Intro by Skip Cohen

Besides making incredible glass, Tamron is constantly working to help you raise the bar on your skill set. This new eBook from Jillian Bell pulls together her expertise as one of the industry's most dynamic artists and combines Tamron optics with today's technology.

She shares eleven solid tried and true tips to help you capture better images in this twelve-page guide. It's a free download and all you have to do is click the cover below to read it and download it for your own library.

With each tip she shares the lens used, her settings and often a brief explanation of her goal in capturing a strong image. There are now ten eBooks in the series. Each one covers a specific topic and brings together great glass with the creativity of another terrific TamronUSA artist.

Tamron's Tailgate Tour is on the road throughout the US for the rest of the year. In every workshop they're helping photographers with tips on technique and terrific how-to support to become stronger artists. Here's your chance to be inspired and pull some talented educators into your network.


Visit TamronUSA's website and check out their products along with images from the Tamron Image Masters. The work this group is sharing often redefines the meaning of jaw-dropping images. Plus, with each Image Master profile you'll find links to their workshops, galleries and blogs.

Intro by Skip Cohen

The group of six artists above represent some of the most diverse artists in our industry, as well as being some of the most respected tech reps and educators in photography today. They're on the road throughout the United States with a jam-packed schedule for August. To find out more, just click on the tour bus below.


Tamron isn't just making great glass, they're helping to raise the bar on the quality of your images along with the technique to capture and present only your very best work!

Englewood Camera - 8/1 - Littleton, CO
Event 8am - 12pm
Meet Up at Sterne Park

Come join the Tamron Tailgate Team at Sterne Park for an in-the-field workshop/walk-about focusing on some of the photo techniques we covered in the previous days seminars. Whether you spent the day tailgating with us or not, this 4 hour event is a great place to get your questions answered with hands-on instruction. This is a great opportunity to take what you’ve learned in the classroom and put it to practical use creating new images. The Tamron van will be there loaded with Tamron lenses to try out in-the-field to help you capture the images you are looking for. $25, Get details. Click to register >>

The Camera Doctor - 8/3 - Kearney, NE
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

National Camera Exchange - 8/6 - Roseville, MN
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom

Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Harold's Photo - 8/12 - Fargo, ND
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom

Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Christian Photo - 8/15 - Urbandale, IA
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Bedford Camera & Video - 8/17 - Springfield, MO
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom

Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Schillers Camera - 8/19 - St. Louis, MO
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Art's Cameras Plus - 8/24 - Greenfield, WI
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Helix Camera & Video - 8/26 - Itasca, IL
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Camera Casino - 8/28 - Oshkosh, WI
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Camera  Casino - 8/29 - Oshkosh, WI
Event 9am - 11am
Meet Up at Farmer's Market on Main Street

Come join the Tamron Tailgate Team at the Farmer's Market for an in-the-field workshop/walk-about focusing on some of the photo techniques we covered in the previous days seminars. Whether you spent the day tailgating with us or not, this 2 hour event is a great place to get your questions answered with hands-on instruction. This is a great opportunity to take what you’ve learned in the classroom and put it to practical use creating new images. The Tamron van will be there loaded with Tamron lenses to try out in-the-field to help you capture the images you are looking for. FREE Get details.

The Camera Company - 8/31 - Madison, WI
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Intro by Skip Cohen

There are some images with so much power, they require virtually no explanation or text. Kevin Gilligan sent this to me yesterday, and I was blown away by its power. It was captured with Tamron's SP 15-30MM F/2.8 Di VC USD.  Kevin's email simply said, 

"Don’t know if you are a fan of b/w’s. Several Pacific hurricanes lately have given LA rain we so desperately need. 
This is from Palos Verdes.

I guess I could have written back and said I was a fan of b/w's, but it was better to just share the image here! Check out more of Kevin's work on his website.  You'll never be disappointed!

By Skip Cohen

I wanted to share this incredibly short video, only 39 seconds, because it's got some of the strongest images I've seen in a demo piece like this.  Plus, it hits on a topic we rarely talk about, moisture resistance. Yet, we take our gear virtually everywhere. Tamron made the following statement about this lens:

"Who Wants More? With Tamron's 16-300mm, you can shoot with confidence in inclement weather with its moisture-resistant construction. Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD Macro-The Widest Range All-In-One Zoom Lens." 

