Imaging Versatility at His FingertipsCasey Sanders hones his photography skills using the Tamron SP 10-24mm wide-angle, SP 90mm VC Macro, and 18-270mm VC PZD lenses. |
Article by Jenn Gidman Images by Casey Sanders |
Casey Sanders began exploring photography about a year ago, but the Minnesota student quickly mastered the initial learning curve and now takes pictures every chance he can get. Using the Tamron SP 10-24mm wide-angle, SP 90mm VC Macro, and 18-270mm VC PZD lenses, Casey captures everything from product stills and events at the nearby Elko Speedway to star trails and time-lapse images and videos. |
Casey started out his photography journey with Tamron's all-in-one 18-270 lens and has been impressed by its focal-length range, high-quality optics, and Vibration Compensation feature. "I like the versatility of the 18-270," he says. "It gives me the compositional freedom to practice taking pictures of a variety of subjects, from zooming in to capture flowers in a field or the details in a pair of drum cymbals to pulling back to show power lines near my house at sunset. Plus the lens is compact and light, so I can carry it everywhere I go, and it focuses really quickly."
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The 18-270 also allows Casey to keep a safe distance during some of his more adventurous photo shoots. "I was taking product shots that involved smashing glass," he says. "I obviously didn't want to get too close; the 18-270 allowed me to zoom in from afar. I put a filter on the lens to make sure it didn't get hit with stray shards of glass and set my camera to Continuous mode. Using a remote release, I timed it so I'd start shooting when the hammer was about a foot over the product. This compensated for both the reaction time and the shutter delay." |
The Tamron SP 10-24mm wide-angle lens with 2.4X zoom capability helps Casey add a more unique look to everyday scenes. "I like using prime lenses like the 10-24 because it forces me to be creative and helps me turn just OK shots into unusual ones," he says. "I like that distortion I'm able to add to my images if I choose. It's also a fantastic lens for event photography. If I'm working in a tight space and have to get a bunch of people up on a stage, for example, I'll just go to 10mm and get everyone in the image. I like being able to selectively focus on my subject on the sports field, in parking lots, and on the playground: One day I just followed my little brother around at the park with the 10-24 until I got the light I wanted and some cool images of him playing." |
Casey also uses the 10-24 for video, especially time-lapse and star trails projects. "I put a video light on top of my camera and shoot a lot of really great videos using this lens," he says. "When I'm using the 10-24 for nightscapes and star trails, I'm able to pick up the whole sky. I shoot away from the horizon to avoid glare from other lights. I put my camera in Shutter Priority on a tripod, set the ISO to anywhere from 1600 to 3200, and do exposures between 15 and 30 seconds. Then I use an image-stacking software program to overlay and combine multiple frames to create the final image. If you're out there for a long time trying to do this type of star trail yourself, make sure to (without moving the tripod and messing up the trail) occasionally wipe condensation off your lens from any fog that might be out there." |
The most recent addition to Casey's lens arsenal: the Tamron SP 90mm VC Macro. "I got the 90mm a couple of months ago and love it," he says. "It's now my favorite lens. It has a beautiful, filmlike quality to it, and the bokeh on it is awesome." |
Casey took the 90mm on a recent roadtrip to Gooseberry Falls State Park, located along Lake Superior in northern Minnesota. "It was really cold when I went, and there wasn't a lot that was interesting to photograph landscape-wise," he says. "That's why I went with the 90mm for most of this trip. That lens helped me get some great detail shots of the trees, leaves, and waves, as well as the ice and snow on the branches and rocks." |
The Vibration Compensation on the 90mm lens allowed Casey to shoot handheld in lower-light situations as he explored neighboring towns near the lake. "I don't like using flash. The 90's VC feature lets me take pictures in a variety of applications. The combination of the VC and the nice background blur I'm able to get with the 90 really helped when I was around town photographing holiday lights. The bokeh balls I was able to capture were really consistent." |
The 90mm's durable, moisture-resistant construction, which prevents moisture from penetrating the lens, was also a key factor in allowing Casey to take pictures outdoors during Minnesota's infamous winter weather. "I was shooting on the edge of the lake and got hit by a wave," he says. "I was covered in ice and didn't think the 90mm was going to hold up after that. But the lens still performed like a pro. The opportunity to create images without being limited by your gear is terrific." |
To see more of Casey Sanders' images, check out his Instagram page. |