost 200-year history of photography, you've never had more creative tools to work with, and Tamron's been a significant contributor. The pandemic has slowed down everyone's business, but not your ability to keep growing as an artist. This is a great time to expand your gear, and take full advantage of the downtime getting to know a new lens, and boost your skill set.   Click to listen to the new podcast with "Chef" Ian  Images copyright Rhonda Coe. All rights reserved. You don't need a reason for doing everything in your life. Do it because you want to. Because it's fun. Because it makes you happy. Unknown Author You can't find your passion, thinking about it in your head! Marie Forleo by Skip Cohen The fun and insight gained in this series are thanks to the diversity of "chefs" in the Tamron Kitchen. We've covered so many different points of focus (pun intended), but the common denominator for each guest has been their love for the craft. This new episode is a little different because Rhonda Coe doesn't consider herself a working pro, at least not yet. She's an extremely focused, serious hobbyist with a love for photography that will match anybody, pro or amateur. I knew from that very first phone call with her she'd share a lot of great insight into her love for life with a camera in her hand, and especially the world outside, including macro. Several years ago, my good buddy Scott Bourne wrote a post about photography. Photography is the great equalizer. When I see an arresting image the maker, no matter who they are or their station in life – the maker has the ability to rise with their image. Photos hang on the wall of the gallery or the museum or in the pages of a book or magazine or on the screen of a computer or television, not because the person who made the images was important – but because the image itself was important. Rhonda's work speaks for itself, but it's her ability to seek out something interesting - something we'd take for granted and completely miss. She's in Ohio, a state that most people don't think of as very scenic - but I grew up there and lived there for many years. The park system around the Cleveland/Akron area is one of the most beautiful in the country, and she's not about to let a day go by without finding something interesting to share. Click on any image in today's post to enlarge and view in the SCU Lightbox. Chef Rhonda's recipe is a click away if you missed it when it was posted last week. And for more information on Tamron's SP 90mm F/2.8 lens, click on the banner below. And to see more of Rhonda's work, check out her website. The pandemic has changed so much in all of our lives, especially in accessibility to clients. At the same time, the Internet has become an even more significant part of our lives, and our ability to share images is greater than ever. And there is a benefit to downtime - getting out with your camera and exploring everything around you. As we shared in Chef Rhonda's post last week, she rarely misses an opportunity to be out with her camera looking for critters and scenes most of us would just walk by. Her passion for the craft never slows down. Tamron's support team doesn't slow down either - they've just moved to cyberspace. Check out Tamron's programs for rebates, online education, and even some great contests to share your work. As we all adjust to the new normal, the change in business makes this an excellent time to expand your skill set. Having to "hunker down" doesn't have to mean your business, skills, or building relationships with your clients. It's essential to stay involved and keep growing!  
 
  Click on banner above for more information about this remarkable lens.  Image copyright Rhonda Coe. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen Chamira Young and I started this series because we wanted to introduce you to artists who were incredibly passionate about the craft. We wanted to share great images and, at the same time, the insights and backstories by the artists who created them. Working together with Tamron, we started the Tamron Kitchen. Like so many of our favorite reality food shows, we chose to play off the analogy of each artist being a fine chef. If you think about a chef's skills to create something in the kitchen, the analogy to a photographer's creativity is almost identical. Years ago, the legendary portrait artist, Don Blair, used to refer to using a hair-light as the "garlic light." Like cooking with garlic, you want just the right amount, but use too much, and you'll ruin the dish. This is a little different kind of Tamron Recipe this month. Rhonda Coe from Ohio joins us, and she has a full-time job outside imaging. But, one conversation with her and I'll match her passion for the craft with anybody. Early in this series, I started adding a quote that seemed to fit each guest chef. I had never met Rhonda before our first phone conversation, but her enthusiasm is infectious, along with her quest for quality and sharing great images. With Rhonda, I found two that seem to describe her love for photography. You don't need a reason for doing everything in your life. Do it because you want to. Because it's fun. Because it makes you happy. Unknown Author You can't find your passion, thinking about it in your head! Marie Forleo  Click to visit the "Tamron Kitchen" and more recipes. About "Chef" Rhonda: "My goal in photography is to give people a glimpse of places they have never been, an appreciation of the nature that surrounds us, and a different view of the wildlife that lives amongst us." The first line on her about page says it all. At the end of her about page she wrote, "And it's still the "hobby" that gets me up at 5am for sunrise, and keeps me up until 2am for Milky Way shots, and still makes me head into a patch of poison ivy (which I'm highly allergic to!) just to get a better shot of a bird." Earlier I commented about Rhonda's love for the craft. Remember, like so many photographers in our industry, Rhonda's a serious hobbyist who never slows down, trying to learn as much as she can. With a full-time job working for the State of Ohio, she takes full advantage of her available time to go off in search of new subjects. Take the time to visit Chef Rhonda's website. She's regularly proving a point about how much there is to photograph, no matter where you live! About the Image: Rhonda used Tamron's SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD lens to capture both of the images shared in today's post. Every now and there's a connection with a critter that almost seems like they know they're being photographed. Well, "George," the jumping spider hung out with her long enough to get a name! I hope you'll join us on August 25, when we'll air our podcast with Rhonda who shared backstories about both images.
