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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

A Review of the New Nikon Z 9 Mirrorless Camera

Nikon's Z 9 is finally here, and it looks like the competition for most powerful full frame mirrorless camera is a three-horse race again. How does the new camera perform? This great video review takes a look.

5 Mistakes a Photographer and Filmmaker Has Made in His Career

Making a living as a photographer or filmmaker is hard enough even if you do it perfectly, but of course, none of us are perfect, and we all make mistakes along the way. This excellent video features a seasoned photographer and filmmaker discussing five mistakes he has made in his career and how to fix them or avoid them entirely in the first place.

How Two 'Bad' Photos Changed a Photographer's Life

When you think of the landmark photos in your career, those that changed its trajectory, they are probably some of your best work. But for one photographer, two "bad" photos significantly changed his life, and this important video essay tells the stories behind them.

What's New in the Latest Versions of Lightroom and Photoshop?

The latest versions of Lightroom and Photoshop are here, and they bring with them some highly impressive new features that will make your workflow easier and more efficient. If you want to make sure you do not miss any of the new features so you can get the most out of both programs, check out this great video overview that will show you everything you need to know.

Do You Need the MacBook Pro M1 Max or M1 Pro for Your Work?

Apple's latest MacBook Pros are here, and while they brought with them a bevy of new features and the return of some that many creatives have missed, the headline features are the newest iterations of Apple's in-house processors, the M1 Max and M1 Pro, which promise top-level performance and remarkably long battery life. Now that you have multiple options for a processor, which is right for your work? This helpful video will give you a first inkling.

Booked Your First Wedding? Here's What You Need to Know

Few photographic events put more pressure and stress on the photographer than their first wedding, but we all have to start sometime. If you just booked your first wedding and you want to make sure the big day goes as well as possible (and with as little stress for you as possible), check out this excellent video tutorial that will guide you through what you need to know.

How to Use Three Different Kinds of Hard Light for Portraits

Portrait photographers spend a lot of time working on creating flattering light, and in photography terms, that almost always equates to soft light. However, hard light can be just as effective, particularly if you want to add a bit of drama or want to accent certain elements of your image. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to use three different hard lighting setups, including a gridded reflector, Fresnel lens, and parabolic umbrella.

Which of These Remarkable Portrait Lenses Is the Best?

Fujifilm's GFX series of medium format cameras and lenses has brought some incredible image quality and capabilities to photographers at prices that significantly undercut traditional medium format costs. Both the GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR and GF 110mm f/2 R LM WR lenses offer extremely wide apertures for medium format lenses, making them intriguing choices for portrait photographers. So, which is right for you? This great video compares the two and the sort of performance and image quality they offer to help you choose.

How to Create Window Light Using Flash

The look of light coming through a window is one of the most recognizable out there, even to non-photographers, and it is something you will often want to replicate in the studio. Luckily, with a bit of know-how and some basic equipment, it is not particularly difficult to do, and this excellent video tutorial will show you how it is done.

How to Use the Sun to Backlight Portraits

One of the most classic and timeless portrait looks involves using the sun to backlight your subject and create a dramatic background. It is also an excellent way to develop your lighting skills and to learn how to balance ambient and artificial light, and this awesome video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to create them yourself.

A Unique and Simple Tip for Improving Your Photos

We spend a lot of time working on our technique and expanding our knowledge of various methods for creating and editing photos. However, sometimes, a simple adjustment in how you approach things can make a big difference, and this excellent video tutorial will show you one such adjustment.

The Process of Photographing a Castle in the Hills

Landscape photography brings with it a lot of challenges, but the scenes and way you can render them are nearly limitless. This fantastic video tutorial goes behind the scenes of photographing a castle in the hills and shows the photographer's process and thoughts behind his creative decision.

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.