Colorado Captures
Ryan McDade takes a road trip with the Tamron 50-400mm VC ultra-telephoto lens.
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By Jenn Gidman
Images by Ryan McDade
Until fairly recently, Ryan McDade’s photography was a casual hobby. “I would sometimes take a good enough picture that warranted printing it out and mounting it on my wall, but it didn’t go much beyond that,” Ryan McDade says. Then, in 2019, the Southern California resident started taking his craft more seriously. “I’m a full-time mental health provider based in San Diego, but I’m also now a part-time travel photographer,” Ryan McDade says.
On Ryan McDade’s Sony mirrorless camera system for much of his meandering: the Tamron 50-400mm Di III VC VXD ultra-telephoto zoom lens. “I knew this lens was going to be incredibly versatile before I even got my hands on it,” he says. “I can’t tell you how excited I was to know I could go as wide as 50mm and still be able to zoom in up to 400mm to isolate details in a scene. The image stabilization via the Vibration Compensation (VC) feature is crucial, and I’m impressed with how sharp my images are, and how well-constructed this weatherproofed lens is. We were pounded with rainstorms during a recent shoot in Colorado, and the Tamron 50-400mm VC held up wonderfully.”
Ryan hopes to build further upon his photography business so one day soon it’s a 50/50 split between that and his mental health work—and there’s a link between the two. “Being able to witness these scenes and enjoy my own relationship with nature has been cathartic and therapeutic,” he says. “I’m inspired by everything I see, and I bring that inspiration back to my clients.”
RYAN MCDADE’S QUICK TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
Seek out natural dividers.
I was driving along in Crested Butte, Colorado, surrounded by fall foliage in these incredibly moody, misty conditions. This particular area is known for its very vibrant colors at that time of year. However, it’s always a challenge to achieve depth in a photo like this, as well as clarity and sharpness. What drew me to this scene was the natural division that the mist provides, with the bottom half of the image drenched in color and the rest fading into a gray abyss.
50-400mm (336mm), F11, 1/60 sec., ISO 320
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I was able to find similar natural divisions in my photo of the Dallas Divide mountain pass, between Telluride and Ridgway. The scene’s different layers—the red merging into the yellows and greens, and then into the background of white and gray—showed the juxtaposition of two seasons, and the transition from fall to winter.
Tamron 50-400mm (50mm), F9, 1/100 sec., ISO 500
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Frame the shot as if you’re revealing something to the viewer.
That cabin in the woods photo is a great example of that. It took me some time to figure out my composition here, including with a drone, as the cabin is surrounded by trees. It wasn’t until I pulled those branches aside and framed it with that foreground that the scene clicked. It looks (rightly) like I’m peeking through the bushes. I love all the various layers and contrast in this photo, from the man-made structure of the cabin, to the bright-white snow, to the colors of the trees beyond—but they’re all soft, muted colors, which keeps the focus on the cabin.
50-400mm (151mm), F10, 1/80 sec., ISO 400
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Look out for surprises.
One of my favorite images is the one of the moon peeking over the horizon. I wasn’t there to photograph the moon. I was helping a buddy take pictures of his van, and as he was setting up, getting ready to drive down the road so I could take a shot of him approaching, I happened to look over my right shoulder and see the moon hovering. I adjusted my position slightly so I could get a clean shot through the trees. I had to do a bit of editing work, as the light was pretty harsh. I created a subtle orange glow around the trees and softened the texture to give the scene a more dreamy aesthetic.
50-400mm (400mm), F11, 1/80 sec., ISO 100
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Stay safe, and do right.
It’s important to maintain ethics in travel photography, and to always balance the advantages of ecotourism with an awareness of the negative consequences. Follow the “leave no trace” guideline, and always talk to and listen to the locals on best practices.
50-400mm (174mm), F13, 1/60 sec., ISO 400
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Safety is also key, especially if you’re photographing trains, like this one in the Colorado city of Silverton. It’s a famous locomotive, and this is fast becoming a popular photography spot. However, many folks don’t abide by safety regulations, so I don’t know how much longer this spot will be available. I wasn’t close to the train. That’s the beauty of having an ultra-telephoto lens like the Tamron 50-400mm VC. It allowed me to stay about 75 yards away but achieve a beautiful image that makes you feel like you’re right there. The compression is wonderful, too.
50-400mm (362mm), F11, 1/200 sec., ISO 320
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To see more of Ryan McDade’s work, check out his website and Instagram.
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