  Tamron's reputation has grown to be one of the finest manufacturers of camera lenses in the world. They never slow down on raising the bar on the quality of their optics and giving artists more creative tools for the craft. They're one of the industry's most favorite suppliers, and whether online these days in virtual workshops or live at their booth at any convention, they're always busy. Tamron's website is loaded with outstanding content, as well as their YouTube channel. And their tech team is regularly teaching online with workshops supported by Tamron retailers all over the country. Click on the banner below to check out a one-week "FLASH SALE" on two of their most popular lenses. The pandemic has slowed down business, but not your ability to keep growing as an artist. This is a great time to expand your gear, and take full advantage of the downtime getting to know a new lens, and boost your skill set.   Click to listen to the new podcast with "Chef" Rhonda  Images copyright Scott Stockton. All rights reserved. There is no greater thing you can do with your life and your work, than follow your passions in a way that serves the world and you... Sir Richard Branson  Click to meet Scott's team! by Skip Cohen From Hasselblad to WPPI and Rangefinder Magazine, working with wedding photographers has been a big part of my career. So, when Scott Stockton was contacted to join us in the Tamron Kitchen and put on his chef's hat, I couldn't have been happier. During that first phone call with Scott, it became obvious how much he loves what he does. But until this podcast, Chamira and I had no idea how much he'd be willing to share or how open he'd be about his "secrets." This new podcast is jam-packed with great content. Every chef in the series has shared something unique about their growth as artists and their journey to date. As you listen to the podcast, you'll immediately pick up on Scott's love for the craft. He simply loves photographing romance. While so many artists like to stay on the sidelines emotionally, Scott makes it clear that he's going to jump right in! From the very beginning, he makes his passion for storytelling clear: "Your wedding story will be the start to the biggest journey of your lives and I want to tell it. But the problem is, I'm a greedy storyteller, I want to be there for all of it. I want to be there for the breakfast with the girls, I want to be there for the tears, and I want to be there when he grabs your butt at inappropriate times during the reception. Why settle? You deserve it all!" But there's something unique he shares later, on his website. He talks about his ability to tell your story is all thanks to his team: I wouldn't be able to travel the world and do these things without my team, my wife Ashley and my two sweetie pies Ella and Matt. The support and love they constantly give me is what allows me to do what I do. And to further make the point, his wife Ashley, "the glue that holds the circus together," along with his kids, all become a part of who he is as an artist, Dad, and husband. It's a high impact way to tell his story and further build trust with his clients. Chef Scott's recipe is a click away if you missed it when it was posted last week. And for more information on Tamron's SP 35mm F/1.4 lens, click on the banner below. And to see more of Scott's work, check out his website. This is a challenging time to be a photographer. The pandemic isn't slowing down, but that doesn't mean there aren't things you can do, like Scott, to keep in contact with clients and build your skill set. Tamron's support team isn't slowing down either - they've just moved to cyberspace. Check out Tamron's programs for rebates, online education, and even some great contests to share your work. As we all adjust to the new normal, the change in business makes this an excellent time to expand your skill set. Having to "hunker down" doesn't have to mean your business, skills, or building relationships with your clients. It's essential to stay involved and keep growing!  Click for more information about this remarkable lens!  Click on any image below to view in the SCU Lightbox!          Image copyright Scott Stockton. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen The pandemic has had an impact on everybody, especially wedding artists. As event photographers, it's tough to do your "job" when events are on hold. But that hasn't slowed down any Tamron Chef from maintaining a continued presence with their target audience. With each Chef over the last few months, there's a common denominator - nothing stops their passion for the craft. When Chamira and I started this series, we could never have anticipated each interview's intensity and the wisdom each artist would share about their journey. Over the last few months, each Chef has talked about how they've stayed focused on their craft, clients, and skill sets. Scott Stockton joins us in the Tamron Kitchen this month with a specialty that's more than just wedding photography. He's a storyteller with love for capturing romance. With each episode of Tamron Recipes, I always go off in search of a suitable quote that fits the guest chef. I didn't know Scott before our first phone call, but it wasn't hard to sense his love for his clients and dedication to serving their "world" and telling their story. Finding a suitable quote was an easy task because of Scott's commitment to the trust each client puts in his skill set. There is no greater