Photographer’s Holiday

André Costantini required just one lens for his European family vacation: the Tamron 28-300mm VC.

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By Jenn Gidman
Images by André Costantini

At the beginning of this summer, André Costantini had the opportunity to travel to France and Italy with his family—a professional photographer on vacation, meaning he wasn’t there specifically to take pictures, but of course he was going to take pictures. “One of the most amazing parts of the trip was that when we were in Paris, we got to see the city setting up for the Olympics,” he says. “My daughter was so excited to start watching the Games when they began and be able to say, ‘We were right there!”

For his experience abroad, André packed just one lens. “I obviously have a lot of lenses at my disposal, but the only lens I brought with me on this particular trip was the Tamron 28-300mm Di III VC VXD zoom lens for my Sony mirrorless camera system,” he says. “It’s nice to be able to enjoy a vacation like this without having to lug around all of my usual gear.”

Lauded for its versatility, performance, and surprising compactness and light weight, at just 5 inches long and a weight of 21.5 ounces, the all-in-one 28-300mm VC was the ideal travel lens as André wandered around picturesque Paris and cruised past some of Italy’s most jaw-dropping seaside villages. “This lens is very sharp, and the Vibration Compensation (VC) feature ensured steady shooting, even when I was off the coast in a ferry,” he says. “It’s a feather in Tamron’s cap that I’m used to shooting with so many high-quality lenses on a regular basis, but for a simple family vacation like this, the 28-300mm VC was all I needed.”

ANDRÉ’S QUICK TIPS

Tap into your zoom.
Using a versatile zoom lens like the Tamron 28-300mm allows you to capture a variety of perspectives, especially when using different focal lengths to shoot landscape scenes. This came in particularly handy while we were traveling up the Italian coastline, allowing me to show off the diverse beauty of these locations.

In Porto Venere, for instance, located in the La Spezia region, I shot at 28mm to photograph this quaint marina. That focal length was ideal for showcasing the boats in the foreground, creating a sense of place that highlighted the town's vibrant, bustling harbor. Switching to a midrange focal length, like the 73mm I used for the next image, allowed for a closer look at Portofino, a fishing village along the Italian Riviera. This perspective emphasized the colorful buildings and luxury yachts docked along the waterfront. A tighter composition focused on the architectural details and the town’s character, making the scene more intimate and inviting.


28-300mm (28mm), F14, 1/800 sec., ISO 320
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28-300mm (73mm), F6.3, 1/800 sec., ISO 160
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Finally, I shot at 300mm to showcase the town of Corniglia, which can only be accessed by climbing hundreds of stairs. Shooting at 300mm from a ferry off the coast, I was able to highlight the contrast between the brightly colored buildings and the dark green of the hillside. I also appreciate the compression this lens offers at the telephoto end. By using the full range of the Tamron 28-300mm VC lens, you can capture everything from wide vistas to detailed close-ups, making your travel photography more engaging.


28-300mm (260mm), F6.7, 1/1250 sec., ISO 160
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Look for a twist on local architectural scenes.
When photographing some of the old buildings in Europe’s charming towns, look for unique touches—objects or elements that interact with the structures in unexpected ways. This approach will help you create visually rich images that stand out. I always look for elements that add character and context to the scene. For example, the tree leaning into the doorway of Compiano Castle near Bedonia, Italy, which breaks up the symmetry and adds a natural element next to the man-made building. Or the scooter near a container of hydrangeas in a village in Cinque Terre, which offers a sense of everyday life in the scene.


28-300mm (81mm), F8, 1/200 sec., ISO 250
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28-300mm (50mm), F7.1, 1/160 sec., ISO 320
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Seek out the unexpected.
We were in a rental flat in Paris and came home one day to find this cat staring down at us from the stairwell. It was probably a neighbor’s cat, because it wasn’t skittish at all, and it was more than happy to pose for me as I took a bunch of pictures. The cat’s presence provided a focal point for the image, as well as an element of surprise. If you pay attention to your surroundings, from all different angles, you’ll be able to capture serendipitous moments like this.


28-300mm (28mm), F5.6, 1/160 sec., ISO 2000
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To see more of André Costantini’s work, check out his website or Instagram.



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