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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

Seamless Backdrop Expansion in Photoshop: A Step-by-Step Guide

Expanding the backdrop edges in Photoshop is a common challenge faced by photographers, especially when working with collapsible backdrops that may not fully cover the desired frame. This helpful tutorial addresses this issue, demonstrating a simple yet effective method to seamlessly extend backdrops, which is pivotal for creating professional-looking portraits without physical constraints.

Revitalizing Your Photography Through Experimentation and Change

Capturing the essence of urban environments through photography is both an art and a technique that evolves with the photographer's experience and experimentation. This great discussion reflects on the journey and the pivotal changes one photographer is making to invigorate his creative process, highlighting the importance of adaptability and innovation in the craft.

The Squint Method and Beyond: Innovative Techniques for Dynamic Photography

Mastering the subtle art of capturing extraordinary photographs often hinges on recognizing and responding to the unique signals present in our environment. This fantastic tutorial delves into this nuanced aspect of photography, underscoring its pivotal role in elevating a photographer's work from mundane to magnificent.

Creative Lighting on a Budget: How to Do More With Less  

​​​​Harnessing the simplicity of a single light and modifier to achieve multiple photographic looks is a game-changer for photographers. This approach not only maximizes the utility of minimal gear but also pushes creative boundaries, allowing photographers to produce diverse and striking images without a vast array of equipment.

Strategic Planning for Seasonal Landscape Photography

Exploring new locations for landscape photography, especially in challenging weather conditions, offers a unique opportunity for growth and learning. Venturing into North Wales, this fun adventure provides insights into preparing for the spring season and adapting to the unpredictable elements, highlighting the value of resilience and creativity in outdoor photography.

Demystifying Professional Photography Lighting Equipment

Understanding professional lighting equipment is crucial for photographers aiming to elevate their craft. These tools are indispensable for creating high-quality images with ultimate control, but their complexities and capabilities can often seem daunting to those not familiar with the intricacies of professional photography gear.

Navigating the Shift to Professional Photography

Shifting careers to pursue a passion in photography is a path fraught with challenges and learning curves, as vividly shared by those who've transitioned to professional photography. Their experiences underscore the importance of passion-driven work and the common pitfalls awaiting new entrants into the photography business. This important video essay details seven such pitfalls.

Rediscovering the Joy of Photography With Retro Tech

Embracing the art of photography extends beyond the mere act of capturing images; it's about rekindling a love for the creative process and the joy it brings. If you have lost that initial spark for photography amidst the demands of professional work and the relentless pursuit of social media validation, give this video a watch.

Do You Need a Medium Format Camera?

The shift to medium format photography can mark a significant milestone for a landscape photographer, but it's also very expensive to do so. Do you really need to do so

Should You Start a Photography YouTube Channel?

Becoming a YouTube star is the dream of a lot of photographers, but the reality of it is often far different than the expectations. This fantastic video tells you what to expect.

Enhancing Your Photos: Clarity, Texture, and Dehaze Explained

Mastering Lightroom's sliders is crucial for photographers aiming to elevate their image editing skills to produce the best results, and it starts with understanding the nuanced differences between sliders like Clarity, Texture, and Dehaze. This helpful video tutorial will show you everything you need to know.

A Photographer's Review of the New Fujifilm X100VI

The Fujifilm X100 series has been a cornerstone for photographers who want a compact solution without compromising on image quality. The introduction of its latest model, the X100VI, marks a significant development, incorporating a high-resolution sensor and built-in stabilization, promising enhanced capabilities in a familiar, vintage package.

Which Top-Tier Sony Camera Is Right for You?

Navigating the elite tier of Sony's mirrorless lineup presents a challenging decision: choosing between the Sony a1 and the a9 III, each a masterpiece in its own right. This detailed video review meticulously unpacks the features and functionalities that set these cameras apart, guiding users toward the ideal pick for their arsenal.

Breaking the Low-Pay Cycle: Elevating Your Photography Career

Navigating the competitive field of photography requires more than just skillful handling of a camera; it demands a distinctive style and strategic self-marketing. This insightful video essay identifies common pitfalls that photographers face, shedding light on why some struggle to secure well-paying jobs, emphasizing the importance of specialization and effective branding in establishing a successful career.

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

Supertelephoto lenses are some of the most versatile out there, offering lots of reach suitable for a wide variety of applications. Nonetheless, such lenses can often be rather expensive, which is what makes the Canon's RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM a nice option for users who want lots of capabilities at a more reasonable price. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you'll be able to expect from it in practice.

The Truth About Instagram Photographers

There is a pervasive myth within the photography community: the correlation between Instagram followers and financial success. This topic is especially pertinent for emerging photographers who may fall into the trap of equating social media popularity with career achievement, overlooking the multifaceted nature of building a sustainable photography business. This fantastic and important video tackles the topic.

From Crisis to Creativity: Overcoming Obstacles in Wedding Photography

Navigating the complexities of wedding photography, especially when faced with challenging situations, is an essential skill. The ability to adapt to changing conditions and solve problems on the fly can distinguish a successful wedding from a problematic one.

The Least-Discussed Aspect of What Makes a Camera Good

The connection between a photographer and their camera can significantly impact their creativity and enthusiasm for photography. This unique relationship often goes unnoticed but is crucial for nurturing a photographer's passion and drive to explore and capture the world through their lens.

A Beginner's Guide to Lightroom

Learning Lightroom can be taunting for photographers new to the program, but it is well worth knowing the ins and outs of the program. This helpful video aims to simplify and demystify the process.

Debunking Common Photography Myths

The myths and misconceptions surrounding photography equipment and techniques are topics that generate significant discussion among both amateur and professional photographers. This important video addresses these topics directly, challenging commonly held beliefs that can influence how photographers choose their gear and approach their craft.