thing you can do with your life and your work, than follow your passions in a way that serves the world and you... Sir Richard Branson  Click to visit the "Tamron Kitchen" and more recipes! About "Chef" Scott: One look through the images on Scott Stockton's website and it's obvious where his heart lies. It's with each client. His website opens with the perfect tagline: I believe that the best love stories are told by someone obsessed with love. And closes with: You are my best adventure. Now, see the world through the eyes of the bride as she and the groom search for a photographer to capture and tell their story. Relationship building as a wedding photographer is all about establishing trust early on. And Chef Scott makes it clear right from the beginning his priorities are about capturing love. I'm a self-proclaimed Hallmark movie junkie who is obsessed with being around love. There's no better feeling in the world than being surrounded by the butterflies of two people madly in love. The feelings I get watching everything unfold on a wedding day is a high second to none. I will probably be the only one who cries more than you at your wedding. Please allow me to tell your story! Take the time to visit Chef Scott's website. Pay attention to the unique way he tells his story and immediately develops a confident direct call to action to allow him to tell the client's story. About the Image: Scott used Tamron's SP 35mm F/1.4 Di USD lens to capture what's become one of his favorite shots, shown above. This is a sparkler exit I did at Board & Batten events in Charlotte NC. I'm using a 2 light setup here. I have on flash behind the couple back-lighting them with a Magmod sphere on it, and then I had my assistant holding a flash on a monopod with a grid on it aimed at just the couple. As they walked, he walked to light them. This is probably my favorite setup for sparkler exits.
Click on Scott's image to enlarge and view in the SCU Lightbox. Then visit his website. The pandemic has slowed down his business, but nothing will change his love for the craft, romance or respect for his clients.  Tamron never slows down in continuing to manufacture some of the finest glass in the world. The quality of their optics has become legendary. They're one of the industry's most favorite suppliers, and whether online these days in virtual workshops or live at their booth at any convention, they're always busy. Tamron's website is loaded with outstanding content, as well as their YouTube channel. And their tech team is regularly teaching online with workshops supported by Tamron retailers all over the country. Check out Tamron's current rebates on nine outstanding lenses, including one of Chef Scott's favorites. Just click on the banner below. This is a great time to expand your gear, and take full advantage of the downtime getting to know a new lens, and boost your skill set.   Click to listen to the new podcast with "Chef" Scott  Images copyright Alyce Bender. All rights reserved. We believe people with passion can change the world for the better. That's what we believe. And we believe those people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that actually do. Steve Jobs by Skip Cohen Ever meet somebody, and within an unusually short time, you feel like you've known them for years? That's the way I describe getting to know Alyce Bender. Two weeks ago, we spoke on the phone for the first time after she answered an email about being a guest "Chef" in the Tamron Recipes series. When Chamira and I started the series, we thought we'd simply find creative ways to show Tamron's outstanding quality through great artists and beautiful images. However, what's happened has so much more impact, and "Bender" is a perfect example. Every Chef has shared something a little different and always relevant to their growth as an artist. Alyce's skill set is outstanding, but it's her love for the craft and sharing her images that's even more impressive. She loves the outdoors, and while that's not in itself unique, sharing her experiences with her level of passion is. "I believe the stronger the connection between people and nature, the easier it is to promote environmental awareness and to protect vulnerable species and their habitats." With every image, you get a sense of that message, and when she crosses over from documenting nature to turning it into fine art, I was struck by the simplicity in the beauty of what she creates. Grabbing screenshots of my favorites from her galleries was not easy, especially when it came to her winter images from Japan. Click on any image to visit her Chef Bender's website. Chef Bender's recipe is a click away if you missed it when it was posted last week. And for more information on Tamron's SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 lens, click on the banner below. The pandemic has made this the most challenging time in contemporary history to be a business owner and especially a professional photographer. But Tamron's support team hasn't slowed down - just moved to cyberspace. Check out Tamron's programs for rebates, online education, and even some great contests to share your work. As we all adjust to the new normal, the change in business makes this a good time to expand your skill set. Having to "hunker down" doesn't have to mean your business, skills, or continuing to build relationships with your clients. It's essential to stay involved!  Click for information about this outstanding lens! 
