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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

80% of the Basics of Photography in 10 Minutes

Photography is a tremendously varied pursuit that can take you many different directions, but there are a few fundamentals that every photographer, no matter what they shoot, should have mastered. If you are new to photography and ready to learn, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will teach you many of the basics in just 10 minutes.

A Review of the New Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Art Lens

A few years ago, Sigma released the 14mm f/1.8 Art lens, which had the widest maximum in a full frame 14mm lens by more than a stop. Recently, they released the 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, which blows past the f/1.8 version by two-thirds of a stop and claims the title of the world's widest f/1.4 full frame lens. Can it offer performance and image quality to match? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect.

Helpful Tips for Better Waterfall Photography

Waterfalls are some of the most popular subjects in landscape photography, offering a great way to add a sense of drama and motion to an otherwise still scene. They require some special considerations and techniques to maximize the quality of your images, though. This excellent video tutorial will show you a range of great tips sure to help you take better waterfall photos.

A Review of the New 15" MacBook Air

The MacBook Air has long been one of the most popular laptops on the market, offering a fantastic balance of portability, power, and battery life, but many users have been clamoring for a 15-inch version for a few years now. That option has finally arrived, and it looks like a real winner for many users. This great video review takes a look at the laptop and the sort of performance and experience you can expect from it.

A First Lesson in Off-Camera Flash

One of the most valuable skills a photographer can learn is how to work with artificial light, as it frees you from relying on the sun and allows you to explore creative ideas that simply would not be possible otherwise. If you are new to working with artificial light, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you how you can use flash to capture captivating sports action shots.

How to Take Great Landscape Photos in Harsh Light

When it comes to landscape photography, "good" light is generally thought of as that which occurs around golden hour, with softer, warm rays cascading across the scene. However, we are not always there at the right time, nor are we always lucky enough to get that kind of light. That does not mean you should pack your gear away and head home, though. Harsh light can make for excellent images as well, and this great video tutorial will show you how to get as much as you can out of it.

Do You Need a Photographic Style?

It is one thing to be able to create a compelling image in isolation, but many of the best photographers have a recognizable style that unifies their entire portfolio and makes it easy to pick out one of their shots. Do you need a style to find success, though? This interesting video essay explores the topic and if styles are a crucial part of like as a photographer.

Five Things That Will Make You a Better Photographer

Becoming a confident and capable photographer is no small task, and it is something to be proud of when you accomplish it. If you are currently on that journey and looking for tips on how to improve, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer sharing five important tips sure to help you on your way.

A Review of the Godox V860 III TTL Li-Ion Flash

A good speedlight is a wedding photographer's best friend, allowing them to tackle any church or event hall, no matter how dark. Godox has established themselves as one of the most respected flash brands on the market, offering capable devices that are often significantly more affordable than comparable first-party options. This excellent video review takes a look at the V860 III TTL Li-Ion flash and the sort of performance you can expect from it under the heavy demands of a wedding.

5 Ways to Use Photoshop's Generative Fill Feature for Real Estate Photography

Photoshop's new AI-powered Generative Fill feature has generated a ton of buzz around the industry for its ability to perform powerful edits with just a single click. And while it has many discussing what extremes it can be pushed to, it also has some very practical, time-saving applications. This great video tutorial will show you five such applications for real estate photography.

A Review of the Nikon Z8 Mirrorless Camera

The Nikon Z8 is one of the most exciting cameras out there right now, offering many of the capabilities of its larger sibling, the Z9, in a smaller and more affordable package. What kind of image quality and performance can you expect from it? This great video review takes a look.

Which of These Premium 14mm Lenses Is Better?

The announcement of the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens has captured a lot of the photography world's attention, as it is now the widest full frame f/1.4 lens ever made, easily besting out second place, Sigma's own 20mm f/1.4 Art. However, that does not mean it does not have competition. The Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM is a widely respected lens that offers great performance and extreme capabilities as well. So, which is right for you? This excellent video review takes a look at both to help you choose.

Everything You Need to Know About Aperture

Along with shutter speed and ISO, aperture is one of the three fundamental exposure parameters and something every photographer should master in order to take deeper technical and creative control of their images. If you are new to photography and ready to learn, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you everything you need to know about aperture, including how it works and how to use it to create better photos.

Being Receptive as a Photographer

In today's world, many of us feel the pressure to constantly create and put out content, and that can be quite frustrating and detrimental to our process and enjoyment. There is something to be said for letting photos come to you, in a manner of speaking. This great video follows a landscape photographer as he does just that.

A Review of the Crazy New Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Art Lens

Every once in a while, a lens comes along that rewrites the boundaries of lens design and offers photographers unique creative and technical opportunities that were not possible before. Right now, that is the new Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, which offers the widest maximum aperture ever seen in a 14mm lens and the widest focal length ever seen in an f/1.4 lens. How does it hold up in practice? This fantastic video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect.

Which Nikon Mirrorless Camera Is Right for You?

In the past few years, Nikon has really filled out their mirrorless camera lineup, and there are now options from well under $1,000 to top-of-the-line flagships costing north of $5,000. With eight different models to choose from, there is something for just about anyone. So, which is right for you? This fantastic video takes you through Nikon's entire mirrorless camera lineup to help you choose the right one for you.

How Good Is Fujifilm's Most Expensive X Series Lens?

Fujifilm makes quite a few nice lenses for its popular X Series line of mirrorless cameras, but sitting at the very top of the lineup, at least in price, is the XF 200mm f/2 R LM OIS WR. The 200mm f/2 features an impressive combination of a long focal length and a wide aperture and promises extreme performance to match. This great video review takes a look at the lens and if it can match that high price tag.

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Using Photoshop's New Generative Fill Tool

Photoshop's new Generative Fill feature has been capturing the imaginations of a ton of creatives in the past week or so, and it offers a lot of potential for a wide array of different applications. Like any other tool, though, it pays to know it well so you can get the best results from it. This great video tutorial discusses five common mistakes that can derail the tool and what you can do to get the most from it.

Explore Your Creativity With Photoshop's Path Blur Feature

Photoshop has some pretty incredible features, and while some, like the new Generative Fill tool, get all the headlines, others are buried deep in several layers of menus, where you might never even know they exist. One such feature is Path Blur, which can quickly and dramatically transform your images. What is Path Blur, and how can you use it in your work? This excellent video tutorial will show you everything you need to know.

The New Mac Studio Is Now Available to Order

The Mac Studio, Apple's powerful desktop computer, has been upgraded with new chips and a range of new features and capabilities. Here's what's new and how you can order yours.