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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

Which of These Affordable 85mm Lenses Is Better?

85mm lenses are some of the most popular out there, but premium options can easily run well north of $2,000, which may be a lot more than you want or need to spend. There are many more affordable options that produce great results, and this excellent video review takes a look at two for Canon mirrorless cameras, the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 RF II and Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM.

A Reminder Every New Photographer Needs to Hear

Taking successful photographs take a combination of a wide range of techniques, creative vision, timing, and often, a little bit of luck, and as such, it can take a long time to become consistently successful. If you are feeling a bit discouraged by the slow process, this great video has a message you need to hear.

7 Camera Settings You Should Consider Changing

Modern digital cameras are remarkably complex machines, and there are a lot of parameters and settings you can adjust that will improve both the quality of your images and your ability to get the shot you want. This helpful video tutorial will show you seven camera settings (some well known and some not as obvious) you should consider changing to improve your photography experience.

How to Take Photos Without a Lens

The lens is obviously one of the most fundamental pieces of photography gear along with the camera, but strictly speaking, you do not actually need one to create an image. This interesting video will take you behind the scenes of a neat photography process that lets you take photos without even using a lens and show you the workflow and results.

How to Make the Most of the Wedding Photography Off-Season

In most places in the Northern Hemisphere, wedding photography is in the middle of its seasonal dip, giving photographers a chance to catch their breath and focus on other things for a while. So, what can you do to keep your business well oiled and ready for the next season? This excellent video tutorial will give you some ideas.

A Look at Portraits Shot at Every Aperture

There is a bit of an obsession with shooting portraits at extremely wide apertures nowadays, and certainly, that is a popular look for a reason. Nonetheless, always shooting at f/1.4 to blow the background to smithereens can become a bit of a crutch and end up making your work a bit one-dimensional. This awesome video will show you portraits shot at everything from f/1.4 to f/16 to show you the strengths and drawbacks of each aperture.

A Professional Landscape Photographer Takes You Through His Mistakes

If you spend time on YouTube or Instagram, it can seem like professional landscape photographers are incapable of taking a bad photo, and it can be a bit discouraging. If you sometimes feel like that, it is well worth watching this video that takes you behind the scenes with a professional landscape photographer to give you a real look at the the process, including the mistakes along the way and the eventual successes.

The Importance of Taking Pictures for Their Own Sake

When was the last time you grabbed your camera and went for a walk or a hike with no particular purpose in mind? It can be more beneficial than you might think, and this great video essay discusses why.

How Much a Photographer and YouTuber Made in 2021

2020 and 2021 were anything but normal, and they hit photographers and creatives especially hard. This interesting video features a professional photographer and YouTuber sharing how much money he earned in 2021 down to the cent and breaking down where it all came from.

A Review of the Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO Lens

A good macro lens can be one of the most versatile in a photographer's bag, offering fantastic sharpness suitable for things like portraits in addition to its extreme magnification capabilities. The Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO offers even more magnification than normal, and this great video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Five Reasons to Consider Capture One Over Lightroom

When it comes to software for editing and general management of your photos, the two major options are Lightroom and Capture One. Both have their pros and cons, and if you are currently wondering which is right for you or considering a switch, this excellent video overview will give you five reasons to consider Capture One over Lightroom.

8 Tools to Help You Improve Your Photography Business

If you want to be a successful photographer, it takes a lot more than being good with a camera and having creative ideas. All the most successful photographers are there because they understand how to run a proper business. If you are ready to revamp your approach in 2022, this awesome video will show you eight tools that will make you more efficient and productive and give you a better chance of finding success.

5 Helpful Tips for Bird Photography

Bird photography is a challenging and fun genre that takes a lot of good technique, patience, understanding of animal behavior, and creativity to make compelling images. Whether you are new to the genre or a seasoned pro, this awesome video tutorial will give you five excellent tips that are sure to help you produce better photos.

5 Excuses That Are Holding Back Your Photography

More often than not, a photographer's greatest enemy when it comes to improving and growing as a creative is actually themselves. It can be a sneaky thing, though; we do not always notice when we are making our own lives unnecessarily difficult and holding back our work. This great video features a seasoned photographer discussing five common excuses we all need to push past to continue to grow as photographers.

Is It Worth Switching From Full Frame to a Smaller Sensor?

When it comes to sensor size, the majority of the time, we talk about if it is worth moving from a smaller sensor to a bigger sensor, such as going from full frame to medium format. However, in the last few years, we have seen significant advances in the capabilities of APS-C cameras, both in terms of performance and sensor quality. So, is it worth trading in your gear for a smaller, lighter, and likely more affordable kit? This interesting video features a longtime photographer discussing his thoughts six years after switching.

Important Rules for Wedding Photographers

Perhaps no genre will put more pressure on you in the moment than wedding photography, which requires you to be at the top of your game and gives you no second chances if something goes awry. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced wedding photographer discussing some important rules that will help to put you on the track to success.

A Review of the Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera for Video Work

Sony's a7 III was one of the most respected hybrid cameras of recent years, and the a7 IV builds on the camera's well-rounded capabilities with a range of new features and improvements that make it an intriguing option for a lot of creatives. This excellent video review takes a look at the video capabilities of the new camera and how they perform in practice.

Here's How Much Camera $30 Gets You on eBay

Good camera bodies and lenses are rarely cheap, and you can easily exceed five figures outfitting an entire kit. That does not mean you can't find equipment at the other end of the spectrum, though it is going to be more of a lottery. If you need a good laugh, here is what $30 gets you on eBay.

Can This Cheap Lens Keep Up With the Demands of Medium Format Cameras?

Medium format lenses tend to be pricier than their full frame or APS-C counterparts; after all, a bigger sensor requires bigger glass to match it. A sub-$1,000 medium format lens is a rarity; even rarer is a sub-$1,000 zoom lens. Fujifilm's GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR fits the bill, though, and this great video review takes a look at the lens and how it holds up on the GFX 50S II.

Is the Sony a7 IV Worth the Upgrade Over the a7 III?

The Sony a7 IV has generally been met with positive reviews, with most praising its nice balance of photo and video capabilities. That being said, the a7 III is widely regarded as one of the most impressive hybrid cameras in recent history, particularly at its price point. So, is the a7 IV worth the upgrade, or should you save your money? This great video review takes a look at both cameras to answer that question.