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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

Why and How Back-button Autofocus Can Improve Your Photography

The default behavior of pretty much every camera is to activate autofocus through a half-press of the shutter button. This works perfectly well for most scenarios, but you can often improve your experience and hit rate by using a different method: back-button autofocus. This helpful video will show you why it is so useful and how to take advantage of it.

Helpful Tips for Better Wildflower Photography

Summer is here, and many wildflowers are in full bloom, making it a great time to grab your camera and head out to enjoy the warm weather and photo opportunities. If you want to improve your wildflower images, check out this fantastic video tutorial that offers some helpful tips and also discusses some common mistakes and how to fix or avoid them in the first place.

A Review of the Premium Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Lens

A 35mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most versatile a photographer can have in their bag, offering a wide but relatively neutral focal length in tandem with the ability to leverage narrow depth of field or work in low-light situations. For Sony shooters looking for the best of the best, there is the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, and this great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it.

How to Edit a Landscape Image in Lightroom

Lightroom is more powerful than ever before, and it is entirely possible to edit a landscape photo from start to finish without having to switch over to Photoshop. If you would like to learn how to do so and pick up some useful tips along the way, check out this great video tutorial that will show you one such edit done entirely within Lightroom.

The Good and Bad of Leica Cameras and Lenses

Perhaps no camera brand generates stronger opinions than Leica, with some photographers absolutely swearing by the equipment and experience and others seeing it as overpriced niche gear. Just like any other brand, there are good and bad aspects of using Leica cameras and lenses. This interesting video essay examines the company's lines as they stand in 2022, what they are doing right, and what could be improved.

5 Common Mistakes Beginner Photographers Make

Being new to photography can be a bit daunting, as you have to build a variety of technical and creative skills simultaneously in order to create competent and compelling images. This helpful video tutorial discusses five common mistakes new photographers make and what you can do to fix them or avoid them altogether in the first place.

A Beginner's Guide to Depth of Field

Depth of field is one of the most fundamental and powerful tools a photographer has at their disposal, and as such, mastering it is crucial to taking full technical and creative control of your images. If you are new to photography and wondering about how depth of field works, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you everything you need to know.

Here Comes Another Impressive Canon Lens

Ever since the release of the RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM, Canon has had the pedal to the floor when it comes to lens development, and it seems the company has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. The company is planning the release of another lens later this year that will be an update of one of their hidden gems.

A Review of the Ultra-Affordable Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD M 1:2 Lens

Tamron makes some fantastically affordable yet high-quality lenses, but perhaps no lens in their lineup offers more bang for the buck than the 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD M 1:2, which comes in at just $199. Despite that exceedingly modest price, the 35mm f/2.8 is a particularly versatile lens, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

5 Helpful Tips for Building a Better Photo Portfolio

Your portfolio is your calling card, and as such, it requires a lot of careful thought and care when you are putting it together. If you are looking to build yours into one that attracts clients, check out this helpful video tutorial that discusses five tips sure to put you on the right track to an effective portfolio.

Is This Ultra-Affordable Wide-Aperture Lens Any Good?

50mm lenses with wide maximum apertures are both versatile and popular, but such lenses can be quite expensive. That is why at $218, the TTArtisan 50mm f/0.95 is a super intriguing option. Does it hold up in usage, though? This great video review takes a look at its performance and image quality to answer that question.

Helpful Tips for Getting Sharp Landscape Photos With a Telephoto Lens

When you think of landscape photography, you probably think of using a wide angle lens, but a telephoto lens can be an equally effective tool. Nonetheless, it comes with its own set of challenges. One such aspect is the increased difficulty in getting sharp shots. This helpful video tutorial will show you how to use a telephoto lens for landscape photography and give you some useful tips for getting sharp photos when doing so.

What Kind of Landscape Photographer Are You?

There are two general philosophies in landscape photography: stay light on your feet and ready to move from scene to scene, or plan ahead, plant that tripod in the ground, and wait for the scene to develop in front of them until it is just right. While both are equally valid approaches, there is something to be said for being willing to adopt either as needed, and this excellent video discusses why.

This Strange Lightroom Function Enables Powerful Edits

Lightroom recently rolled out a new and far more powerful masking panel, and if you have not taken the time to incorporate it into your workflow yet, you are missing out on some highly useful tools. One particular function, Intersect, is a bit strange and not necessarily intuitive, but once you get the hang of it, it enables quick and powerful edits, and this excellent video tutorial will show you everything you need to know about it.

The Joys of Infrared Landscape Photography

If you have not shot in infrared before, it is a unique and fun form of photography that can breathe new life into even the most overly shot scenes. This neat video will show you some of the stunning, eye-catching images you can create with an infrared-converted camera.

A Review of the Impressive Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM Lens

A 50mm lens with a wide aperture is one of the most versatile a photographer can carry, able to handle everything from portraits to low-light events coverage. For photographers looking for some of the best quality they can get from a 50mm lens, there is the Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

How to Edit a Portrait From Start to Finish

When it comes to creating a professional-level portrait, knowing how to light, pose, and photograph your subject is only half the battle. A great portrait also needs a strong edit to be complete. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to edit a portrait from start to finish and show you some helpful tips along the way.

5 Common Street Photography Mistakes

Street photography is a unique and challenging genre that requires fast reactions, solid technique, the ability to anticipate action, and a dose of creativity. If you would like to improve your street photography work, check out this fantastic video tutorial that discusses five common mistakes photographers make and how to fix them or avoid them in the first place.

How to Photograph Fireworks

The 4th of July is just about here, and that means fireworks will soon be filling the skies all around the United States. They make for fantastic photography subjects, and they can be a great technical challenge as well. If you are thinking of heading out to capture some images, check out this helpful video tutorial that will give you a range of tips to ensure you come home with the best possible shots.

A Review of the Canon EOS R3 Mirrorless Camera

The Canon EOS R3 has some of the most advanced capabilities and features the company has ever put in a camera, making it an appealing option for a wide range of creatives, particularly sports and wildlife photographers. This great video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in the field.