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Alex Cooke
Cleveland, OH

Articles written by Alex Cooke

The Forgotten Excitement of Casual Film Photography

Do you remember the excitement and anticipation of dropping off film rolls at the photo development lab, waiting days or even weeks to get your printed photos back? For those of us who grew up in the pre-digital era, film photography was a much more nostalgic experience than the instant images we can take and view today.

A Review of the Fujifilm GFX100 II Mirrorless Medium Format Camera for Wedding Photography

The Fujifilm GFX100 II medium format mirrorless camera is the latest refinement in the company's respected line of GF series cameras, and with capabilities like faster burst speeds and improved autofocus, it has become an even more tempting alternative to traditional full frame setups. Can it keep up with a demanding genre like wedding photography? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect in usage.

Sigma Announces the 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS Sports Lens

Sigma, well known for creating lenses that perform as well or even better than first-party lenses at highly competitive prices, has announced the new 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS Sports. Here's everything you can expect from the lens.

How Hard Light Can Be Just as Good as Soft Light for Portraits

Creating standout portraits hinges on understanding and controlling light. This excellent video tutorial illuminates how to balance bright sunlight with off-camera flash to sculpt dimension and mood and shows that hard light can be just as compelling as soft light.

The Great Tragedy of Photography and Social Media

Photography has always existed in multiple spheres - as an artistic medium, a vehicle for documenting history, a channel for self-expression, a tool for surveillance, and a form of casual communication. With the meteoric rise of social media in the 21st century, however, the ways in which photos are produced, consumed, and understood have profoundly changed. While social media offers photographers unparalleled opportunities for visibility, it has also homogenized photographic styles, marginalized minority voices, and constrained creative freedom.

Will Canon's Next Major Camera Have a Global Shutter?

With Sony unveiling a new flagship a9 III model featuring a global shutter sensor, speculation instantly swirled whether Canon would follow suit for its next generation of mirrorless cameras.

Guns N' Roses Sued for Copyright Infringement by Longtime Photographer

A legal battle is unfolding between iconic rock band Guns N' Roses and their photographer of over a decade, Katarina Benzova. Benzova filed a lawsuit in November alleging egregious copyright infringement and sexual harassment by the band's management. Guns N' Roses denies the claims and filed a preemptive countersuit challenging Benzova's copyright ownership.

A Review of the DJI Osmo Pocket 3

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is here, and it takes a respected device and adds a nifty new design and a nice range of new features and upgrades. This great video review takes a look at the new device and the sort of performance and video quality you can expect from it in use.

Innovative Musical Spotlights Renowned Photographer's Journey

A captivating musical is bringing the inspiring story of Matthew Murphy, a Montana-raised dance prodigy turned Broadway photographer, to center stage. "35mm: A Musical Exhibition" melds Murphy's evocative personal images with songs composed in response to the photographs. The University of Montana's talented Zootown Cabaret ensemble will perform the show November 17-18 in Missoula.

A Look at the Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.2 XF Lens

Viltrox has quickly endeared themselves to many photographers by offering extremely affordable lenses that often offer performance and image quality far beyond what their prices might suggest. Their latest offering, the AF 75mm f/1.2 XF, promises Fujifilm users an extremely wide aperture in tandem with a short telephoto focal length, which should capture the attention of budget-conscious portrait and wedding photographers everywhere. This great video review takes a look at the lens and just what you can expect from it in usage.

A Beginner's Guide to Shutter Speed

Understanding how to leverage shutter speed is one of the biggest keys to mastering photography. This highly informative video provides a comprehensive beginner's guide to shutter speed, with tips for both basic and more creative techniques.

Photography's Power as an Agent of Social Change

Since its origins in the 19th century, photography has proven to be a powerful medium for documenting human life and bringing awareness to social issues. When a photograph captures an injustice or iconic moment, it can resonate around the world and galvanize people to take action. Photography's unique ability to convey visual information makes it an unparalleled tool for social change.

Film Photography Sees Surprise Renaissance Among Young Generation

Film cameras are making an unexpected comeback, experiencing a revival in popularity among teenagers and young adults. Vintage cameras like the Nikon F3, Canon AE-1, and Pentax K1000 that were collecting dust in basements are now selling like hot cakes on auction sites and at vintage shops. But this analog resurgence faces challenges around film scarcity and cost.

Gyms Crack Down on Influencer Filming and Photography

As influencers and amateur photographers increasingly use gyms as backdrops for photoshoots and workout videos, health clubs across the UK are starting to fight back. Citing concerns around privacy, safety, and disruption to other members, major chains like Virgin Active, PureGym, and Fitness First have begun implementing restrictions on filming and photography within their facilities.

A Review of the New Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a9 III is here with a groundbreaking global shutter, and it looks like a remarkably capable camera. What can you expect from it? This excellent video review takes a look.

Helpful Advice for Photography Beginners

Photography can be a bit daunting when you are new to the craft, with a wide range of technical and creative concepts and techniques sitting before you. If you are unsure of where to start, check out this great video tutorial that details some of the most important fundamentals and how they affect the creation of an image.

The Unpredictable and Bizarre Consequences of the Streisand Effect

In our hyper-connected online world, trying to suppress information can often backfire in spectacular fashion. This unintended consequence even has a name: the Streisand Effect. And it has produced some truly hilarious and downright bizarre outcomes when individuals, companies, and even governments try to censor content on the internet.

Man Who Killed Family Photographer Sentenced to 50 Years

The murder of 31-year-old Efrem Jones, a photographer who ran a small studio out of his apartment, has sent shockwaves through the community of Decatur and beyond. Jones was tragically gunned down on Christmas Eve in 2021 in a case of mistaken identity after taking family portraits for a local couple.

How One Photographer Landed Clients Like the New York Times

Being good with a camera and having creative vision is, of course, crucial to finding professional success, but it is not enough. Knowing how to land and retain high-impact clients is one of the most important skills a professional can have. This great video essay features an experienced photographer discussing how he has landed clients like the New York Times in the course of a storied career.

The Best Apps for Planning Photo Shoots

Smartphones are incredibly powerful tools, and they offer a ton of apps and features that make them one of the most useful things a photographer can carry with them. With the huge number of apps out there, it can be tricky to know which is right for you and your work. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced photographer walking you through some of the best options.