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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

Using Fake Windows to Create More Interesting Light

When we learn about lighting, we most often focus on the quality of the light and all the things that contribute to that. However, light can be more than just that which gives you the correct exposure and renders your subject in a flattering manner. It can be used to add mood and interesting atmosphere to an image. This great video tutorial will show you one such example using a fake window to complete a shot's aesthetic.

How the Universe Makes More Powerful Lenses Than Humans Ever Could

Camera technology is incredibly advanced nowadays, but it has nothing on what the universe can do. When scientists want to study objects that are too far away to be seen with human technology, they turn toward a unique phenomenon called gravitational lensing. This neat video will show you what gravitational lensing is and why it is so useful to observing the early universe.

Learn How to Shoot This Portrait With Off-Camera Flash

Outdoor portraits with a dramatic sky behind the subject are a popular and timeless look, but usually require an off-camera flash to get a proper exposure on your subject. If you are new to working with artificial lighting, this excellent video tutorial will show you how to use off-camera flash to balance ambient light and produce a compelling portrait.

Helpful Techniques for Better Landscape Photo Compositions

Whereas things that can be quantified, like camera settings, can be learned in a relatively straightforward manner, composition is a bit more nebulous and difficult to master. If you have been having trouble with your compositions, this excellent video tutorial will show you some helpful techniques to improve your landscape images.

5 Common Mistakes in Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is a tricky genre to master, but it is highly rewarding when you get things right and you are able to produce a compelling photo. This excellent video discusses five common mistakes landscape photographers make or traps they fall into and how to avoid or remedy them.

A Review of the Pentax K-3 Mark III Camera

Pentax has always maintained a small but fiercely loyal set of followers, and the company is unique in that it continues to plow ahead with DSLRs with no intentions to get into mirrorless. The K-3 Mark III is their latest installment in its highly popular line of APS-C DSLRs. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera's newest features and improvements and how it performs in practice.

A Review of the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD Lens

Tamron has become well known for their ability to create lenses that strike intelligent balances between portability, image quality, performance, capabilities, and most importantly, price. The 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD offers an all-in-one solution that covers almost every focal length most photographers need in an impressively small and affordable package. How does it perform in the real world? This excellent video review takes a look.

5 Reasons for Landscape Photographers to Switch to Mirrorless and 5 Reasons to Keep Your DSLR

There is no arguing that the camera industry is quickly transitioning to mirrorless, but that does not mean every photographer has to immediately jettison all their DSLR gear. In fact, many genres really do not need all the benefits of mirrorless cameras. This excellent video essay features a landscape photographer discussing five reasons why a switch to mirrorless would benefit him and five why he might just hang on to his DSLR a little longer.

The Usefulness of the HSL Panel in Lightroom and How to Edit With It

The HSL panel is a tremendously useful tool for taking finer control over the post-processing your images, both from a technical and a creative standpoint. This excellent video tutorial will show you why the panel is so useful and how to incorporate it into your photo edits.

The Struggle and Reward of Good Landscape Compositions

Composition is one of the subtlest and trickiest aspects of landscape photography, and it is something we all struggle with at one time or another. If that is something you have trouble with, be sure to watch this great video that follows an experienced photographer as he works through a difficult composition of his own.

A Look at the Ridiculous Fujifilm GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR Lens

Medium format lenses generally have narrower apertures than their full frame counterparts, and it is very rare to see one that opens wider than f/2, which is what makes the Fujifilm GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR so intriguing. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens, including its performance and image quality, and also offers some helpful portrait posing tips in the process.

Hard Truths Every Landscape Photographer Should Know

Landscape photography is a fairly unique genre, requiring loads of patience and often, a bit of luck. Whether you are new to the genre or a seasoned pro, there are some hard truths we all have to hear from time to time, and this excellent video essay discusses them.

A Look at the Impressive Fujifilm GFX 100S Medium Format Mirrorless Camera

Fuji's medium format mirrorless line has rewritten the market, bringing its price range to the point that it competes with upper-end full frame options and offering photographers an entirely new format to choose without breaking the bank. The latest in the series is the GFX 100S, and this great video review discusses the camera and the sort of image quality you can expect from it.

A Review of the Compact Samyang 24mm f/1.8 AF Lens

The Samyang 24mm f/1.8 AF is a remarkably compact lens at a very reasonable price that still offers impressive image quality for Sony E mount shooters. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the kind of performance you can expect from it in practice.

How Understanding the Inverse Square Law Will Make You Better at Lighting

The inverse square law is one of the most fundamental and important concepts in lighting, and as such, any photographer working with artificial light should have a good understanding of it. If you are new to it, this helpful video tutorial will show you everything you need to know, from the way the law works to the practical consequences it has on your photos.

How Do You Get a Photo Pass for Sports Events and Concerts?

Events like concerts and professional sports are some of the most exciting and desirable things to photograph, but they almost always require a specialized pass for access. If you are wondering how to get one, this excellent video essay discusses when you will need one and how to go about obtaining it.

6 Great Tips to Improve the Compositions in Your Portraits

While things like choosing camera settings are fairly objective, composition is a bit more nebulous and is often something that gives photographers a bit of trouble. If you have been struggling with your portrait compositions, this excellent video will give you six helpful tips that will improve your photos.