The "Boyz" Welcome Erica Robinson to the Tamron Tech Team

By Skip Cohen

I love sharing these episodes of Tamron's Unofficial Field Guide for two reasons. First, is the obvious, I know this team and have spent a little time with them. Ken and Andre's role as the photo industry's "Odd Couple" is a kick, but there's something more. To a point many of us live vicariously through their exploits as they travel throughout the US with their cameras and a van full of Tamron's incredible glass!

The second reason to share these short films, is the amount of content in each one. Each one shares a series of mini-lessons in imaging, but it's not like being in a classroom. It's real situations and always on location where often it's the vision in your mind's eye that trumps the lack of control you have over the environment and shooting situation.

Between the technology of today's cameras and Tamron's optics, Andre lights one of the soldiers in the Korean War Memorial with the flashlight app on his cell phone.

In this new episode, from the D.C. area, we're introduced to Erica Robinson, Tamron's newest tech rep and member of the team. I loved something Andre said towards the end of the video...

"We were very excited to add Erica to the Tamron Tech Team and this was basically the first time we've all gone out photographing together. Already on this short trip I've learned that the way Erica is seeing which is different than the way Ken sees which is different than the way I see, and I think all of  those collectively together compliment each other,"

If you think back to your early days as a photographer, you probably used to go out shooting with a couple of friends more often than you do today. I know going back to my Hasselblad days, many of us were often out together, especially prior to some of the various conventions. Andre's comment above really hits home, because photographing with other photographers does change your perspective and helps to make you a stronger artist.

Tamron's Tech Team is on the road throughout the United States again this year with the Mobile Learning Center. Here's a chance for you to meet and shoot with some of the most diverse artists in the industry.

For August you'll find them in Hartford, CT, Holyoke, MA, Stamford, CT, Colchester, CT, Queensbury, NY, Columbus, OH, Indianapolis, IN, Muckegon, MI, South Bend, IN, Green Bay, WI, Madison, WI, and Rockford, IL.  Click on the banner below for the complete schedule and locations.

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