  
  Image copyright Alyce Bender. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen We're halfway through 2020 already, and this is our 18th episode of Tamron Recipes. Without question, time definitely flies when you're having a good time. And being in the middle of a pandemic changes nothing in the willingness of each Chef to share insight into their love for the craft. We started this series, thinking it was a great way to demonstrate the quality and versatility of Tamron's extensive lens line, but we've learned and shared so much more. Each month we're introduced to another member of Tamron's imaging family...and what a family it is! Alyce Bender, known as "Bender," is in the Tamron Kitchen this month with a variety of cuisines - from wildlife to landscapes to macro to abstractions and Impressionism, you'll sense her love for the craft the minute you step into any gallery. A fun aspect of these episodes has become my search for a quote that seems to fit each Chef. Until my recent phone conversation with Bender, we had never met. Immediately, it became apparent how much she loves the craft and capturing the personalities of each subject - even her landscapes. We believe people with passion can change the world for the better. That's what we believe. And we believe those people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that actually do. Steve Jobs  Click to visit the "Tamron Kitchen" and more Recipes About "Chef" Bender: I don't know Bender well enough to know if she's out to change the world, but she's certainly helping to make it better. As I started to get to know her passion for the craft, and her love for whatever subject she's capturing, the quote by Steve Jobs was perfect. Each image in her gallery represents a story she wants to share, and her image above is no exception. Please take the time to visit Bender's website. From the very first image, you'll sense her passion for imaging and her quest to share each experience with us and why she feels it's important: I really am happiest in the field and am passionate about sharing the unique biodiversity this planet has to offer. My goal is to connect viewers and photographers with the natural world through my imagery and tours. I believe the stronger the connection between people and nature, the easier it is to promote environmental awareness and to protect vulnerable species and their habitats. About the Image: Bender used Tamron's SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 lens to capture the photo above. It's not only one of her favorites, but it was also Chamira and my first "WOW" when we visited her website. And it comes with a great backstory. Taken outside Kushiro, Japan in the late afternoon on a chilly February day this year. This is one in a series of images I am working on to highlight the beauty and grace of the endangered Red-crowned Crane. February is when these cranes court each other with elaborate and choreographed displays. Even though they mate for life, paired cranes still use the courtship dance to reestablish those bonds. For me, this year was especially difficult as it was the warmest winter in over 60 years for Japan, meaning there were a lot of blue sky days. For these images I really need overcast, preferably actively snowing, weather. Of the five days I spent with the cranes this year, I only had one day of partly overcast and a couple of hours of snow and overcast conditions this final evening. Thankfully, everything, from the weather to the position of the birds, finally aligned on that last afternoon to allow me to capture this image. Click on Bender's image to enlarge and view in the SCU Lightbox. Then visit her website and follow her schedule of Photo Adventures too! The pandemic has changed the availability of specific trips, but if she's on your radar, you'll be able to keep up to date with everything she's doing and her schedule. And visit her macro gallery, an extension of her skill set brought out during downtime and dealing with social distancing.
