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.

Willie Nelson first sang the words, but the Tamron Tech Team is walking the talk. They're back this year with a full tour of terrific seminars all dedicated to helping you raise the bar on your images, no matter what your specialty might be.

I've written a lot about this team because they're one of the most diverse groups of artists in the industry. They're also one of the most fun to work with!

The May schedule for the FREE seminars is below, but the excitement of each program starts much earlier in the day. At each location a Tamron Tech Team member will be in the store to answer all of your photographic questions. Here's your chance to bring in your camera and test some of the very finest optics in photography today.

Click on the individual program below to register for the FREE seminar. And if a city nearest you isn't listed for May, check out the entire schedule for each date along with future locations, with a click on the Tamron "Keep on Clicking" banner above.

Last week I shared a post featuring Tamron's SP 150-600mm lens. I love the quality of Tamron's glass, but I picked this lens because of the way Tamron showed it on their website, sharing images from different artists, the specifications and even a terrific video featuring a few minutes with Kristofer Rowe. They couldn't have done a better, more detailed job of giving photographers everything they needed to know about this lens. It was technical "storytelling" at its very best.

Well, yesterday it was announced Tamron received a TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) Award for the fourth year in a row.

In the same way we appreciate each other's work from various print competitions like WPPI, PPA and ShutterFest, in the hardware world, Tamron, as a manufacturer, competes on the world stage of technology and quality. While a TIPA Award is obviously global and recognition against competing products, the personal pride shared between all the members of the Tamron team is no different than when your work as an artist is recognized with top honors. It's clearly a team effort. Having worked with so many different members of the Tamron team over the years, I know everyone shares a wonderful level of accomplishment no matter what their role in the company might be.

A BIG congratulations to the Tamron team and a "thank you" for staying true to your goal of making some of the very best optics in imaging, your never-ending focus on education and helping us all raise the bar on the quality of our images!

Note: To read more about the TIPA Awards, just click on the banner above.

by Skip Cohen
 ​
With so many years in the photographic industry, you can imagine how many images I've seen. Now and then there's one that grabs me and makes me want to see more. It's that special habit-forming ingredient of an artist's work that draws me in to look at more photographs.

I was wandering through Tamron USA's website this morning, and the dynamics of the image above grabbed me. It was all in the detail. Well, that image pulled me into seeing more. Then I took a step back to look at the way Tamron has featured four of its lenses as a lead-in to their website.

With the SP 150-600mm lens, they start the series with a lion shot. It's a great image, but even more impressive to me was the way they shared pictures of people under the sports category.  They took it one step further and gave me four artists to choose from. A click on the drop-down box and I was introduced to three more photographers.

Scrolling down the page, I was able to review every aspect of this remarkable lens! All the specs are easily viewed along with opportunities to "meet" other photographers, including an outstanding profile video featuring Kristofer Rowe.

Do yourself a favor - whether you're in the market for a new lens or not, just click on the banner below and take a scroll through Tamron's website. They're sharing one of the most detailed online experiences I've seen, as they take us through what's become some of the finest imaging optics in the world. And, at the same time, you're going to meet some remarkable artists whose work needs to be on your radar!

At a time where so many companies tease us with the "short story" - Tamron is going the other direction and giving us ALL the information.  They've made the experience educational, convenient and fun! Remember "fun?" These days it's one of those words too often lost in tedious detail when you're wandering through a manufacturer's website, but NOT Tamron! They're manufacturing some amazing optics, but also focused on education and sharing the story of each "member" of their optical family. 

​What a kick! This is great stuff!

In this week's Tamron Newsletter is an outstanding article written by Jenn Gidman and featuring tips from one of the industry's most respected macro artists, Mike Moats.

In fact, Mike was featured on an episode of "Why?" last year. Just click on the thumbnail image to the right to hear his backstory.

In addition to manufacturing some of the finest optics in the world, Tamron is always focused on education to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images. The article from the newsletter is also published on their website and part of a complete initiative to become a leading resource for support.

Mike shares some outstanding tips in this article and Jenn's done a great job of pulling them all together. Rather than share the entire article here, I pulled out one of my favorites. Look at the image below and then read the description of how he captured it.

Note: In the Mobile, AL area? Catch Mike's 2-day Macro Photography Workshop, March 23/24 at the 2017 Festival of Flowers Weekend.

Intro by Skip Cohen

Michael Gilbert and I go back a long way - back to the days when we were both "kids."  We met in the late 80's, and while we don't catch up very often, it's always good to see him. I love his opening line in this Tamron USA video:

"Out of all the photographers you're going to interview, I'm the most sloppy. I never look through the viewfinder. I put it in "P" for "Professional," and I press the button."

While all of that might be true - it's only on the capture side of imaging. Michael is a phenomenal printer and what he jokes about in the simplicity of his technique with a camera in his hands is just the opposite when it comes to turning his images into tangible prints. They're always stunning, limited editions, printed on some of the most beautiful papers in the world, and a key to his success as an artist.

I can't help but wonder what more photographers might see if they followed Michael's lead now and then. What would happen if you just didn't worry about your technique in capture, but just let your mind run free with whatever was around you?

One caution though... A mutual friend Michael and I shared was the legendary Don Blair. Don used to say, "You're only allowed to break the rules if you know them!" Michael learned all the rules years ago and his technique of simplicity and learning to capture what's in his mind's eye is a well-practiced and perfected skill set.

Michael's obviously shooting with Tamron lenses. Tamron is manufacturing some of the finest glass in photography and it's well worth your time to visit a Tamron dealer. There are also three major events coming up this month: a macro workshop at Unique Camera in NJ with Image Master, Mike Moats; the Festival of Flowers in Mobile, AL at Calagaz Photo with Erica Robinson, and a portrait seminar with Andre Costantini in Brick, NJ at The Photo Center. Click on the "Local Events" banner on the right for more information.

Tamron doesn't just build great lenses - their educational efforts all year long are helping to build better photographers!

It's a new year and time for Tamron's tech team to hit the road helping photographers raise the bar on the quality of their images and skill set. Each year they set a new standard for educational support to the community and this month starts another series of outstanding opportunities for artists across the United States.

Check out Tamron USA's  "Featured Content" page for the latest information on not only educational opportunities, but rebates, special programs and ways to share your images! Just click on the Tamron image above.

Tamron's not only a manufacturer of incredible optics, they're setting the standard for education and support. There's only so much information I can share in a blog post - so, put Tamron USA on your radar and start taking advantage of the outstanding material they're sharing with the photographic community.

The dynamic duo of Andre Costantini and Ken Hubbard are back!  These programs are fast-paced 3-hour seminars filled with photo educational content. Learn how to get amazing images anywhere you go. Learn how to get the most out of your camera gear. Click on the banner to stay on top of their schedule all year long.

4/29 Bergen County Camera: See Times Below
Westwood, NJ
Registration required
View location in Google Maps >
Event 11am - 7:30pm Event Details >
11am-3pm: Meet & Greet, Get your photo questions answered, try out the latest Tamron lenses
6pm-7:30pm: Travel, Landscape & Nature Photography 90min free seminar

Click for details
Click to register