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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

A Detailed Review of the iPhone 13 From a Photographer

Apple's latest iPhones have arrived, and they come with a wide variety of improvements on the photography front. With everything from Cinematic mode to macro capabilities, they promise to be versatile and powerful tools for photographers and filmmakers, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of photo capabilities and image quality you can expect.

A Review of the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary Lens

A good 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for a huge range of photographers and filmmakers, offering a versatile focal length range and a wide aperture suitable for a lot of uses and applications, though they are not always cheap. Sigma's 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens offers impressive image quality and performance in a small package and at quite an affordable price, and this great video review takes a look at just what you can expect from it.

A Review of the Nikon PC NIKKOR 19mm f/4E ED Tilt-Shift Lens

Few lenses are more versatile and useful than a tilt-shift lens, offering high levels of sharpness, the ability to control depth of field independently of aperture, correction of verticals, and more. For Nikon shooters, there is the PC NIKKOR 19mm f/4E ED tilt-shift lens, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

A Review of the Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless Camera

The Canon EOS R5 received most of the fanfare when it was first announced alongside the EOS R6, but the latter is no slouch, and in some ways, it might be the more appropriate and balanced camera for a lot of photographers and filmmakers. This great video review takes a look at the camera and the kind of performance you can expect from it in the real world.

When and How to Use Soft and Hard Light

There are many combinations and properties of light, all of which have different consequences and effects on both the technical and creative aspects of your images. One of the most fundamental properties every photographer needs to know is the hardness of light, and this excellent video tutorial will show you both when and how to use soft and hard light for portraiture.

Editing Tips for Photos Shot Into the Sun

Shooting into the sun can do anything from providing a nice visual element and contrast to creating stunning rays that cascade across the frame. Because of the extremely bright (and often partially blown out) source of light in the frame, it can sometimes require some specialized editing techniques, and this helpful video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to produce the best possible images.

The 5 Biggest Mistakes a Seasoned Photographer Made as an Artist

Photography is an art form, and sometimes, we can forget to treat it as such and to help ourselves grow as artists. This excellent video featured a seasoned photographer detailing five mistakes he has made as an artist and how to avoid or fix them.

A Look at One of the Coolest Cameras of Yesteryear

One of the neatest things about early digital photography was that because few things were really standardized, there were numerous interesting designs and experiments with features. Sony's Mavica line was one such example of this, and this awesome video takes a look at the camera 24 years after its release.

A Look at Cinematic Mode on the New iPhone 13

The iPhone 13 is here, and it brings with it a bevy of improvements and new features, particularly in the camera department. One of the most exciting new capabilities is Cinematic mode, which allows filmmakers to shoot footage with shallow depth of field and focus pulls, and this great video shows off what it is capable of.

Do You Need a High-Megapixel Camera?

For several years, it seemed like the megapixel wars of the early digital era had died down, but in recent years, numbers have started to skyrocket again. So, do you really need all that extra resolution, or can you get by with a cheaper camera with a normal megapixel count? This awesome video discusses the topic.

A Look at the Nikon Z fc Mirrorless Camera

The Nikon Z fc is one of the more unique cameras we have seen from the company, offering their latest mirrorless capabilities in tandem with a retro design that brings back the sort of manual controls from past film cameras that made photography a very tactile experience. With its small size, neat design, and affordable price, the Z fc looks like a potentially popular option, and this great video review takes a look at what you can expect from it.

5 Tips to Help You Take Better Headshots

Headshots are a tricky genre, as they require you to not only have skills behind the camera and with your lighting, but also with posing and your ability to make people feel comfortable in front of the lens. If you would like to improve your headshots, check out this great video tutorial that features five helpful tips from a top-level photographer.

3 Helpful Tips for Better Colors in Your Fall Photos

Few events bring more photographers out with their cameras than the leaves changing in fall, and no matter what you shoot, it is a fantastic opportunity to capture beautiful shots of dramatic colors and landscapes. Of course, managing and editing color properly is of the utmost importance with such photos, and this great video tutorial will give you three helpful tips to make sure you are creating the best edits possible.

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

A wide-aperture 50mm lens is one of the most versatile optics a photographer can own, suitable for everything from portraiture to low-light events work. For Sony shooters, the FE 50mm f/1.2 GM offers an extremely wide maximum aperture and features geared toward professional use, and this awesome video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

A Review of the Fujifilm GFX 50S II for Portrait and Wedding Photographers

Fujifilm's GFX medium format mirrorless cameras have turned industry paradigms on their respective heads, modernizing medium format with newer features normally reserved for smaller cameras and bringing prices into direct competition with the upper levels of full frame bodies. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera for portrait and wedding photography and what you can expect from it.

Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (September 2021): James Quantz Jr

The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2021, we're featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.

Helpful Composition Advice for Landscape Photography

Effective compositions are something we all struggle with at one time or another, and with so many ways to construct a frame, it can be tough to know how to fix things. If you are struggling with your landscape compositions, this excellent video tutorial will offer some useful advice that is sure to improve your work.

How to Edit Vacation Photos

Most of us love to take our cameras on a trip, but on the other hand, when you get home from a long vacation and are feeling tired, it can feel daunting to sit down to a few thousand photos. This helpful video tutorial will show you how to quickly and effectively edit vacation photos.

5 Ways to Increase Your Business

We are always looking for more ways to increase our photo and video business, but given the nature of creative pursuits, the road to more success is not always clear. If you are looking to increase your business, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will give you five tips to get more clients and increase your income.

How to Take Photos Like Albert Watson

Few photographers are more well known and respected than Albert Watson, and even those who do not know him by name have likely seen his work before. His distinctive style is the envy of a lot of photographers, and this excellent video tutorial will show you how to create that look in your own images.