Ken Hubbard is no stranger to SCU. In fact, I've probably shared over a dozen videos from Tamron's YouTube collection featuring Ken. He's been a significant contributor to Tamron for sixteen years and has been a key to their tech support and educational presence as Field Services Manager.

As much as I love Ken's work, I appreciate some of his comments even more. His images truly capture that very special solitude and peace he talks about in this video.

I grabbed a couple of screen shots from this video to demonstrate that special gift Ken gives his viewers with each image. Click on any image to see more of Ken's work.

Tamron isn't just a manufacturer of some of the finest optics in photography. They're a leader in education and support to the photographic community.  Their tech team is one of the very best in the industry along with a terrific staff to back them up in the home office.

Their "Winter Savings" rebate program is quickly coming to a close this week. Take the time to visit a Tamron dealer and find out for yourself what all the buzz is about.

I started the "Why?" series to introduce you to some of the most respected artists in photography through short backstories about their favorite images. Tamron has taken the concept one step further adding video to the equation, and I love the way each artist is represented.

Whether beauty and fashion are your forte or not doesn't matter, listen to Courtney Dailey's comments on some of her favorite images and the importance she puts on both planning a shoot and at the same time being ready for "Murphy's Law."

The original Murphy's Law was simply "if anything can go wrong it will!" But I'm a fan of the revised Murphy's Law, "Murphy was an optimist!" So whichever you subscribe to, with every project it's important to have a backup plan. Fortunately, Tamron's quality and reliability reduce the chances of things not working out on the optical end of a shoot!

I pulled a few of my personal favorites from Courtney's galleries, but click on any image to see more of her work. She's an artist who needs to be on your radar.

​And, check out the latest from Tamron by subscribing to their newsletter. It's always loaded with great content and links to a wide variety of events throughout the year! Just click on the banner to the right.

In this "Inspiration Behind the Images" video, Jeff Rojas talks about one of my favorite topics, inspiration from the great Masters.

Years ago there was a battle between several artists in PPA print competition who all claimed "ownership" of a pose with a bride holding her hands together next to her face. They had all entered prints in competition of essentially the same pose. Well, shortly after that I had the privilege of attending a program by Al Gilbert.  He had a segment of poses he wanted to share - not his, but all the great Masters. One by one he shared the roots of virtually every classic portrait pose in photography.

Jeff Rojas does an outstanding job of sharing insight into his passion for photography and where he finds inspiration. I don't know Jeff personally and wandered over to his website to see more of his work. Click on any of the images below to link to his website and check out his workshop schedule and newsletter. Jeff is definitely an artist who needs to be in your network.

A big thanks to Tamron for this new series of videos. They not only make some of the finest glass in the world, but they're dedicated to finding ways to inspire you and raise the bar on the quality of your images.  If you haven't checked out Tamron's incredible new optics yet, it's time to visit a Tamron retailer. Just click on the link below to find the one nearest you.

Intro by Skip Cohen

Literally just being announced at 6:30 PM EST today are two new lenses from Tamron. Here's the introduction to both products from the TamronUSA press release. I'll share the product highlights for both tomorrow. I was excited to get the information out as quickly as possible and there's too much information to share in just a blog post.

Meanwhile, if you're at WPPI visit the Tamron booth and check out the new lenses together with their complete product line. They're responsible for some of the finest glass in imaging, but don't take my word for it, swing by booth 327! Here's your chance to not only check out some great lenses, but meet one of the most diverse tech teams in professional photography!

February 6, 2017, Commack, NY- Tamron, a leading manufacturer of optics for diverse applications, announces the launch of SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A025), a new telephoto zoom lens product for full-frame and APS-C DSLR cameras. Model A025 was developed by substantially enhancing the features of its predecessor. These include a thorough review of the optical, mechanical and electronic designs to increase autofocus speed and precision, reinforce VC (Vibration Compensation) functions and to shorten the MOD.

New features include eBAND Coating, Moisture-Proof and Dust-Resistant Construction, Fluorine Coating and compatibility with teleconverters. The lens design features a metal-based barrel for improved handling and ease-of-use. The result of this dramatic evolution is Model A025, a high-speed telephoto lens that widens the scope of expression for photography in a broad range of genres, such as portraits, landscapes, sports and photojournalism. The lens is expected to be available in the U.S. in March at $1299.

I love sharing videos, which many of you have missed, especially when I know the artists and have spent a fair amount of time with them. Andre Costantini is in the spotlight today. 

If you're a regular reader of the SCU blog, then you'll recognize him as the other half of the industry's "Odd Couple" traveling all over the United States for the last two years with Ken Hubbard in Tamron's Unofficial Field Guide. Andre has been featured in at least a dozen posts here in the Tamron Theater.

Andre is an artist, writer and educator - but what I enjoy most is his passion for the craft. Combine his love for imaging together with the diversity of his work and you've got a remarkable collection of photographs.  I pulled a couple of screen shots from his video to make the point about his diversity. 

While I've shared a lot of Andre's images in the past, Tamron's new video series gives you a chance to get to know the artist. Andre doesn't just share images, but turns each photograph into a mini-lesson about his lens choice and the inspiration provided by the subject.  Check out the complete new video series to date with a visit to Tamron's YouTube channel.

You'll often find Andre with the Tamron team in their booth at various trade shows. Take the time to introduce yourself, not just to Andre, but all the members of the team. They all belong in your network!