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Alex Cooke
Cleveland, OH

Articles written by Alex Cooke

6 Office Conveniences That Will Make Your Life Easier as a Photographer

We spend a lot of time discussing camera gear and the like, but given the amount of time we spend at our computers for our work, it is also worth talking about ways to make our lives easier in our office, whether that is at home or in a dedicated studio. Here are six things that make my office life easier and more enjoyable.

From Pinholes to Digital: A Look at the History of Photography

The history of photography is long and quite storied and something that almost any photographer would enjoy learning about. This great video will give you a look at the history of photography from its beginnings all the way to the modern digital age and is a great watch for your Sunday afternoon.

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

Tamron has created several highly popular lenses over the last couple of years, offering great performance at highly competitive prices. They recently released the 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for Sony E mount, which seeks to offer every focal length a photographer could need all in one optic at a very affordable price. This helpful video review shows what you can expect from the lens in practice.

How I Improved My Photography Sales by Learning to Think Like a Client

I worked hard when I first started in photography to become competent both behind the camera and when interfacing with clients, but a subtle error I was making worked against me for a long time until I realized how to fix it. Here is why learning how to think more like a client can improve your work.

Cheap and Fast: A Review of the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 STM II Lens

The 85mm focal length is one of the most popular out there, but a good 85mm lens with a fast aperture is not always cheap. That is why Sony and Fujifilm shooters should check out this great video review of the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 STM II lens.

The Usefulness of the Detail Panel in Lightroom

The Detail panel in Lightroom often does not get as much attention as it should, with many photographers opting to leave it at its default settings. However, it can make an appreciable difference in your final images, and this great video tutorial will show you everything you need to know for using to sharpen your photos.

A Real-World Look at Overheating Issues With the New Canon Mirrorless Cameras

The new Canon EOS R5 and R6 mirrorless cameras have been making waves for their highly impressive feature sets, but one thing that has some worried is their potential for overheating when shooting video. If you have been wondering about that yourself, this great video takes a look at real-world usage and what you should expect from them.

A Review of the Sony a7R IV

The Sony a7R IV is a fantastically capable camera with a versatile feature set that should satisfy the needs of lots of photographers. This excellent video review takes a complete look at the camera to help you decide if it is the right one for your work.

A List of Free or One-Time Payment Alternatives to Adobe Subscription Programs

A few years ago, Adobe moved to a subscription model for their Creative Suite, a decision that was fraught with controversy, particularly since many creatives felt it was a money grab. If you prefer to work with software that is either free or that only requires a one-time payment, here are some great alternatives.

How a Spectral Frequency Graph Can Improve Your Audio

Good audio is just as important to creating a successful video as the images on screen, and as such, anyone working with video should have at least a basic knowledge of how to edit and improve their sound. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to use the spectral frequency display in Adobe Audition to make more precise audio edits.

The Sony a7 III Versus the Fujifilm X-T4: Which Is Right for You?

Both the Sony a7 III and Fuji X-T4 are the result of several generations of refinement, and they are both highly capable cameras for a wide variety of applications in both photo and video. This great video comparison takes a look at both cameras to help you decide which is right for you.

A Review of the Yongnuo 35mm f/1.4 DF UWM Lens

Once known for making very affordable speedlights, Yongnuo also moved into the lens market a few years ago, producing similarly affordable optics. This excellent video review takes a look at the Yongnuo 35mm f/1.4 DF UWM lens.

Do You Have a Bucket List Photo?

Do you have a bucket list shot — a photo that you have always wanted to take? This great video follows a photographer as he gets to take a shot on his own personal bucket list.

Is Artificial Intelligence the Next Major Step for Photographers?

Eye autofocus, insanely fast burst rates, 8K raw video, and more. There is no doubt that camera features are getting better and better at a crazy pace. But the thing I am most excited for is not on a camera, it is in post-processing: artificial intelligence.

A Review of the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Sony E

The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens was the first in the Art series and has been a valuable tool for a wide range of photographers. How does the Sony version fare? This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and what sort of results you can expect in normal usage.

A Lot of Street Photography Is Just Bad and Exploitative

Street photography is a particularly tough genre to achieve success in: it takes a combination of a quick eye, good instincts, and a dose of bravery, and even then, a little luck certainly helps. Personally, I think that even with that taken into account, a lot of street photography is simply bad photography and exploitative of the subjects.

What Can Camera Manufacturers Do to Attract Smartphone Users?

The advent of the smartphone camera completely eliminated the point and shoot market save for a few niche exceptions, thereby eliminating a large potential customer base for many manufacturers. What can those manufacturers do to attract smartphone shooters toward dedicated devices?