I'm back with three more videos from Tamron's archives. Why? Because they're great reminders of the creative challenges many of you face, which shouldn't be challenges at all. While they're very basic, I see so many images every day which could have been much stronger if the artist had just taken the time for a little fine-tuning.

After doing a little searching, I chose three classic topics, starting with the use of reflectors. Great photographers are respected because of three primary things:  their skill set, being prepared for any situation and their passion for the craft, quality and their clients. And, most of them, especially portrait artists ALWAYS have a reflector in their bag. They control the light where they want it to go.

​My next choice was a video on backlighting and silhouettes. I see these concepts most often used in wedding images. Once again, I see artists with incredible passion who come so close to capturing an outstanding image, but miss the mark. 

Last in the three was a quick lesson in night photography. As with both of the previous videos, Ken Hubbard does an outstanding job as an educator talking about a timeless technique. So many of you are regularly in nighttime situations, especially wedding photographers capturing a location venue at a wedding reception. Instead of just capturing an average scene-setter shot for the album, why not make it your very best.

There's a lot of great content in the Tamron archives and it's so worth your time to check out all the support that's just a mouse click away. Also, Tamron's got some terrific rebates right now on eight different lenses. Thanks to YouTube and their archives I was able to find a video on each lens which not only share information about the product, but often educational tips on creating better images.

Intro by Skip Cohen

Yes, Tamron USA is an SCU partner and this is an infomercial for their Fall Rebate program, but I'm also a huge fan of great optics. Remember my background, going back to Hasselblad's legendary optical quality. Well, Tamron's engineers never slow down and there are currently eight outstanding lenses in this Fall's promotional savings lineup.

The program runs until December 3, 2016. Lenses have to be purchased from an authorized Tamron dealer, and they all come with Tamron's six year limited warranty. This is an outstanding time to visit your local Tamron retailer and check out some of the best optics in imaging today.

I had some fun on Tamron's YouTube channel and was able to find a video on each lens currently in the program. You'll find even more with a trip to YouTube and putting the lens you're thinking about into the search box. And, to find the retailer nearest you, just click on the link below and then download the rebate form for more information.

by Skip Cohen

Every day I look at dozens of professional photographic websites, and in turn hundreds of images, many of them mediocre, and often not as good as "Uncle Harry" might capture. It's not because the artists don't care, aren't passionate about the craft or aren't trying hard. I believe it's because they've taken too many shortcuts in learning the craft.

The legendary Don Blair always stressed the importance of learning the rules. However he broke them all the time. He used to tell photographers, "Only when you understand the rules, do you have the right to break them!"

I found a whole series of old videos from Tamron's Ken Hubbard. I chose four of them to share together, saving you the challenge of searching through Tamron's YouTube channel. Each is slightly over a minute, but there's a lot of great photography basics in this archived "Know-How" series from 2010.

Yes, they're six years old. At this point I can actually see a lot of you rolling your eyes and having that "Skip's gone mad," look on your face, but just trust me. I picked four videos, starting with the one on Macro, because over and over again I'm seeing some terrible ring shots and attempts at close-up flower work from artists who need help. Next up is a short clip on wide angle and telephoto. Again, because many of the images I've seen suggest the artist didn't think through the lens choice for the image. While I know it's also possible they didn't have the depth in their choice of gear yet, that's still no excuse for not capturing the best images possible for your client.

The next two are all about composition and even a reminder about the rule of thirds. Again, there's some helpful content here, but you need to keep an open mind. And, if your skill set is way beyond the basics, because you know what you're dong with a camera in your hands, then feel free to share this with somebody just starting out.

Remember as you're watching these videos they're six years old, and while the "Know-How" information being shared is timeless, in just the last two years Tamron has introduced a whole series of outstanding lenses not mentioned in the videos. For example, the four lenses below with the new SP 35mm, SP 45mm, SP 85mm and SP 90mm.  Click on any of the four to link directly to the spec page for more information.

Tamron never slows down in developing incredible optical technology or in their support of education and helping photographers raise the bar on the quality of their images and skill set. 

Finding a Tamron dealer nearest you is just a click away. And, don't forget the schedule for the Mobile Learning Center on the road this month in Palm Harbor, Florida, Fort Worth, Dallas and Arlington, Texas. If you're in these areas here's a chance for you to test drive the new lenses for yourself, and get to know the members of the Tech Team. You need to bring them into your network! Just click on the picture of the van to the right for times and locations.

 by Skip Cohen
 
Here in the Tamron Theater, we're always sharing content thanks to two incredible groups of artists, professional photographers, and Tamron's Tech Team. However, there's another group of amazing artists out there who so often are the unsung heroes behind the scenes - the sales staff at Tamron's USA retailers.
 
I've worked with hundreds of sales people over the years at camera stores around the country. In fact, many of the retailers who have a sales associate's image featured in this video I've worked with during my Hasselblad and Polaroid days. It's an exciting time to be involved in imaging, no matter what your role is in the process.

You're about to see some stunning images, all thanks to the crew behind the counter when you walk into a Tamron USA retailer. On the YouTube channel for Tamron, beneath this video it states:

Just like you, the sales associates at specialty camera retailers across the country are enthusiastic about photography. In Spring 2016, we challenged these talented people to take their best shots using one of Tamron’s newest SP 35mm F/1.8 Di VC USD and SP 45mm F/1.8 Di VC USD prime lenses. In this video, you will see the amazing winning images.

Watch this short video with images all captured with Tamron's SP35mm and SP45 mm lenses. You might just see the work from a member of the team at your favorite camera store.

Big thanks to Tamron USA for recognizing the sales associates. Over and over again, they've been there to help professionals and hobbyists alike, always with a goal of helping in the search for each individual's definition of the ultimate image. If a Tamron sales associate isn't in your network, it's time you visited a Tamron dealer and introduced yourself!  To find the Tamron USA retailer nearest you, just click on the Tamron logo below.