Alex Cooke's picture
Average rating:
3.2 out of 5
3.2
Alex Cooke
Cleveland, OH

Articles written by Alex Cooke

6 Things Every Photographer Should Have in Their Lighting Kit

The more you get into working with artificial lighting, the more you will realize you constantly little gadgets and accessories besides the lights and modifiers themselves. This great video tutorial will show you six things you should have in your bag that will keep your shoots running smoothly and help you tackle any problems that might arise.

Should You Use a 24-70mm f/2.8 or 24-105mm f/4 Lens?

When it comes to a walkaround lens, you generally have two options: a 24-70mm f/2.8 or a 24-105mm f/4 (or something similar). So, which is right for you? Both options have advantages and drawbacks that make them the right fit for different needs and styles. This helpful video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to make the right choice for your camera bag.

Do You Really Need to Upgrade Your Camera?

It seems like new camera gear comes out at a breakneck pace, with another major step forward always lurking just around the corner. As such, it can be really tempting to pull out your credit card and hit the "buy" button. Is it really necessary to upgrade, though? This excellent video discusses the issue a bit and why you might be better off waiting a while.

33 Ways to Make Money With Your Photography

We can sometimes be a bit narrow-minded about what it means to be a professional photographer, but there are actually many great ways to make money with your camera. If you would like to get started, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you 33 different ways you can get paid for your photography.

Four Steps for Balancing Natural Light and Flash

Knowing how to balance flash and ambient light is one of the most important skills a portrait photographer can have, as it will give you the maximum creative and technical versatility needed to tackle just about any scenario. If you are wondering how to do this, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you four steps to creating a balanced, compelling photo using both flash and ambient light.

A Review of the 7artisans Photoelectric 50mm f/1.05 Lens

50mm lenses with wide apertures are quite popular, offering a versatile focal length in tandem with a lot of light-gathering power and narrow depth of field for portrait work. At $399, the 7artisans Photoelectric 50mm f/1.05 looks quite intriguing, and this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

How Do You Find Good Landscape Photo Compositions?

Perhaps no aspect of landscape photography is trickier than composition. Not only do you get no control over the placement of the elements in the frame, unlike more quantifiable parameters like shutter speed or aperture, composition is tougher to codify and takes longer to understand on a deep and nuanced level. So, how do you find a good composition at a new location? This helpful video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer discussing his process.

A Year With the Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera

Few cameras have been more hotly anticipated in the last decade than the Sony a7 IV, particularly after the a7 III became one of the most popular cameras in several years for its impressive combination of versatility, quality, and affordability. So, how has the a7 IV held up in the long run? This excellent video review discusses one photographer's experience after a year of using it.

A Review of the New Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens

The Sigma Art Series has earned a reputation for impressively sharp lenses that offer loads of image quality at prices that often significantly undercut those of equivalent first-party options. One such lens in the lineup is the 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, and this excellent video review takes a look at it and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

What Is the Appeal of the Leica M11?

Probably no camera brand is more polarizing than Leica, with some photographers being incredibly loyal to the brand and others seeing their cameras as overpriced niche products. So, what is it about their cameras that keep photographers coming back to them over and over? This interesting video takes a look at the Leica M11 and discusses why it is such an alluring camera.

Is Vero the Best Alternative to Instagram?

Many photographers have become increasingly disillusioned by Instagram. Where once there was an app that placed top priority on sharing images, making it an invaluable tool for networking and connecting with potential clients, there is now a feed stuffed with videos, ads, and, of course, the dreaded algorithm. This has left many photographers looking for an alternative, with one of the current frontrunners being Vero. Is it worth investing time and effort in it? This photographer used it for 30 days to answer that question.

7 Tips for Creating Stronger, More Straightforward Landscape Photos

One of the trickiest parts of landscape photography is that unlike most other genres, you get no control over the arrangement of the elements in the scene, which can make composition a particularly tricky aspect. A common problem is an overly busy frame. What can you do to create simpler, more compelling photos? This excellent video tutorial will show you seven helpful tips to put you on the right track.

What You Need to Know About Negative Fill

When you are creating a lighting setup for a portrait, you probably approach it from the standpoint of adding lights and modifiers until you get the result you want. However, while adding light is, of course, important, it is also crucial to know where to take it away. This is where the idea of negative fill comes in. However, negative fill can sometimes be misunderstood. This great video tutorial will show you how negative fill really works and how to use it for your portrait work.

More Interesting Canon Lenses Emerge

Canon's RF lens lineup has been filling up rapidly with both standard choices and more extreme designs, but there are still some notable absences, particularly in the supertelephoto range. That will surely change eventually, and it seems we're on the way to that, as multiple patents have emerged with some innovative and versatile designs.

A Beginner's Guide to Printing Photos

In the digital age, many of us go years without ever printing our photos, which is a real shame, because no matter how sharp the screen, there really is no substitute for the tactile impression of holding a physical representation of your work in your hands. If you are new to printing your work and wondering what you need to know, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you everything it takes to get up and running.

A Portable and Effective Minimalist Flash Kit

Learning how to work with artificial light will make you a far more versatile photographer and enable creative opportunities that simply would not be possible otherwise. However, there are a couple of ways to approach building a lighting kit, and if you plan to be on the go quite a bit, you should carefully consider the size, weight, and power requirements of your equipment. This excellent video tutorial will show you a portable, versatile, and effective minimalist flash setup.

A Review of the Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G Lens

50mm lenses are some of the most popular and versatile options out there, able to tackle a wide range of scenarios with ease. They are available at prices ranging from below $100 to well over $2,000. At $598, the Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G sits in the middle of all that. So, does it offer premium image quality and performance for that mid-range price? This excellent video review takes a look at the 50mm f/2.5 to answer that question.

A Review of the Versatile Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens

With the release of cameras like the EOS R7 and EOS R10, Canon has shown they are interested in developing APS-C mirrorless cameras alongside their full frame mirrorless line. In tandem with that, we have seen the introduction of RF-S lenses specifically designed for the APS-C format. This excellent video review takes a look at one such lens, the Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM, and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Is YouTube Going to Start Charging Users to Watch Videos in 4K?

Up until now, YouTube users could enjoy all the video features of the site so long as they were willing to sit through ads. That might change soon, as some users have reported that 4K video resolution has been removed as an option unless they pay for the $12 per month Premium subscription.

How Do You Critique Your Own Photos?

One of the toughest parts of being a photographer is learning how to be objective about your own work. It is not fun to be brutally honest about photos you have invested a lot of time and effort in, but if you want to grow as a creative and put your best foot forward professionally, it is something you have to master. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer discuss how to go about critiquing your work.