One of the things I love about working with the team at Tamron USA is the way they make it a point to get to know ALL the members of the Tamron family. There are lots of companies in our industry who give you great support on the front end, but after buying their products you never hear from them again...until you need service!

Well, Tamron doesn't just build some of the finest optics in photography today, they're also out in the community supporting us all year long. Here are two great examples:

#WithMyTamron is all about the pure fun of exposure, no pun intended. It's an opportunity for you to share images with other Tamron users and it couldn't be easier to do - all it takes is a post and a hashtag! Click on the banner above for more information.

Keep on Clicking is this year's Tamron road show and their tech team is all over the U.S. In fact, between now and June 10 they're in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, MI followed by Golden Valley, MN and Melrose, MA. Just click on the thumbnail to the right to stay on top of the schedule. These are live programs giving you a chance to get some terrific help on raising the bar on your images and at the same time taking Tamron glass out for a test drive.

It's Spring and everything is coming into bloom!

The best way to keep track of all things Tamron only takes a minute - subscribe to their newsletter. You'll be able to stay on top of key events, and with each issue there are always great content profiles about other artists, along with updates on special programs and events. Click on the link below to subscribe.

Intro by Skip Cohen

We all know the song by Bette Midler and the lyrics,

                                Did I ever tell you you're my hero, you're everything, everything I wish I could be...

Well, the song might be about love and support, but photographically speaking and with birds of prey especially, it's the perfect definition of how I felt looking at Kristofer Rowe's work. Most of us have seen hundreds of images of birds, but Kristofer's approach is unique. In fact, in an article on the Tamron website by Jenn Gidman he commented,

"I don't want my photos to lack emotion," he says. "Sometimes people will say, 'Look how sharp the image is and the beautiful background I got, which is nice, but many times they forget to look for the bird or animal's expression."

Jenn went on to share:

He stays away from traditional crops, preferring instead to fill the frame when he can. "You get more of the personality that way," he says. "For example, many people think you always have to show the bird's whole body. They'll say, 'Oh, the tip of the wing is cut off in one of your images,' but I did that purposely—I want the viewer to focus on the eyes and the expression, and if a part of the bird's body has to fall out of the picture for me to achieve that, that's OK."

Check out the sharpness of the image above, keeping in mind that it's a screen shot from Tamron's website. It's what I refer to as a "Wow print."  A "Wow print" is any image so good, it's the only one you'd have to show a client to get hired. It's also the standard I suggest for every image in your galleries, no matter what your specialty might be.

Whether you're into bird photography or not, take the time to read Jenn Gidman's interview with Kristofer and pay attention to his images. His work isn't about capturing pictures of birds, but about their personalities and sharing photographs that are different from everything we typically see. Every step in his technique is about giving the viewer a different perspective, and his philosophy would make him award-winning, no matter what the subject, including brides, babies, and pets!

Although the video below is about Kristofer shooting with Tamron's new 150-600 mm G2 lens, you've got just a few days left to check out four other incredible zooms on their Spring Rebate Program.

There's a reason Kristofer chose Tamron glass to capture some of the most spectacular bird images I've ever seen! Visit a Tamron dealer and check out their full family of lenses for yourself - you won't be disappointed.

by Skip Cohen

There's a long list of things I love about Tamron, starting with the passion and dedication of the the tech reps and senior staff.  They're always focused on education and helping you build a stronger skill set. They're also focused on great savings and right now you've got an opportunity to pick up some great savings on four different outstanding zoom lenses.

Just click on any of the four lenses below to get more details and see images captured with each one!

And, if you're looking for some additional help - Tamron's Keep on Clicking Tour is on the road this month is Wisconsin, South Carolina, Connecticut and Michigan. Just click on the thumbnail to the right for the cities and schedule. Tamron's tech team represents some of the most diverse educators in professional photography and at each program they'll be available to help answer your questions and help you raise the bar on your skill set.