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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

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

Few lenses are more versatile than a 50mm with a wide aperture, as it can competently tackle everything from low-light situations to portraits. The Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM offers some of the company's best features along with a very wide aperture, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

How Were Photos Made Long Ago?

The process of creating an image has changed quite a bit over the past two centuries on the journey to what we know now. If you are a history geek or just want to learn more about how things came to be what they are today, check out this fantastic video that will take you on a journey through various photographic processes, from the very earliest through to 20th-century techniques and methods.

5 Steps to Take to Improve Your Photography

We are always wanting to improve our photography, and there is always room to grow to be better. The path forward is not always clear, though. If you are wondering how to improve your work, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you five clear steps to take that will illuminate how to grow as a photographer.

Why You Should Stop Creating Art for Other Artists

The internet and social media can be a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it is easier than ever before to quickly digest the work of hundreds of creatives and to find inspiration, educate yourself, and network with other photographers and filmmakers. It is not all positive, though. One of the most dangerous things you can do is fall into the trap of making art for other artists, and this great video essay discusses why that is something to be avoided.

A Look at the Nikon Z fc Mirrorless Camera

The Nikon Z fc is not the company's first attempt at making a retro-inspired modern camera, but it seems like they have gotten a lot more right this time around than with the Df, which received mixed reviews. This great video review takes a look at the new camera and the sort of performance you can expect from it in real-world usage.

Everything You Need to Know About Aperture

There is always more to learn in photography, but one of the most fundamental and crucial concepts every photographer should master as soon as possible is aperture and how to use it. If you are new to photography or just looking to brush up, this excellent video tutorial will show you everything you need to know about aperture, both from a creative and technical standpoint.

One Lens for Everything: A Review of the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Lens

When you are going for a hike or on a trip, you do not always want to carry a backpack full of lenses. Sometimes, a single lens that covers every focal length you could conceivably need is the better way to go. For Sony and Fujifilm APS-C shooters, there is the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD, and this great video review takes a look the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

What Is This Strange Lightroom Symbol For?

If you spend a few years building a catalog in Lightroom, you may have noticed a strange lightning bolt symbol that occasionally appears on your photos. While it is just a tiny symbol that is easy to miss, it actually has an important impact on your images, and it is worth taking note of it when you see it. This helpful video tutorial will show you what it means and how to act upon it when it shows up.

Have You Lost Your Motivation as a Photographer?

No matter how much you love photography, you are likely to go through periods where you just feel unmotivated or even as if you have just fallen out of love with it. So, what do you do when that happens? This great video essay discusses what you should do when you have lost your motivation for photography.

7 Helpful Tips for Better Fall Photography

Fall is here, and the colors are vibrantly popping and begging to be photographed. If you are thinking of heading out with your camera and want to ensure you come home with the best possible images, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will give you seven helpful tips that will improve your autumn photos.

A Look at the New Samyang 24-70mm f/2.8 AF Zoom Lens

A 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for a lot of creatives, offering a wide maximum aperture and a versatile range of focal lengths. However, they are often rather expensive. Samyang's new 24-70mm f/2.8 AF Zoom comes in at a price significantly lower than many first-party options, making it an intriguing alternative option, and this excellent video review takes a first look at the image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

A Review of the New Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens

It might seem like full frame users get all the fun lenses, but APS-C shooters still make up a large portion of photographers. And while they can often use certain full frame lenses, having options made for specifically APS-C can save on size, weight, and price, often quite significantly. Sigma's new 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary lens is made specifically for APS-C users, and this excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from it.

10 Beginner Tips for Fall Landscape Photography

Fall is here, and there are numerous opportunities everywhere to capture striking, vibrant colors with your camera. The period of maximal color is heartbreakingly brief, though, so it is important to be prepared when you head out. If you are newer to landscape photography, this fantastic video tutorial will give you 10 helpful tips and ideas to ensure you get the most out of the fall season.

Learn How to Create This Three-Light Setup for Featuring a Model's Physique

While you can do a lot with natural light, the beauty of mastering artificial light is having the ability to craft your setup to exactly match your creative thoughts and technical needs. This great video tutorial will show you how to craft a three-light setup that is made to feature your model's physique.

A Quick and Easy Way to Fix Mismatched Catchlights

Catchlights are one of those little details in a portrait that are crucial to crafting a professional-level image. Sometimes, you have a photo that is otherwise a great shot aside from the catchlight missing in one of your subject's eyes due to the angle they were at relative to the light source. Luckily, it is a quick and easy fix, and this awesome video tutorial will show you how to approach it.

A Look at Two of Fujifilm's New Lenses

Wide-aperture prime lenses are valuable for a huge range of genres and applications, and the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR and XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR are two of the latest options for users of the ever-popular X Series line of mirrorless cameras. This excellent video overview discusses the image quality and performance of the two new lenses and offers a range of sample images for you to peruse.

This Photographer Built His Own Pond for Bird Photography

One of the hardest parts of wildlife and bird photography is simply finding and waiting for your subjects. This wildlife photographer made a way for them to come to him, however, by designing and digging his own pond for bird photography, and this neat series of videos show the ideas that went into the design, the construction process, and the impressive results that came from the project.

6 Essential Groom Preparation Shots for Wedding Photographers

A lot of wedding photography education focuses on the images of the ceremony and reception, and while those are, of course, quite important, the preparation photos can provide treasured memories of the big day. Part of those are the groom preparation shots, and this helpful video tutorial will show you six essential looks that you will want to remember for your next wedding.

7 Helpful Tips for Better Black and White Landscape Images

When you think of landscape photography, you likely think of images full of rich, vibrant colors. And while there is certainly nothing wrong with that style, a well-crafted black and white landscape photo can be just as compelling. It takes more than simply desaturating the colors in a photo, though. This excellent video tutorial will give you seven helpful tips to improve your black and white landscape shots.