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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

Are You Getting Too Close To Your Animal Subjects?

When it comes to bird and wildlife photography, getting as close as possible without disturbing the animal is often the name of the game. However, there is an issue of geometry that can sometimes ruin your shot. This excellent video will show you why sometimes, you are better off getting farther away from your subject to get the best possible shot.

3 Portrait Photography Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Portrait photography is a popular genre that challenges a variety of skills, both with technical skills like your handling your camera and lighting and with more subjective skills like working with subjects. If you would like to improve your portraiture, check out this fantastic video tutorial that discusses three common mistakes and what you can do to fix them or avoid them in the first place.

Portable and Affordable: A Review of the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM Lens

Canon's RF lenses have quickly earned a lot of respect for pushing the boundaries of design and providing top-notch performance and image quality, though most have been very expensive. On the other hand, at $299, the RF 16mm f/2.8 STM bucks that trend, and in between that affordable price and its highly portable size, it looks like a potentially fantastic option. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Is There Any Point to Keeping Photography 'Secrets'?

Photographers can sometimes be a secretive, closed-off bunch, unwilling or even afraid to share information with each other. Is that the right way to approach things, or should we reconsider our relationships? This great video essay discusses photographer culture and how we can make things better.

How to Quickly and Easily Replace a Sky Using Lightroom and Photoshop

In the past few years, automated sky replacement has come quite a long way, and what used to be a very tedious task can now be done in just a few clicks. If you are interested in learning how to use the technique in your own work, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you how to quickly and easily replace a sky using Lightroom and Photoshop.

8 Helpful Tips to Improve Your Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is a challenging genre that requires strong technique, the ability to forecast and adapt to conditions, creative vision, and a lot more. If you would like to improve your landscape images, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer discussing eight tips that will help you create better, more compelling shots.

A Review of the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens

A 35mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is, by far, one of the most popular and useful options out there, suitable for a wide range of needs and scenarios ranging from weddings to street photography, astro work, and more. Fujifilm shooters have the XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR, and this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Are You Thinking About Storytelling in Your Landscape Photography?

When it comes to a genre in which you can't control the light or the placement of elements in the frame, storytelling can be a really tricky thing to implement in your work. Nonetheless, if you can successfully convey a story with a landscape photo, it can be what turns a very good shot into a top-shelf image. This excellent video tutorial discusses the topic and offers some helpful advice for storytelling in landscape photography.

6 Helpful Tips for Sharper Images

Pretty much all of us want to take sharper images. However, there are a ton of things that can derail that pursuit, including equipment, camera settings, and even how you stand and hold your camera. If you would like to improve the sharpness of your photos, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features six helpful tips sure to put you on the right track.

3 Common Mistakes Lightroom Users Make

Lightroom is one of the most common applications in the photo industry, used by millions of photographers for cataloging their images and performing basic to intermediate edits on them. As the foundation of many photographers' workflows, it is important to ensure that you are using Lightroom correctly. This excellent video tutorial discusses three common mistakes photographers make when using the application and how to correct or avoid them in the first place.

One of the Most Important Qualities of Any Successful Photographer

It takes a lot of different skills and qualities to become a competent photographer, but one of the most important of those has nothing to do with a camera, but rather your ability to keep at it despite setbacks or discouragement. If you want to step up to the next level, check out this fantastic video that will remind you why persistence is one of the most important qualities of any successful photographer.

What New Landscape Photographers Should Focus On

When you are new to landscape photography, there is a lot to learn: camera settings, forecasting and planning around conditions, reading light, and more. One skill stands above all else, and this great video tutorial makes a case for why it should be first on your list when you are learning the genre.

A First Look at the New iPhone 14 Lineup

The latest iPhone lineup is here, and it brings with both a range of subtle refinements and intriguing new features that will reshape how we interact with our phones. This excellent first look video discusses the new lineup and offers some impressions on their headline features.

Is Black and White the Solution to Bad Light in Landscape Photography?

One of the most frustrating things about landscape photography is that you have no control over the light, and an otherwise perfect scene can be ruined by it. Just because the light is not great, however, does not mean you need to pack it in and head home; sometimes, the answer is adjusting your approach a bit. Black and white can be such a solution, and this great video shows how it can help you come home with worthwhile photos.

7 Mistakes Photographers Make When Shooting Fall Images

We are quickly approaching one of the best and most popular times of the year for landscape photographers in the Northern Hemisphere, when the leaves will turn, making for vibrant, popping scenes all around. The window of best opportunity is small, though, so you will want to make sure you are ready. This great video tutorial discusses seven common mistakes photographers make when shooting fall images and how to fix them or avoid them in the first place.

A Review of the Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G Lens

35mm and 50mm are two of the most common focal lengths, but in the past few years, we have seen a small influx of 40mm lenses, which offer a unique perspective that is fun to work with and is a nice alternative from the two more common options. For Sony shooters, there is the FE 40mm f/2.5 G, and this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

More Canon Lenses Are on the Way

Canon has been aggressively filling out their RF mirrorless lens lineup, but there are still a fair number of missing options. It looks like the company will be turning their attention to wide angle options next, with four L Series professional primes likely to be released in the next year.

A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S Lens

Nikon has started to expand their mirrorless lens lineup beyond some of the most common offerings, introducing more specialized professional options, one such example being the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S. The 800mm f/6.3 is highly portable and priced at a remarkably competitive level. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.