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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

The Problem With Instagram and How It Undersells Your Photography

Nowadays, the majority of photographers have an Instagram account to showcase their work, while some even use it as their primary portfolio. But while the platform is certainly a great tool to get your work in front of the masses, it's not perfect, and this thought-provoking video essay explores one of the subtler reasons why.

Six Months With the EOS R: How Good Is Canon's Mirrorless Camera?

While Canon's RF mirrorless lenses have generally been receiving stellar reviews, the response to their camera bodies has been decidedly more mixed. However, their cameras are sometimes known for certain usability perks and other intangibles that the spec sheets can't capture, and this great video review focuses on how those come together to make or break the EOS R over the course of six months with it.

Five Ways to Impress Potential Clients

Being successful in the business of photography isn't just about being good with a camera; it's about having the ability to convince people that what you offer is unique and worth the cost of your services. Here are five simple ways to impress potential clients to give yourself a better chance of converting the sale.

Looking to Get Into Astrophotography? Check Out This Cheap Equatorial Mount

Astrophotography can be an incredibly rewarding and awe-inspiring photography genre to get into, but it can also requires loads of specialized equipment that is decidedly not cheap. This awesome video review takes a look at a budget option to see if it can still get great results that make it worth the cost.

Scientists Are Using Drones to Study Tornadoes

Tornadoes are notoriously hard to predict and to study, but better understanding the complex processes that lead to their formation is crucial to providing the sort of advance notice needed to save lives. Researchers in Project TORUS are turning to drones to better study these dangerous storms.

Can You Steal a Photographer's Style?

Photographers can be very protective of their techniques and creative ideas, while others can be extremely open about how they work. Regardless of the process, the end result is on display for all to see. Does this mean it's possible for others to steal a photographer's style? This thought-provoking video examines exactly that question.

Seven Myths About Landscape Photography That Might Be Holding You Back

There are lots of myths out there about photography that can end up holding you back if you listen to them, and it's important to avoid falling prey to them. This great video discusses seven such myths in landscape photography and sets the record straight on what it's really like.

Get a Great Deal on a Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art Lens Today and Tomorrow Only

The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens was the first in the company's highly lauded "Art" line, which has become well known for high optical quality at prices that seriously undercut those for equivalent lenses from first party manufacturers. Now, you can get an even better deal on the 35mm f/1.4 Art by taking $250 off today and tomorrow only. This includes both the DSLR and mirrorless versions of the lens.

The Battle of Rugged, Waterproof Compact Cameras

Modern professional and semiprofessional cameras can generally withstand moderate exposure to the elements and an occasional bump or knock, but dunking them in 30 feet of water is an entirely different proposition. For that sort of use, you'll want to look into rugged compact cameras, and this excellent video review compares three of the best models.

How Often Do You Try to Recreate Photos?

The wonderful thing about the internet is how incredibly easy it is to instantly access a veritable plethora of masterful photographs to inspire you. But do you ever attempt to recreate those photos yourself? This great video shows the challenges and benefits of trying to recreate other people's photos.

Would You Spend $20,000 on a Photography Degree or Gear?

20 or 30 years ago, the benefits of going to college for photography were pretty obvious. But nowadays, there is a veritable plethora of premium education available for free or for a fraction of the price of a degree, and as such, the value of going to a university isn't as clear cut as it used to be. This excellent video examines whether it's more worthwhile to go to college or just drop that money on gear.

A First Look at the Hasselblad X1D Mark II

When the Hasselblad X1D came out, it was the world's first medium format mirrorless camera, and as such, it ushered in an exciting new era that has since been joined by the Fujifilm GFX series. Nonetheless, it wasn't the perfect camera, and now with the second version, Hasselblad has made some changes sure to improve the experience. This great video takes a first look at the new version and how it performs.

The Godox V1: Profoto A1 Killer?

The Profoto A1 was supposed to be a revolution in speedlights (though the company refers to it as the "world's smallest studio light"), though it carried with it the typical Profoto price tag. The Godox V1 is a very similar light with a much more affordable price. How well does it work in practice? This great video review discusses just that.

The Importance of Not Comparing Yourself to Other Photographers

With the internet, it's easier than ever to hop online, see hundreds of photographs, and compare your work to a bevy of other photographers. But just because you can, it doesn't mean you should. This great video explores the importance of not worrying about the work of other photographers too much.

All About the Mathematics of Blending Modes

Spend any time working with post-processing applications, and you will probably end up using blending modes sooner rather than later. They're incredibly useful and fundamental to most workflows, but how do they actually work? This highly informative video will dive deep into the theory behind blending modes and how they work.

The Versatility of Large Light Sources

When you are new to artificial lighting, it can be a bit of a tough world to navigate. This great explores one of the most fundamental concepts behind working with artificial light and why it's so useful for photographers.

Bad Things to Say During a Photo Shoot and What to Say Instead

When you're new to photography involving people, you might spend a lot of time working on getting your technique just right, but that's only half the puzzle, as you have to be good at directing people as well. This great video discusses several things to avoid saying during photo shoots and what to say instead.

Some Helpful Dos and Don'ts in Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is a unique genre full of its own challenges and difficulties, but it can also be highly rewarding and even meditative. This helpful video discusses several dos and don'ts of landscape photography to improve both your work and your experience.