 Click for more info As one of the world's leading manufacturers of outstanding glass in imaging, Tamron never slows down. The quality of their optics has become legendary. They're one of the industry's most favorite suppliers, and whether online these days in virtual workshops or live at their booth at any convention, they're always busy. Once the pandemic is over and things start to get back to normal, you can count on Tamron being back on the road. But for now, social distancing is a necessity, but NOT in cyberspace. Tamron's website is loaded with outstanding content as well as their YouTube channel. And their tech team is regularly teaching online with workshops supported by Tamron retailers all over the country. Check out Tamron's current rebates on fifteen outstanding lenses, including one of "Bender's" favorites. Just click on the banner below. This might be just the right time for you to expand your gear, and take full advantage of the downtime getting to know a new lens, and boost your skill set.   Images copyright Erik Valind. All rights reserved. In the world of business, the people who are most successful are those who are doing what they love. Warren Buffet  by Skip Cohen It was probably around 2013 I met Erik Valind online as one of Tamron's Image Masters. Later he did an SCU guest post on portraiture, and since then, I've caught up to him at various industry events and featured several of his images in Tamron Tuesday posts. But through all this time, we never have found time for a real conversation until this podcast. Regardless of how we've caught up to each other over the years, phone, in person or in cyberspace, I've never seen Erik anything but passionate about imaging. He loves the craft. So, when I started looking for a quote to lead off his two-part recipe series, it wasn't hard to find the appropriate one. In this new podcast, Erik shares a lot of powerful insight into his passion for photography. I especially love the image he shared for his original recipe last week. It's so far from the kind of work he's best known for. It's a six-minute exposure of the NYC skyline. Just click on the thumbnail to the right to read more about it. We chose to play off of reality food shows for Tamron Recipes because each artist does work like a fine chef. The image Erik wanted to share, is a perfect example of what makes him a great "chef," his ability to experiment. He's recognized primarily for his people, portrait, and lifestyle work, but put a camera in his hands while out and about for his own enjoyment, and anything can happen! I hope you'll take the time to listen to the whole podcast. Erik shares a lot of valuable insight, especially into how he's finding business during the pandemic. He also shares the backstory on the image above and why he was so excited to be out with Tamron's 17-35mm F2.8-4 lens. See more of Erik's work with a click on any of his images below. The pandemic has made this one of the most difficult times in history for professional photographers, or for that matter any small-business owner. All of us are finding ways to adapt to life under quarantine, but that hasn't slowed down the team at Tamron. Check out Tamron's programs for rebates, online education, and even some great contests to share your work.  Click for information about this remarkable lens.  Images copyright Erik Valind. All rights reserved.
 
     Image copyright Erik Valind. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen It's our 17th episode in this series, and with each new "Chef," we're gaining more insight into not only their journey but expanding our own thoughts on creativity, technique and passion. When we started the series, the idea was simply to have some fun and introduce you to the movers and shakers in photography. What we've actually built is an extension of everyone's imaging family. New York and Florida based Erik Valind joins us this month. He's no stranger to SCU, where we've featured a wide variety of his work. But his skill set is only part of the fun of knowing him. The only thing more impressive than his style is his love for the industry and the craft. Erik used Tamron's 17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di OSD lens. It's one of his favorites: "Here's a fun lens that we can talk about. I was really excited when it came out because finally I have an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens that is also easy to use filters with! No more expensive, bulky, fragile giant filter holders required, this lens has front filter threads built in. Plus its lightweight too, which is wonderful on long hikes." For each new Chef, I've gone off in search of a quote that seems to fit their personality. It wasn't hard to find one for Erik. This is an artist who totally loves what he's doing. In the world of business, the people who are most successful are those who are doing what they love. Warren Buffet  About "Chef" Erik: We've featured a lot of Erik's work over the years, and even a short podcast here and there. However, even when we've bumped into each other at various conventions, there's never time for a very long conversation. So, we're just as excited about getting quality time with him in next week's podcast as we are in you getting to know at an artist who needs to be on your radar. One trip to his website, and you'll start to understand how much Erik loves the craft. A short section on his about page says it all: “I’m a Communicator... Freelance Photographer, Author & Educator. I was born on the beaches of Treasure Island. I like how it sounds storybook when I tell people that. Since then I’ve been blessed with what I call a semi-charmed life, and everything has been inspiration along the way. Now I get to create for a living. I leap at the opportunities to travel the country, to meet interesting people and to make great photographs of my journey. There’s a tangible energy in my actions, and that energy is born from those around me. I love to teach and am always eager to learn. I claim to control light, but in reality light lends itself to us, and we just look good in it. Lets enjoy it together.” About the Image: The image we chose for this month's feature is a six-minute exposure of the NYC skyline. Erik wanted a particular feel to the image and shared one of the main ingredients: "For this particular photo I leveraged both of the lenses strengths (wide angle + filters) by shooting at 17mm and attaching a 15-Stop Neutral Density Filter. The combination allowed me to capture the entire NYC skyline, while blurring the busy water traffic to smooth glass, and transforming the rather unimpressive sunset into a more spectacular streaking light show of sun-rays." Click on Erik's image to enlarge and view in the SCU Lightbox. Then visit his website and follow his event schedule too! He's one of the most approachable photographers in the industry.
