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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

Tiny Powerhouse: A Review of the Sony RX100 VII Camera

Now in its seventh iteration, the Sony RX100 is a highly capable, ultra-portable camera that is a fantastic option for any photographer looking for a take-anywhere device that will enable capabilities beyond those of their cameraphone. If you are looking for such a camera, check out this great video review of the latest in the series.

The Most Important Camera Feature Photographers Overlook

What is the most important camera feature for you? Dynamic range? Burst rate? Autofocus performance? There are a lot of key camera specs that have objective impacts on our image-making, but spec sheets fail to capture one of the most important aspects of a camera.

3 Good Reasons and 3 Bad Reasons to Upgrade Your Camera Gear

A lot of photographers spend a good chunk of time reading about gear and considering if they should pull out their credit card to purchase that fancy new camera or lens. Here are three good reasons to purchase new gear and three bad reasons to do so.

The Five Most Overrated Camera Features

Modern cameras are little technical marvels packed to the brim with interesting and useful features — some more useful than others. Here are five of the most overrated camera features.

Which Mac Mini Is Right for Your Editing Work?

The Mac Mini often gets overlooked, as computers like the MacBook Pro or iMac get a lot more attention. However, it is a surprisingly versatile and powerful computer and priced much lower than many other Mac models. This great video compares two versions of the Mac Mini to tell you which one is right for you.

10 Ways to Do Good With Your Camera

Photographers have a special skill that allows them to capture the world in ways others can't, and your images can make a big difference in a lot of ways. Here are 10 ways to do good with your camera.

What Should Canon Do About Its Other Mirrorless System?

Canon's RF mirrorless line has been making lots of waves for its spectacular lenses and the astoundingly powerful upcoming R5 camera. But did you know Canon has had an entirely separate interchangeable lens mirrorless system for the past eight years? What is next for it?

Sharp, Fast, and Affordable: A Review of the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 Lens

Canon's RF lenses are certainly spectacular, but they are also quite pricey. Samyang's new AF 85mm f/1.4 lens is quite affordable and seeks to fill the ultra-popular fast 85mm role for lots of photographers. Can it hold its own against more expensive options? This great video review will show you everything you need to know about the lens.

Are You Under-Editing Your Images?

The vast majority of the time, we talk about the dangers of over-editing your images. However, just as much as you can over-edit an image, you can stray too far in the other direction and under-edit them as well. This excellent video discusses five signs that you may be under-editing your landscape photos.

Are You Missing Photos by Always Shooting in Manual Mode?

A lot of new photographers are told that shooting in manual mode is the mark of a professional. And while manual mode is certainly useful and a great learning tool, you could be missing shots if it's all you ever use.

Everything You Need to Know About the Tone Curve in Lightroom

The tone curve is easily one of the most useful and versatile tools for editing your images, and its power extends far beyond simply editing the light and shadow in your images. If you need to learn more about how to use it for your own work, this great video will get you up and running in no time.

Canon Is a Brand New Company and I Love It

A few years ago, a lot of photographers were a bit frustrated by Canon's seeming lack of desire to push the technological envelope and often arbitrary handicapping of camera feature sets. Fast-forward to 2020, and suddenly, Canon is an entirely different company.

Ever Wonder Why Images Shot at f/22 Are Softer Than f/8?

You may have noticed that as you stop down your lens, your images become sharper at first, but after a certain point, they actually become softer. Here is why no matter what lens you use, eventually, you will experience softness issues as you use narrower apertures.

A Guide to Portrait Editing and Sky Replacement Using Lightroom and Luminar 4

On-location portraits can be a great way to add more visual interest to your images, but unfortunately, the sky does not always cooperate as you had hoped. You can't just cancel your shoots whenever you do not have great weather, though. This great video will show you how to retouch a portrait in Lightroom while replacing the sky using Luminar 4.