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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

Helpful Advice for Improving Your Photos

No matter what genre you shoot, there are some fundamental pieces of advice that will make you a better photographer. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced photographer sharing some important bits of advice that will improve your images and help you focus on what really matters so you can find more enjoyment from your craft.

A Review of the Nikon Zf Mirrorless Camera

Retro cameras have exploded in popularity in recent years, with many photographers embracing not just the attractiveness of their designs, but the functionality provided by having all of the major photographic functions readily available in intuitive tactile controls. One such option is the new Nikon ZF mirrorless camera, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from the camera in usage.

Can You Take Great Landscape Photos at Any Location?

If you look at a lot of the most popular landscape photography on something like Instagram, you will probably notice that many of the images that come up tend to be from a few popular locations. Does that mean you can only create worthwhile photos only at those well-known images? This great video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer discussing the issue and showing you some of the potential even ordinary places have.

A Beginner's Guide to Astrophotography

Astrophotography can be one of the neatest and most interesting genres, but it is also one of the most challenging, requiring a lot of very specific knowledge and techniques, as well as some very specialized gear. If you would like to get started with astrophotography, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you the ins and outs of the genre.

A Beginner's Guide to Editing Portrait Photos in Lightroom

When it comes to learning portrait photography, it is, of course, crucial to learn how to work with your camera, light your subject, pose them, etc. However, your work is not over once you press the shutter button. Almost every portrait will take some degree of editing to be finished, and as such, you need to be equally comfortable with working on your images in editing software. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced portrait photographer walking you through a full image edit using both Lightroom and Photoshop.

Is This One of the Best Lenses Nikon Has Ever Made?

Nikon has made some awfully impressive lenses in their long history, but the new NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena has been turning heads as possibly one of the best lenses the company has ever put out. Can it match that hype in practice? This excellent video review takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

A Review of the New Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 Lens

Viltrox has developed a reputation for creating lenses that are often far more capable than their prices might suggest, and they are continuing to grow in popularity among photographers who want pragmatic professional options for a range of applications. One such lens is the PRO Series AF 27mm f/1.2 Pro, which offers users a 40mm equivalent focal length in tandem with an extremely wide maximum aperture, and this awesome video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Some of the Best Landscape Photography Lenses You Can Buy

Christopher Frost is one of the most prolific, thorough, and consistent lens reviewers on the internet, and so, when he offers his opinion, it is well worth taking the time to listen. In this great video, he discusses three of his favorite landscape photography lenses and why they are so well suited to the job.

The Challenges of Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is a challenging genre that requires a lot of strong technique, understanding of environmental conditions, good post-processing skills, and often, just a bit of luck. And as if the photographic aspects are not tricky enough, landscape photography also comes with some serious mental and physical demands. This great video talks about some of those lesser-discussed issues and persevering through them.

10 Fantastic Photoshop Features You Might Not Know About

Photoshop is a tremendously complex and multilayered program, and as such, there are some useful features that even seasoned users might not be aware of. If you would like to expand your photo-editing toolkit, check out this fantastic video tutorial that discusses 10 lesser-known Photoshop features and shows you how to use them to your advantage.

6 Important Landscape Photography Skills

Landscape photography is a challenging genre that takes a variety of skills to produce successful images, and as such, it is important to be a well-rounded photographer when you undertake the genre. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer sharing six skills he feels are important to finding success in the process.

How Good Is the Ultra-Cheap Canon EOS R100 Mirrorless Camera?

Costing just $479, modern mirrorless cameras generally don't get much cheaper than the Canon EOS R100, making it an intriguing option for many photographers ranging from beginners to those who need an affordable backup body. What does it provide at that super-low price? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

A Review of the Fujifilm GFX100 II Mirrorless Medium Format Camera

The Fujifilm GFX 100 II medium format mirrorless camera takes what Fujifilm established with previous GF series models and adds a bevy of new features and upgrades that make it all the more appealing, all while maintaining that highly competitive price that makes it a reasonable alternative to full frame for many professionals. Can it match those impressive specs in real-world usage? This excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from the camera.

Are You Using Your Photography Skills to Document Your Life?

Whether hobbyist or professional, photography can be a pursuit that takes up a lot of your time and energy, and when you finally put the camera down, you might not have the desire to pick it up again for a while. That can be a mistake, though, as you possess a special set of skills that put you in a position to document your life and the lives of your family and friends. This great video essay discusses the importance of doing just that.

A Comparison of the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 AF and Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lenses

Both the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 AF and Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary offer Fujifilm X Series users approximately 35mm full frame equivalent focal lengths in tandem with very wide maximum apertures, making them versatile options for a variety of applications. That being said, Fujifilm's new 40-megapixel sensor can be quite demanding. Can these lenses keep up? This excellent video comparison takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect.

A Beginner's Guide to Working With Models

Working with professional models can be a fantastic way to really experiment with creative ideas and expand your portfolio. However, working with models is far different than working with normal clients. If you have not worked with them before, check out this helpful video tutorial that introduces you to many of the logistics that come with working with models as well as some of the most common working practices.

A Review of the IRIX 15mm f/2.4 Dragonfly Lens

IRIX is one of the lesser-known lens manufacturers, but they produce some rather interesting lenses that promise high levels of image quality, particularly suitable for landscape photography. The 15mm f/2.4 Dragonfly offers a fairly wide maximum aperture paired with an ultra-wide focal length, all at a modest price, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

A Long-Term Review of the Fujifilm X-H2 Mirrorless Camera

The Fujifilm X-H2 mirrorless camera was a major step forward for the company's highly respected X Series, as it was the first body to add a high-resolution sensor, increasing its versatility and making it all the more desirable for photographers and filmmakers. How does it hold up in the long run? This great video review takes a look at the camera's performance and quality after a year of use.

A Review of the Highly Affordable TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 Lens

TTArtisan has established themselves as a manufacturer of some of the cheapest lenses on the market, making them a popular option for anyone who wants access to a variety of common options at prices that will not break the bank. One such lens is the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Advice for Landing Your First Paid Photoshoot

There are few things in your journey as a budding photography as exciting as landing your first paid shoot, but how to actually go about making that happen is anything but clear. If you are ready to start getting paid for your work but struggling to find a client, check out this helpful video tutorial that offers some actionable advice on how to land your first photoshoot.