 Click for more information There's a reason why there's always a crowd around the Tamron booth at every trade show. They've become one of the industry's most favorite suppliers. It's not just the quality of their lenses, but the spirit of the Tamron team and the staff. Travel for all of us is limited now, but you can count on the Tamron team being back on the road when the crisis is over. However, their website is loaded with outstanding content as well as their YouTube channel. Now's a great time to catch up on your reading and video content - all focused on helping you raise the bar on your skill set as an artist. Check out Tamron's NEW rebate program on several outstanding lenses. This might be just the right time for you to expand your gear, and then take full advantage of the downtime, and build your portfolio with more great images. Click on the banner below to find out more about this new program.   Click to listen to the new podcast with "Chef" Erik  Images copyright Derrick Zellmann. All rights reserved. Working hard for something we don't care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion. Simon Sinek by Skip Cohen It's interesting how you get to know a person, especially an artist, by looking at their images and adding in their personality from a couple of phone calls. So, I started looking for quotes about each "Chef" who joined us in the Tamron Kitchen. It wasn't hard to find one for Derrick Zellmann. As Derrick and I talked and I explained the Tamron Recipes series, the more he shared his love for the craft, along with his family and living in New England. During that first conversation, he was home with his two children, playing Dad, as his wife, Jessica, a nurse, was supporting the battle against coronavirus at one of Boston's hospitals. But it wasn't until our live podcast I found out we share a lot of mutual friends. He and I might have even met many years ago at Hallmark Institute. The fun of these podcasts is always how much each "Chef" shares about their love for the craft and their insight into their journey. Derrick's passion for imaging never slows down, even during the downtime resulting from the pandemic. And while the focus of so much of his business is food photography, you'll find a lot of great versatility in looking at images on both his websites. His wedding and portrait work is at DerrickZellmannPhoto.com, and his commercial food work at DZPfood.com. It wasn't easy choosing images to share in today's post, but since we talked almost exclusively about food photography, I stayed on his food site. Click on any of his images in this post to see more of his work. "Chef" Derrick's recipe is a click away if you missed it when it was posted last Tuesday. And for more information on Tamron's SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD lens, click on the banner below. There's never been a more challenging or difficult time in our industry. We're all in various forms of quarantine, but Tamron's support hasn't slowed down - just moved to cyberspace. Check out Tamron's programs for rebates, online education, and even some great contests to share your work. While the uncertainty of the future is an issue for all of us, this might be the best time to expand your skillset, and whatever gear you love to use most, it's time to stay involved.   Images copyright Derrick Zellmann. All rights reserved.
    
by Skip Cohen We're jumping in with episode sixteen of Tamron Recipes, and for the first time, we really are connected with food in the Tamron Kitchen. With every guest, we've shared information and ideas related to their specialty, but never directly into the world of food photography! The result today has Tamron Kitchen filled with great ingredients, all edible from a well-respected artist in photography. Boston-based, Derrick Zellmann is joining us. Although there's pretty much nothing, Derrick can't photograph, we're focused on his passion for food photography. Even more fun comes into his work with portraits of the chefs who create his subjects, which we'll share with next week's podcast. In this new recipe, Derrick used Tamron's SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD. I had a hard time deciding which image to use, so just like going out to dinner and sharing a taste of whatever my wife ordered, we used both. The process of creating a Tamron Recipe always starts with me making a phone call to the selected guest. Then, based on that conversation, a few emails back and forth, and spending time on their website, I start to get a feel for who they are. I've had a lot of fun finding a quote that seems to fit each guest, and Derrick's was easy to spot. Working hard for something we don't care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion. Simon Sinek  Click to visit the "Tamron Kitchen" and more Recipes About "Chef" Derrick: One conversation with Derrick, and it's obvious how much he loves what he's doing. But he took it a step beyond food and portrait photography with something he wrote in his response when we were working on when to schedule recording his podcast: I would've loved to speak this week but my wife works in an ICU at a Boston Hospital so it's been a bit chaotic as she's spending this whole week there with the COVID-19 demand and I'll be hanging with my little ones...which is a lot of fun as a dad, however, not very quiet for an interview:) The pandemic has changed all of our lives, but so often we forget the people giving back aren't just on the front line, but behind the scenes. Derrick and his wife, Jessica, are giving back to the Boston community. His role as a Dad, for the moment, is probably upstaging his photography - but it's obvious that passion has so many different definitions. When you wander through Derrick's portfolio on his commercial site, while the primary subjects we chose today were food, the stories he's sharing run much deeper and include stunning portraits of some of the very best chefs in Boston, along with other personalities around New England. His work has been featured in magazines and publications both locally and nationally. About the Images: In the upcoming podcast, Chef Derrick shared a lot of great insight into both images, along with the relationships he's built over the years with executive chefs and the staff at both restaurants featured in today's post. The grilled octopus is from the Trident Galley and Raw Bar in Hingham, MA. The Executive Chef is Brian Houlihan. The A9 House Burger is at Alma Nove, also in Hingham, MA. And if you've followed reality food shows over the last few years, the Executive Chef is Paul Wahlberg.
