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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

Is This the Best New 35mm Lens?

Viltrox’s new AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE lens brings an extra-wide aperture to Sony full frame cameras, letting you blur backgrounds and shoot in dim venues without pushing ISO. That mix of speed and moderate width gives photographers room to frame environmental portraits while you keep distractions melting away behind your subject.

Flash‑Ambient Balance Made Simple

Balancing on‑location flash with existing light sits at the heart of compelling portrait work. Photographers who understand how a slight shift in ambient exposure reshapes mood and subject separation gain tools that make creative intent feel effortless rather than frustrating.

Is the Nikon Z5 II the Perfect Entry-Level Full Frame Camera?

Entry-level full frame cameras can be a fantastic purchase, allowing access to premium image quality without extreme costs. Nikon recently introduced the Z5 II, an update to their popular Z5, offering substantial improvements and features aimed at serious but budget-conscious users.

Discovering New Perspectives With an Ultra-Wide Angle Lens

Choosing an ultra-wide lens can profoundly affect how you approach photography, forcing you to reconsider perspective and composition. Such lenses aren't for every situation, but when used correctly, they can offer dramatic, unique results.

Transform Flat Photos With Simple Lightroom Masks

Editing a flat landscape photo to look engaging often feels tricky, especially when the lighting isn't ideal. Lightroom offers powerful tools to address this challenge, making dull scenes vibrant and engaging with careful masking techniques.

Breaking Free From Safe Photography

Finding your unique style in photography isn't about new gear or mastering every tip you read. Your personal perspective and approach matter far more than the latest camera or lighting setup.

Capturing Powerful Photos From Everyday Moments

Taking photos that genuinely capture the feeling of a moment is harder than it looks. You might find yourself in an inspiring new location, camera ready, only to feel disappointed when your pictures don't match what you see.

Color Spaces: Why Your Choice Matters More Than You Think

Choosing the right color space for your photography workflow directly impacts how vibrant and accurate your images appear. The difference between a stunning sunset with rich gradients and one that looks flat and posterized often comes down to this technical but crucial decision that many photographers make without understanding the consequences.

How Shadows Transform Black and White Photography

Black and white photography creates a unique visual language through its deliberate absence of color. The power of shadows and negative space within monochrome images transforms ordinary scenes into graphic, evocative compositions that engage viewers in a completely different way than color photography.

Maximizing Your Photography Budget: Pro Gear Without Pro Prices

Getting the most value from your photography equipment requires strategic thinking, not endless spending. Smart gear choices can save you thousands while still producing professional-quality images that stand up against those shot with the latest and most expensive equipment.

Affinity Photo 2: A Powerful Lightroom and Photoshop Alternative

Affinity Photo 2 offers powerful editing capabilities at a fraction of Adobe's subscription cost, making it an increasingly popular choice for photographers looking to break free from monthly payments without sacrificing editing power.

Advanced Photoshop Techniques for Perfect Window Views

Getting a clear, balanced view through windows in real estate photography often presents unique challenges, especially when different windows have varying levels of brightness. Tackling this issue effectively can significantly improve the quality of your interior shots, highlighting the property's surroundings without distracting exposure discrepancies.

JPEG vs Raw: Which Format Fits Your Workflow?

The debate about shooting in JPEG versus raw format is familiar territory for most who hold a camera. Understanding their differences isn't about deciding a winner, but rather about knowing which works better for your specific needs as you shoot and edit.

How to Capture Stunning Landscapes in Any Light

Understanding how to use light creatively transforms ordinary scenes into extraordinary photographs. Knowing how to handle different lighting conditions ensures you never walk away empty-handed, even when conditions initially seem less than ideal.

Testing Nikon’s Versatile 28-400mm Lens in the Real World

When traveling, choosing what gear to pack is always a balancing act between capability and convenience. A single lens that covers a wide focal range can drastically simplify your kit, but often at the cost of certain performance trade-offs.

Advanced Photoshop Layer Techniques for Cityscapes

Mastering complex lighting conditions is a crucial skill when capturing city scenes at night. Getting clear, balanced exposures in areas with intense contrast can significantly elevate your final images.

Find Clarity and Direction in Your Photography

Feeling stuck, unsure of what to shoot, is a common issue when you pick up your camera. It’s frustrating and can sap the joy out of photography if you let it linger too long.

Simplify Your Photo Edits With Smarter Masking

Masking is one of those skills that can dramatically change how you edit your photos. Knowing how to manipulate masks effectively can save you a lot of frustration and improve your editing results, especially when the AI selections in Lightroom or Photoshop Camera Raw aren't quite perfect.

Physical Filters vs. Digital Editing: What's Best for You?

Are filters still relevant in landscape photography, or have they become outdated? Deciding whether to invest time and money into filters or rely solely on digital editing significantly affects your photographic workflow and results.