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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

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.

Why Inspiration Is Overrated

Photography is a creative pursuit, and as such, our inspiration can wax and wane. The truth is, though: inspiration is overrated.

This Insane 9mm Lens Is Wider Than You Can Imagine

Venus Optics makes some of the most fascinating lenses in the world, and they are showing no signs of stopping, as their latest lens is an absolute show-stopper, as it is the world's first full frame 9mm rectilinear (non-fisheye) lens. What is it like shooting with it? Check out this fantastic review to see.

A Simple and Straightforward Technique for Improving Your Photo Edits

Image editing takes a lot of skill in numerous techniques and creative vision to pull off successfully, and even the most talented and experienced photographers and retouchers can occasionally go awry in their work. Anyone, novice or experienced, can improve their image edits with this simple technique.

Don't Let Distractions Ruin Your Images

Distractions can ruin what would otherwise be a great photo, and they can sneak up on you more easily than you might expect. This interesting video discusses the issues of distractions in landscape photos and what we can do about them.

Everything You Need to Know About the HSL Panel in Lightroom

The HSL panel is by far one of the most powerful ways to edit your photos in Lightroom and to develop a signature style. If you are a bit unsure of how to use the HSL panel in Lightroom, this fantastic video tutorial will get you up and running in no time.

7 Great Composition Tips to Improve Your Landscape Photos

Composition is a tricky and intricate aspect of landscape photography, and though there are no hard and fast rules, there are lots of great tricks and guidelines that can help you on your way. This helpful video will show you seven great tricks to improve your landscape image compositions.

Why Carrying a Compact Camera Can Make You a Better Photographer

Compact cameras have fallen from popularity in the last decade with the rise of the smartphone, with most photographers working with their full setup and carrying a phone on the side. However, some photographers still carry along a compact camera, and this great video discusses why you should consider doing the same.