I'm also a big fan of Tamron's Tech Team. It looks like Ken Hubbard on the beach demonstrating the 16-300 mm Di II VC PZD Macro lens. It's pretty amazing how much solid information they packed into 39 seconds.

Tamron's team is on the road all year long with their Tailgate Tour. Here's your chance to check out great glass, new products and meet some of the most diverse artists in the industry. Check the schedule with a click on the link below and don't miss an opportunity to raise the bar on your technique.

The Tamron Tech crew continues on the road all year long. Here's the schedule for the rest of July and August. For more information, click on the banner above.

These are some of the most diversified artists in the industry and they're hopefully coming to a city near you. This is your chance to catch up on Tamron's amazing lens technology and pick up a few tips to raise the bar on the quality of your images! 

Idaho Camera - 7/20 - Boise, ID
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Get details.

F-11 Photographic Supplies - 7/22 - Bozeman, MT
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Get details.

 

7/24 - Salt Lake City, UT - Inkley's Camera & Image
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Mike's Camera - 7/27 - Colorado Springs, CO
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

 

Mike's Camera - 7/29 - Thornton, CO
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

 Englewood Camera - 7/31 - Littleton, CO
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Englewood Camera - 8/1 - Littleton, CO
Event 8am - 12pm
Meet Up at Sterne Park

Come join the Tamron Tailgate Team at Sterne Park for an in-the-field workshop/walk-about focusing on some of the photo techniques we covered in the previous days seminars. Whether you spent the day tailgating with us or not, this 4 hour event is a great place to get your questions answered with hands-on instruction. This is a great opportunity to take what you’ve learned in the classroom and put it to practical use creating new images. The Tamron van will be there loaded with Tamron lenses to try out in-the-field to help you capture the images you are looking for. $25, Get details. Click to register >>

The Camera Doctor - 8/3 - Kearney, NE
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

National Camera Exchange - 8/6 - Roseville, MN
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom

Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Harold's Photo - 8/12 - Fargo, ND
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom

Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Christian Photo - 8/15 - Urbandale, IA
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Bedford Camera & Video - 8/17 - Springfield, MO
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom

Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Schillers Camera - 8/19 - St. Louis, MO
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Art's Cameras Plus - 8/24 - Greenfield, WI
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Helix Camera & Video - 8/26 - Itasca, IL
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

Camera Casino - 8/28 - Oshkosh, WI
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>


Camera  Casino - 8/29 - Oshkosh, WI
Event 9am - 11am
Meet Up at Farmer's Market on Main Street

Come join the Tamron Tailgate Team at the Farmer's Market for an in-the-field workshop/walk-about focusing on some of the photo techniques we covered in the previous days seminars. Whether you spent the day tailgating with us or not, this 2 hour event is a great place to get your questions answered with hands-on instruction. This is a great opportunity to take what you’ve learned in the classroom and put it to practical use creating new images. The Tamron van will be there loaded with Tamron lenses to try out in-the-field to help you capture the images you are looking for. FREE Get details.

The Camera Company - 8/31 - Madison, WI
Event 12pm - 4pm
FREE Mini-seminars under the Tailgate Tent in specified location

  12:00 - 12:45pm
1:00 - 2:30pm
3:00 - 3:45pm

Achieving Perfect Exposure
Portfolio and Image Review
Understanding Your Digital Darkroom
Sign up for "The Field Guide to Inspired Photography: See It, Capture It, Work It" 2-hour evening seminar with welcome bag only $25, Get details. Click to register >>

by Skip Cohen

Just about every Tuesday I have some fun going through Tamron's educational material, especially their archives. There's an incredible amount of great material written by some of the finest educators/artists in photography today. I found this little gem in their tech profiles. I love the way Armando Flores talks about his passion for photography and macro. 

Tamron, not only makes great glass, but they're committed to helping you become a better artist.  Their tech team, of which Armando is a member, is on the road throughout 2015 presenting workshops to help you raise the bar on your skill set and introduce you to some of the finest glass in photography.

Check out the schedule with a click on the Tamron Tailgate Van!

