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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

Photography With the iPhone 12 Pro: Better Than Ever

Mobile phone cameras have made huge strides in the last few years, and with multiple cameras and the power of computational photography, they have become legitimate photography and videography tools in our pockets. The iPhone 12 Pro brings with it the latest and greatest tech, and this great video review shows the impressive results you can get from it.

Photographers, Stop Making These Excuses

We all make excuses as photographers; I will be the first to admit that I have been frequently guilty of this. But falling into the habit of making excuses can impede our work, growth, and even our bottom lines, which is why it is so important to break the cycle. This excellent video discusses five common excuses we all make and how we can do better.

Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (October 2020): Kevin Morefield

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 2020, 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.

Can the Sony a7S III Hold Its Own as a Stills Camera?

The Sony a7S III is finally here, and it offers impressive video performance and a refined feature set for professionals. Can it be used as a hybrid camera for both stills and video work? This excellent video review takes a look at the camera from both perspectives and if it is a good all-around choice.

How to Add Snow to an Image in Photoshop

No doubt, snow can be a fantastic addition to a wide range of images, but not all of us live in a place that gets snow, or we might be shooting in the wrong season. No problem, though, as we have Photoshop, and this excellent video tutorial will show you how to use it to add snow to any photo.

How to Reduce the Noise in Your Photos When They're Captured

Noise is the enemy of photographers everywhere, and we spend a ton of time discussing different post-processing software and techniques for reducing it as much as possible. But reducing noise starts from the moment you choose your camera settings. This fantastically comprehensive video will show you what noise is, why it appears in your photos, and numerous ways you can mitigate it in camera.

Using Lightroom's New Tools for Better Color in Your Images

Lightroom's latest update brought with it numerous improvements and new features, one of the most significant being the changes to and expansion of the color editing tools. This excellent video tutorial will show you how the new and more powerful color editing features can be used to create stronger images.

How Good Is the 2020 iPad Air for Content Creators?

Apple's iPad line has long established itself as mature and powerful content consumption devices. However, in the past few generations, we have seen increasingly powerful processors, top-end screens, and the addition of useful tools (such as the Apple Pencil) also position the iPad as a versatile content creation device. If you are considering an iPad for your creative work, check out this fantastic review of the 2020 iPad Air.

The Unique Way Tilt-Shift Lenses Work

Tilt-shift lenses are some of the most unique and useful lenses out there. This great video will show you how they work and why they are so prized for lots of different work.

Should You Use Teleconverters Instead of Longer Lenses?

Long telephoto lenses can be very expensive, but a reasonable alternative is a teleconverter, which attaches between your camera and lens and increases its focal length. However, teleconverters come with their own set of drawbacks. This excellent video discusses the use of teleconverters, including why you might want to consider one for your own work.

These Fantastic DIY Lighting Modifiers Cost Nothing to Make

Lighting modifiers are powerful creative tools that can drastically change the look of your photos and videos, but they can also grow very expensive quite quickly. Luckily, if you understand the basics of lighting, you can create a variety of DIY modifiers using basic items and materials you probably already own and save yourself a ton of money in the process.

Why Is Pentax Convinced That DSLRs Are the Future?

Pentax recently announced the K-3 Mark III, the third iteration of their flagship APS-C camera, which reinforces their stance that their future (and as they argue, the future of photography) is in DSLRs, not mirrorless cameras. With an industry increasingly focused on mirrorless cameras, why is Pentax going against the grain?

3 Fantastic Beauty Lighting Setups for Stunning Portraits

A beauty dish is one of the most popular lighting modifiers for portraits and for good reason, as it can create dramatic, contrasty images that instantly capture the viewer's eye. This fantastic video tutorial will show you three lighting setups using a beauty dish and other modifiers that capture a range of moods.

How Does the Powerful Fujifilm GFX 100 Hold Up for Landscape Photography?

The Fujifilm GFX 100 is a stunning camera in many ways, and its ultra-high sensor resolution and fantastic dynamic range make it seemingly tailor-made for landscape photography. This great video takes a look at an experienced landscape photographer's use of the camera and his thoughts on how it holds up for such work.

Just How Great Is the Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR Lens?

Fujifilm has long had the XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens, which offers fantastic portrait lens quality and lots of shallow depth of field for bokeh fanatics. Now, the XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR is here, blowing past the f/1.2 lens with an even wider aperture. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens in a variety of situations and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it.

A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S Lens

85mm is the classic focal length of choice for portrait photography, and in the past few years, we have seen an influx of high-quality f/1.8 variants that are significantly more affordable than their f/1.4 and f/1.2 cousins. This excellent video review takes a look at one such lens, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S.

A Review of the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens

The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM is the company's professional mirrorless wide angle zoom, making it a versatile lens for a variety of applications. This great video review takes a look at what you can expect from the lens in practice.

Nifty Fifty: A Review of the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens

A nifty fifty lens is one of the most versatile and useful lenses many photographers can have, and given their generally affordable prices, they make a fantastic first upgrade from a kit lens for newer photographers or a backup lens for pros with more established kits. This excellent video review takes a look at Nikon's version of the lens, the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G.

Using Fog and Autumn Leaves to Create Stunning Landscape Photos

Fall is a favorite time of many landscape photographers, as the changing leaves transform the outdoors into vibrant washes of color and texture. Fog can be another great addition to the already compelling scenes, and this fantastic video discusses choosing the correct settings and the importance of patience in getting the best possible photos.