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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

Key Light Placement: The Secret to Better Portraits

The importance of the positioning of the key light in portrait photography cannot be overstated, with its placement being crucial to defining the subject's features and the overall mood of the photograph. For portrait photographers, mastering key light placement is foundational, affecting everything from the sharpness of shadows to the subtleties of facial contours.

How to Even Out Skin Texture Using Photoshop

Achieving the right balance and evenness in skin texture is a nuanced skill that significantly enhances the depth and realism of portraits. This challenge, common for portrait photographers, requires a delicate approach to preserve skin texture while ensuring it looks natural and evenly lit. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to achieve that balance in Photoshop.

A Review of the Impressive Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM Lens

Supertelephoto lenses offer a ton of versatility, but you often have to pay top dollar for those capabilities. However, Canon's RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM lens bucks that trend by offering all the versatility in focal lengths for under $2,000. This helpful video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

The World of Medium Format Photography

Mastering the intricacies of medium format photography can significantly elevate the quality and impact of one’s work. This great video takes a look at the Fujifilm GFX 100 II, a 100-megapixel medium format digital camera, equipped with an ultra-sharp tilt-shift lens, showcasing not just the technical prowess of this setup but also its artistic potential.

The Evolving Role of the Professional Photographer in 2024

Navigating the evolving landscape of professional photography is becoming increasingly complex, with significant shifts in industry practices, client expectations, and revenue models. Understanding these changes is crucial for photographers who wish to stay relevant and competitive in a rapidly transforming market.

Choosing Your Portrait Partner: A Close Look at 50mm and 85mm Lenses

Understanding the nuances between different focal lengths is pivotal for photographers, especially when it comes to portrait photography. The choice between a 50mm and an 85mm lens can significantly impact the aesthetic and feel of a photograph, making it a critical decision in a photographer's creative process. This helpful video tutorial will help newcomers to portrait work pick the right lens.

5 Lesser-Known Lightroom Desktop Features

Navigating through Lightroom’s myriad of features and tools can be a daunting task for photographers. This fantastic video shows five hidden functionalities within the software that can significantly enhance one’s editing workflow and improve the overall photographic output.

Understanding the Influence of Sun Direction on Landscape Imagery

Crafting a compelling landscape photograph is not solely about adjusting camera angles or positions; it's about conveying a deep, meaningful message through visual storytelling. Recognizing the intricate relationship between light, landscape, and atmospheric conditions is essential for photographers aiming to elevate their imagery.

Enhancing Your Photos With Split Toning in Lightroom

Split toning in Lightroom offers photographers a robust tool for creative color grading, enhancing the emotional impact and aesthetic appeal of their images. Understanding its application can transform an ordinary photo into a stunning visual narrative, a reason why photographers should incorporate this technique into their workflow.

2024's Best Laptops for Creative Professionals

Modern laptops reflect significant advancements in technology and design, catering to diverse user needs from hardcore gaming to seamless productivity. These innovations are crucial for photographers, videographers, and creative professionals who rely on powerful, versatile tools for their work.

Efficient File Management: A Photographer's Guide to Organization

The organization of digital assets is a fundamental yet often overlooked aspect of photography, crucial for both new and seasoned photographers. A well-organized digital library not only streamlines the workflow but also ensures that valuable images are easily accessible and secure for future use.

How One Embracing Simplicity Transformed a Photographer's Career

In an era where technology continuously redefines the boundaries of creativity, photographers constantly seek ways to carve out their distinct style. A pivotal choice in the equipment a photographer uses can drastically influence their approach, compositional techniques, and ultimately, the uniqueness of their visual storytelling.

Capturing the Mundane: A Documentary Approach to Photography

Embracing a documentary approach to photography can significantly alter a photographer's perspective and output. This methodology, which shifts the focus from aggressively pursuing unique and creative shots to simply capturing the moment as it unfolds, offers a fresh lens through which to view the art form. It's a reminder that sometimes, the most profound images are born from the simplest moments.

Handheld Photography Techniques for Sharper Images

Mastering handheld photography is a critical skill for capturing spontaneous shots, especially in challenging environments. This helpful video provides invaluable insights and techniques, underscoring its importance for photographers who often find themselves in situations where tripods are impractical or forbidden.

How Recent Litigation Changes Are Shaping the Demand for Real Estate Photography

The recent settlement by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in the United States represents a pivotal shift for the real estate market, particularly benefiting real estate photographers. This change, resulting from litigation over commission misrepresentation, is set to reshape how agents and buyers interact, emphasizing the increased demand for high-quality real estate photography to enhance property listings.

How to Revive Underexposed Photos with Lightroom

Unlocking the potential of underexposed images is a crucial skill for photographers, enabling them to salvage photos that might otherwise be considered lost causes. This helpful video tutorial will show you how to do just that using Lightroom.

Why Micro Four Thirds Systems Remain Viable for Today's Photographers

Micro Four Thirds (MFT) systems continue to be a compelling choice for many photographers and videographers, despite the industry's lean towards larger sensor formats. The affordability, compactness, and broad lens selection of MFT cameras offer a unique blend of benefits, particularly for those focused on portability and cost efficiency without compromising on image quality.

Don't Overlook This Surprisingly Affordable Lens

There are 85mm lenses aplenty at just about every price point, and each comes with a different value-to-performance ratio, but this lens may offer one of the best ratios out there. This fantastic video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.