Armando's interest in photography started back in high school, when his sister and he put their money together to purchase a 35mm film camera. He studied photojournalism in college and worked at a camera store to support his photo habit. He worked for a major camera manufacturer, where he honed his photography skills over the next 22 years. 

Photography enabled him to travel to many foreign lands to attend large media events where he met many interesting people. He photographed professional sport for over 17 years and loved being at the forefront of new technology. His passion has always been in lending a hand to the aspiring photographer.

Images copyright Armando Flores. All rights reserved.

It's Tamron Tuesday and the perfect time for another spotlight profile of a Tamron Image Master.  I've written a lot about the diversity of this group and today's profile of Chris Buhlman makes that point. I especially love the way he's taken his skill set and used it to give back to the community - helping to create lasting memories for so many parents and children.

On Tamron's Image Masters page he's described as...

Chris started in photography in the mid 1970s using an Ansco range finder his mother used as a student in the 1950s. Around 1983 at 19, he received a Pentax P3 as a present and has been a "Pentaxian" ever since. His dedicated imagery skills development began in the later 80's during his first deployment overseas onboard the USS Constellation as a Naval Flight Officer flying the S-3 Viking. He realized then that every moment in Naval Aviation was unique and capturing those moments were priceless.

1991 was his first magazine cover for the US Naval Institute Proceedings journal. His broadest area of published work is military aviation.  Once his children became involved, however in youth sports, acting and other activities, Chris has devoted many hundreds of hours volunteering his photographic abilities to organizations and school programs to provide a catalog of memories for countless numbers of parents and their children.

Interested in seeing more of Chris's work? I love the way he's put his galleries together with a full series of clickable thumbnails under each category. Just click on the banner below to see more images.

Chris needs to be on your radar.  You'll find more about Chris on his website, along with images displayed in his Pentax Photo Gallery and National Geographic photo sharing site. 

Chris' Tamron Gear Box 

SP 17-50mm F/2.8 Di II (model A016)
SP 28-75mm F/2.8 Di (model A09)
SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di (model A001)
SP 90mm F/2.8 Di Macro (model 272)  

With so much great content including Tamron's "Odd Couple" videos, podcasts and the recent three-part post from Kevin Gilligan on holding your own photography show, it's been a little while since we profiled more of Tamron's Image Masters.  So, It's the perfect time for a spotlight profile of Tamron Image Master, Ian Plant.

On Tamron's Image Masters page he's described as...

World-renowned professional nature photographer, writer, and adventurer Ian Plant has been photographing our natural world for almost twenty years. Ian is a frequent contributor to and blogger for Outdoor Photographer Magazine, a Contributing Editor to Popular Photography Magazine, and a monthly columnist for Landscape Photography Magazine. Ian’s work also appears in many other books, calendars, ad campaigns, and magazines available worldwide. Ian is the author of several dozen books (in both print and electronic format) and instructional videos, including most recently the acclaimed Visual Flow: Mastering the Art of Composition, which spans several centuries and different artistic media in its quest to reveal the composition secrets of the great masters. 

It wasn't easy picking out my favorite images from Ian's gallery for this post, because first, they're stunning and second, he's got an amazing diversity as an artist. Take a look and you'll see what I mean. His artist's statement says it all:
 
There is a growing trend among photographers (especially landscape photographers) to engage in extensive image manipulation in Photoshop, turning rather ordinary photographs into something "magical" using computer wizardry (such as replacing skies, extensive color toning to simulate remarkable lighting conditions where none existed, adding rainbows, etc.), too often made without any disclosure to the public. I do not belong to this trend. I consider myself a photographer, not a graphic artist, and as such I rely on field technique (and a lot of patience) to capture real stunning natural events. Call me quaint, but I believe the magic is found out there, not sitting in front of a computer!

Ian needs to be on your radar.  You'll find him on Facebook, Twitter and definitely take a stroll through his galleries. Also, check out his blog - It's loaded with great content! Ian's also got a free download of his ebook. Just click the banner below.

Ian's Tamron Gear Box
SP 15-30MM F/2.8 Di VC USD
SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC (model A007) 
16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro (model B016)
SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC (model A009) 
SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC (model A011)