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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

Choosing Between Raw, JPEG, TIFF, and PSD for Your Photos

File formats matter. The type of file you use for saving and editing your photos can significantly impact your workflow and final image quality. From JPEGs to raw files, understanding the differences can help you make better decisions for your photography and workflow.

Finding Beauty in Every Shot

Mastering photography requires not just technical skills, but also a keen eye for opportunities and the right mindset. One key piece of advice can significantly impact your approach to photography, the famous: "f/8 and be there." This concept emphasizes the importance of being present and ready to capture moments, regardless of perfect conditions.

Essential Canon Lenses for Astrophotography

Astrophotography presents unique challenges and opportunities, making the choice of lens critical. This helpful video will show you some of the best options for Canon users.

Mastering Light Direction for Stunning Portraits

Understanding how to manipulate light direction is crucial for creating compelling portraits. The direction and quality of light can dramatically alter the mood and depth of an image, and this helpful video tutorial will show you how to harness those properties to maximize your image quality and creative vision.

The Lenovo Legion 7i Laptop: A Deep Dive Into Its Design and Capabilities

The Lenovo Legion 7i, touted as Lenovo's best-looking laptop, has garnered attention for its sleek design and performance capabilities. This model stands out with its white color and brushed aluminum edges, offering a premium feel that sets it apart from its predecessors in tandem with the power creatives demand.

The Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8: A Hidden Gem of a Lens

Wide angle prime lenses are a must-have for many photographers, offering a useful perspective for landscape, architectural, and even portrait photography. Finding a lens that delivers both quality and value can be challenging, but this lens seems to check all the right boxes.

Exploring the Insane Fujica G690BL Camera

The Fujica G690BL, also known as the "Texas Leica," is a unique camera that has long intrigued many enthusiasts due to its blend of medium format quality and rangefinder ease of use. The camera stands out for its practical design, which was a response to the needs of commercial photographers in Japan who required a balance between image quality and manageable frame counts for quick development. Even today, it's a fun oddity that's worth a look.

Embrace Failure: The Path to Better Photography

The belief that good photographers must consistently produce great photos is a myth that can hinder your growth. This notion implies that every shot must be perfect, discouraging experimentation and risk-taking, which are essential for artistic development. Understanding that not every photo needs to be a masterpiece is crucial for evolving your skills and creativity and enjoying the craft.

Mastering Woodland Photography With Bluebells and Wild Garlic

The shifting patterns of nature provide unique opportunities. This year’s unusual weather has created an overlapping bloom of bluebells and wild garlic, presenting a rare and visually rich scene. For enthusiasts, these unexpected changes in seasonal flora offer fresh challenges and rewards.

Fstoppers Interviews Paige Vincent, Extreme Weather Photographer

The Great Plains offer some of the most extreme and jaw-dropping weather on Earth, and those who venture there with their camera are rewarded with some of the most unique and stunning images possible. We interviewed Paige Vincent, a photographer capturing those phenomena.

Home Studio Essentials for Portrait Photography

Creating a professional photography studio at home can feel daunting, but it doesn't have to be. This helpful video tutorial shows you how to create stunning portraits in a small home studio using minimal equipment.

How to Improve Your Landscape Photography by Planning Ahead

Planning is a crucial part of landscape photography, often being the foundation of a truly compelling image. Proper planning can make the difference between an average shot and a keeper. This tutorial focuses on how to effectively plan your shots, particularly how to predict weather conditions to enhance your landscape photos.

Amazing Large Format Portraits

Getting the perfect shot with a large format camera can be tricky, but the results are worth it. The combination of a large negative and precise control over focus and depth of field can create stunning images.

Microsoft’s Qualcomm-Powered Laptops: A New Era for Windows Devices

Microsoft's recent refresh of its Surface line marks a significant shift in the laptop market with the introduction of new models powered by Qualcomm chips. These ARM-based processors promise efficiency and improved battery life, addressing a long-standing issue for Windows laptops.

An In-Depth Review of Top Standard Zoom Lenses for Sony Cameras

Sony’s decision to open their full-frame E-mount mirrorless cameras to third-party lens manufacturers has led to a thriving market with a variety of options. Among these, three standard zoom lenses stand out: the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art II, and the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2. These lenses are popular because they offer a versatile zoom range and a bright maximum aperture, making them ideal for various shooting scenarios, including low-light situations and achieving smooth bokeh.

Minimalist Portraits on a Budget

Getting the right look for a portrait often depends on more than just the subject. Backgrounds are essential, and minimalist backgrounds can be a great way to create striking images that emphasize the subject.

Ditch Manual Mode and Embrace Aperture Priority 

Understanding your camera settings can dramatically improve your photography. Many photographers believe that shooting in manual mode is the only way to achieve professional results, but this video argues that this is not always the case.

Kodak Gold 200: A Budget-Friendly Film for Stunning Results

Getting the most out of your film photography endeavors often means striking a balance between quality and cost. Kodak Gold 200 is a film stock that offers a compelling combination of affordability and pleasing results, particularly when shooting in 120 format.