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Articles written by Alex Cooke

How to Take Great Landscape Photos in Dull Conditions
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You can do everything you can to hone your technique and expand your creative range, but perhaps one of the most frustrating aspects of landscape photography is that you have no control over the conditions. If the weather is dull, though, that does not mean you have to pack up your gear and head back home. With a little adjustment, you can still come home with fantastic images. This excellent video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to do just that.

How to Pose and Light a Group Portrait With Just One Speedlight
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Lighting a group of people can be particularly tricky for new photographers, but it does not have to be, nor does it take a lot of expensive gear. In fact, it can be done with just a speedlight and a bit of know-how. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced photographer showing you how to pose and light a group portrait using just a single speedlight.

How to Choose the Right Shutter Speed for Bird in Flight Photos
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Getting tack-sharp photos of birds in flight is not easy, but when you get it right, the results can be stunning. One of the most fundamental aspects of this is choosing the correct shutter speed. If you are new to bird photography and wondering how to go about selecting the right shutter speed, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer showing you everything you need to know.

A Review of the Fujifilm X-T5 Mirrorless Camera
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The Fujifilm X-T5 mirrorless camera takes the already highly respected X-T series and brings to it a wide array of impressive features and new capabilities, perhaps most notable being the highest resolution sensor ever seen in an X Series camera, making it quite an intriguing option for many creatives. This excellent video review takes a look at the new camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

How Do Sigma's and Sony's New Premium 50mm Lenses Compare?
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50mm lenses with wide maximum apertures are some of the most popular out there, offering a versatile focal length useful for everything from portraits to events, in tandem with excellent low-light and narrow depth of field capabilities. Both Sigma and Sony recently released new premium 50mm f/1.4 options, and this great video comparison takes a look at both to help you decide which is right for your needs and budget.

Sigma Is Done Developing Micro Four Thirds Lenses
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While micro four thirds is still seeing development from a few companies, one manufacturer is throwing in the towel. In a recent interview, Sigma's CEO indicated that due to a decrease in demand for micro four thirds lenses, the company will no longer be developing new options for the format, though they will maintain their current lenses.

This Simple Camera Setting Will Help You Learn to See Light
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At its most fundamental level, photography is about being able to read light and create images with interesting, dynamic, or flattering light. If that is something you are still learning, this great video tutorial will show you a simple setting hiding in just about every camera that will make the process a lot easier.

Will We See a Full Frame Foveon Sensor From Sigma Soon?
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Sigma's Foveon sensors have long had a small but loyal following who love their sharp images and vibrant, accurate colors. Since the advent of the L mount alliance, there has long been the hope that the Foveon sensor might find its way into a full frame camera. Sigma's CEO recently confirmed that those hopes might soon come true.

A Simple Technique to Help You Take More Interesting Photos
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If you find your photos are often a bit monotonous and lacking in interest and you are unsure of how to break out of that rut, this is the video tutorial for you. A simple change of habit can help you take more varied images and expand your eye beyond what you are used to shooting.

A More Productive Mindset for Growing Your New Photography Business
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Very few people jump right in to running a photography business full-time. The vast majority start out slowly, doing photography on the side while they maintain their primary income from another job. That can be a particularly stressful time, but as this excellent video essay details, with the right mindset, you can become more intentional and focused and achieve your goals sooner.

An In-depth Review of the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens
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24-70mm f/2.8 lenses are the workhorses of choice for a huge range of photographers, as their versatile focal length range and relatively wide maximum aperture make them suitable for many different genres and shooting scenarios. For Sony shooters looking for the best the company can offer, there is the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, and this excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

How Do You Know if You Have What It Takes To Be a Professional Photographer?
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Though it takes a lot of skill with a camera and in editing, being a successful professional photographer takes a lot more than just those. If you feel comfortable with your skills and your portfolio and you are wondering if you are ready to make the jump, check out this fantastic video essay that features an experienced professional detailing how to know if you are ready.

When Should You Not Upgrade Your Camera Gear?
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Modern camera gear evolves at a breakneck pace, and as such, it can be tempting to watch the news of the latest and greatest cameras and lenses and pull out your credit card. When should you actually drop the money to upgrade your gear, and when should you turn your attention elsewhere? This helpful video essay discusses the topic and might just help you save a lot of money and improve your images at the same time.

A Look at the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S Lens
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Nikon's impressive new NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens is here, and along with it comes some of the best image quality and optical performance ever seen from Nikon, at least on paper. How does it perform in the real world, though? This great video takes a look at the lens and how it balances and feels on some of Nikon's most popular mirrorless cameras.

A Review of the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 Lens
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A 35mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most useful options in many photographers' bags, and that makes Sony's FE 35mm f/1.8 an intriguing option for a lot of users. Is it right for you? This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

How to Create a Professional Portrait With Very Affordable Equipment
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You can spend a lot of money on lights and modifiers for portrait photography, and while there are certainly reasons why professionals invest in expensive equipment, you can absolutely create professional-level portraits with the most affordable gear — even a shoot-through umbrella and speedlight. This fantastic video tutorial will show you everything you need to know.

A Review of the New Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Lens
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The new Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM lens is here, and it brings with it some of the company's most advanced features and capabilities along with the promise of top-level performance and image quality, all at a surprisingly good price. Can it provide all that in practice? This fantastic video review takes a look at everything you can expect.

How to Process Your Landscape Images Creatively and Efficiently
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Rarely is a landscape photo finished the moment you press the shutter; almost every such image requires some degree of post-processing to create the finished product. It is easy to get a bit mired in the editing phase, though, finding yourself pushing sliders back and forth as you experiment and try to create the best possible version of an image you know has potential in it. How can you be creative but stay efficient? This excellent video tutorial will show you what you need to know.

A Voigtländer Lens Is Coming for Canon Mirrorless Cameras
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Cosina, more commonly known for manufacturing Voigtländer lenses, is teasing the launch of four new lenses, including two Fujifilm X mount options, a Canon RF mount mirrorless lens, and even a DSLR optic. The RF mount option will even include electric contacts, while one of the X mount lenses will be "super-fast."