 Over the last few years, Tamron's reputation as a leading manufacture of great glass has become legendary. It's easy to understand if you keep up with their never-ending stream of new products. In fact, just last week they announced a new lens, the new 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens. It's the third model in Tamron's series of fast F/2.8 zoom lenses for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras. Tamron has become one of the industry's most favorite suppliers, especially when it comes to their busy booth at any convention or trade show. Click on the thumbnail on the right for more information about this remarkable lens. Travel for all of us is limited now, but you can count on the Tamron team being back on the road when the crisis is over. However, their website is loaded with outstanding content as well as their YouTube channel. Now's a great time to catch up on your reading and video content - all focused on helping you raise the bar on your skill set as an artist. Derrick Zellmann is definitely an artist who should be on your radar. You'll find his work split between two different sites, targeting two very different clients. Wedding and portrait work is at DerrikZellmannPhoto.com, and you'll find his commercial food work at DZPfood.com. Check out Tamron's current rebates on several outstanding lenses. This might be just the right time for you to expand your gear, and then take full advantage of the downtime getting to know a new lens, and boost your skill set.   Click to listen to the new podcast with "Chef" Derrick  Images copyright Jamie Malcolm-Brown. All rights reserved. "Being an artist is dragging your innermost feelings out, giving a piece of yourself, no matter in which art form, in which medium." Henry Rollins by Skip Cohen A fun aspect of putting together each new Tamron Recipes episode has been the search for a quote that seems to fit each new "chef." I didn't know Jamie Malcolm-Brown before my introductory phone call to him. We had a great conversation about his work and the concept behind Recipes. The more we talked, and the more of his work I looked at on Instagram and his website, the more I realized the value of his diversity. He's in love with two completely different genres within imaging - landscape and people. As a landscape photographer, there's a level of solitude as an individual contributor, but it's just the opposite in weddings and portraits. So, relationship building became a topic in our conversation during the podcast, and the more we talked, the more the quote I found seemed to fit Jamie's focus as an artist. Jamie shares a lot of great insight in this new podcast, and it's all at a time where we're all in this challenging state of suspension, social distancing, and hunkering down. While Jamie's wedding and portrait business may be on hold, his life as a landscape artist is not. His images speak volumes as both an artist on land and in the air with a drone. He's giving us a different perspective on the world, and like macro photography, it's a view most of us never see until an artist like Jamie shares his vision! It was no easy task picking images from Jamie's galleries on both his website and Instagram pages. Click on any of his images in this post to visit his Instagram page. Then, follow him and be prepared to look at photograph after photograph that only Jamie and Mother Nature could create. "Chef" Jamie's recipe is a click away if you missed it when it was posted last Tuesday. And for more information on Tamron's 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 lens, click on the banner below. This is an incredibly challenging time for all of us in this industry. But what I love about landscape photography right now, is that it doesn't require social distancing, and Tamron's got some great programs to help with the cost. While the uncertainty of the future is an issue for all of us, this might be the best time to expand your skillset, and whatever gear you love to use most, it's time to stay involved.   Images copyright Jamie Malcolm-Brown. All rights reserved.        Info about great savings is just a click away! |
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