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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

Affordable Wide Angle: A Review of the Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR Lens

A good wide angle lens can be a fantastic tool in a wide variety of applications, but such lenses can also be rather expensive. If you are willing to compromise an extremely wide aperture for the still-wide f/2.8, you can save a lot of money, though. This excellent video review takes a look at one such affordable lens, the Fuji XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR.

How to Take Better Photos of the Moon

The moon is a fantastic subject both by itself and as part of some sort of nighttime scene, whether that is a landscape, a cityscape, or even something like a wedding portrait. If you are wondering how to improve your own moon photos, this fantastic video tutorial will give you a wide variety of tips and tricks for better images.

How Good Is the New Fujifilm X-S10 Camera?

The Fujifilm X-S10 is the latest addition to the company's respected X Series line of cameras, and it features a lot of the latest tech, including 4K video and fast continuous shooting rates. How does it perform in practice? This great and comprehensive takes a look at the camera and what you can expect from it in real-world usage.

5 Lies Beginner Portrait Photographers Believe

Portraiture is by far one of the most popular genres among photographers, both amateur and professional, and that tends to generate a lot of myths and misconceptions that can be harmful to your progress. This fantastic video discusses five common misconceptions about portrait photography and the truth about the genre.

Are These Budget Lenses Sharp Enough for High-Resolution Cameras?

Traditionally, if you want the best quality images, you have to invest a lot of money in very expensive lenses. However, there are a few budget gems out there, and they can give you sharp images while saving you a boatload of cash. This fantastic video takes a look at two such lenses, the Samyang XP 85mm f/1.2 and 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC, and if they can keep up with the demands of modern high-resolution sensors.

How Good Is the New DJI Mini 2?

The DJI Mini 2 is here, and it brings with it a bevy of useful improvements and new features, all in the same impressively light and small package that can easily be dropped in your bag on the go. This excellent video review takes a look at the new drone and the kind of footage you can get from it in real-world usage.

9 Things That Make Leica Cameras Different

There is probably no brand that is more polarizing among photographers than Leica, with some seeing them as overpriced and others swearing by both the shooting experience and the unique look of the images. If you have never shot with one, this great video discusses nine things that make the Leica experience different than working with other camera brands.

How to Add a Reflected Sky When Using Photoshop's New Automatic Sky Replacement Feature

The new automatic sky replacement feature in Photoshop is a fantastic tool for quickly and easily replacing the sky in a photo, a task that is traditionally tedious and rather tricky. One issue arises, however, when there is water in an image, as Photoshop cannot automatically recognize the need for a reflected version of the sky and insert it. Luckily, this awesome video tutorial shows a clever technique that does a good job of leveraging the new tool to include a reflection of the sky as well.

A Review of the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens

A 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is one of the most versatile and popular lenses among professionals and amateurs alike, and while they are certainly not cheap, they are powerful tools that can handle a wide range of situations from sports, to portraits, to weddings. This excellent video review takes a look at Canon's mirrorless version of the lens, the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM.

Perfect Photos Are Not Always Better Photos

As photographers, we work very hard to make our photos as good as possible, ranging from investing in expensive, top-shelf gear, to learning a variety of techniques, to investing huge amounts of time and effort into the creation of and post-processing of our images. But that can be taken too far, and this great video discusses why perfect photos are not always better photos.

The Most Stress-Free and Straightforward Place to Sell Your Used Gear

Photographers frequently buy and sell gear, whether that is because they like to try different bodies and lenses or because they would like to upgrade their equipment. So, what is the proper way to sell your old gear? I think I have found the best place on the internet.

Does Bigger Mean Better When It Comes to Lenses?

In the past five years or so, we have seen a proliferation of very large lenses. With seemingly ever-expanding footprints and weights, it seems portability has often taken a backseat to image quality. But are these burgeoning sizes always better? This great video takes a look at that question.

Creating Balance in Landscape Images

One of the trickiest parts of landscape photography is composition, particularly since you cannot control the position of any of the elements in your scene like you can with almost any other genre. A lot of the game is about finding balance between the individual elements, and this fantastic video tutorial discusses some great tips on how you can better achieve that.

A Review of the Unique Hasselblad 907X 50C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera

The Hasselblad 907X 50C is quite the unique camera, leveraging a powerful medium format sensor, but eschewing a viewfinder entirely in favor of a waist-level shooting experience. This excellent video review takes a look at the experience of working with the camera and the kind of work you can produce with it.

Just How Good Is the Sony a7S III?

The Sony a7S III is finally here after a very long wait, but it seems the wait was worth it. This fantastic video review takes a look at the camera, its numerous improvements, and how it keeps up in real-world usage.

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.