Alex Cooke's picture
Average rating:
3.2 out of 5 3.2
Alex Cooke
Cleveland, OH
Menu

Articles written by Alex Cooke

A Beginner's Guide to Ordering Your First Photo Print
0
by

In the digital age, some of us never print our photos, content to share them on social media and view them on our monitors and phones. That is a shame, though, as seeing your images in a physical form is something really special that can't be replicated by anything digital. You do not have to print your photos yourself, though. There are plenty of great printing services out there, and this helpful video will show you how to get the most from your first order.

The Delicate Balance Professional Photographers Must Strike to Be Successful
1
by

Being a successful professional photographer is about a lot more than simply being good with a camera. One of the things you need to be good at (and something a lot of people are uncomfortable doing) is selling yourself and your work, which requires a good dose of self-confidence or the ability to fake it, at least. Done wrong, though, and this can lead to pushing away clients. This insightful video essay features an experienced commercial photographer discussing the delicate balance and why it is so important.

The Joy of ICM Landscape Photography
3
by

ICM, which stands for "intentional camera movement," is a technique in which the photographer moves the camera during the exposure in a precise way, resulting in creatively blurry images that often have a painterly appearance. It is a great way to explore your creativity and expand your landscape photography techniques. This neat video takes you behind the scenes as a landscape photographer tries it out to show you what is possible and some common mistakes.

7 Common Landscape Photography Mistakes
0
by

Landscape photography is a challenging but rewarding genre that takes the combination of strong technique, creative vision, and solid editing to create a successful image, and things can sometimes go wrong. If you find your landscape shots are not as good as you would like, check out this fantastic video tutorial that discusses seven common landscape photography mistakes and how to fix them and improve your work.

What's in a Mobile Photography Studio?
1
by

Photographers and filmmakers who work on location a lot have to strike a tricky balance between having all the gear necessary to complete a job and handle anything unexpected that might come up while still being able to travel without a ton of hassle. If you are wondering what it takes, check out this neat video that takes a look into a traveling photographer and filmmaker's bag.

Can This Affordable Canon Lens Keep Up With a More Demanding Sensor?
0
by

On paper, the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM is a remarkably versatile and affordable lens, offering a wide aperture, macro capabilities, and image stabilization, making it useful for a huge range of applications. Can it keep up with the more demanding, pixel-dense sensor found on the EOS R7 mirrorless camera? This quick and helpful video review takes a look.

A Year With Medium Format: Is It Worth the Upgrade?
1
by

In the last few years, medium format has seen itself reinvented from a niche, prohibitively expensive option to an alternative to full frame for those who want access to some of the best image quality that money can buy. It is not without drawbacks, though. So, is it right for you? This great video features a photographer discussing their experience after using medium format for a year.

Learn How These Cinematic Magazine Cover Photos Were Shot
0
by

The beauty of artificial lighting is that you can create looks that simply would not be possible using only the sun. One of the greatest technical challenges for a photographer is lighting a group portrait so that every individual is well lit but so the overall look is still sculpted and compelling rather than flat and two-dimensional. If you would like to really take your portrait lighting to the next level, check out this awesome video tutorial that will take you behind the scenes of a cinematic magazine cover photo shoot and show you how to do it yourself.

How Professional Photographers Should Approach Buying Gear
1
by

When you are a hobbyist, you can enjoy buying gear however you want so long as you can afford it, but when you are a professional, you have to really change your philosophy to camera, lens, and lighting purchases. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced commercial photographer discussing his approach to buying gear and how he fulfills his needs without breaking the bank.

5 Ways to Improve Your Landscape Photo Editing Skills in Lightroom
0
by

Rarely is a landscape photo finished when you press the shutter. Almost every image takes some amount of editing to produce a finished product. In recent years, Lightroom has become a far more powerful editing tool, and it is now possible to complete many landscape images without ever heading over to Photoshop. This fantastic video tutorial will show you five different ways to improve your editing skills in Lightroom.

Which of These Is the Ultimate Landscape Photography Camera?
6
by

When it comes to cameras, two of the most important specs for landscape photographers are resolution and dynamic range. In recent years, cameras from Fujifilm and Hasselblad have reinvigorated medium format by modernizing camera options and reducing their prices to the point that they have become a viable alternative to full frame. So, which company makes the best camera for the genre? This helpful video review compares the Hasselblad X2D 100C and Fujifilm GFX 100S to help you decide.

Which of These Supertelephoto Zoom Lenses Is Right for You?
8
by

A decade ago, the idea of a reasonably affordable supertelephoto zoom lens that also produced professional-level images was almost unheard of. However, that particular market niche has exploded and recent years, and photographers now have a huge range of options to choose from. Which lens is right for you? This fantastic video review takes a look at many different options to help you pick.

The Basics of Visual Hierarchy for Landscape Photography
0
by

Understanding how different elements of the frame "rank" relative to each other is fundamental to creating balanced photos that draw the viewer's attention in the right direction in a pleasing and intuitive manner. If you would like to improve your landscape photography, check out this fantastic video tutorial that discusses the idea of visual hierarchy in the genre and the different elements it includes.

How to Fix Boring Landscape Photos
0
by

Landscape photography can be a technically challenging genre, and so, it can be particularly frustrating when you do everything right but still come home with a boring photo. If you find yourself in the position of having an abundance of technique but often ending up with images that just are not that compelling, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you a range of useful advices to make your shots more attention-grabbing.

A Beginner's Guide to Astrophotography
1
by

Astrophotography can be a tremendously fun and rewarding genre, but it takes some specialized knowledge, techniques, and often, equipment. If you are interested in capturing eye-catching photos of the night sky, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you everything you need to know to get started.

A Big Mistake Photographers Make When Learning Flash
0
by

Learning flash can be a tough endeavor; it takes a combination of a lot of technique, attention to detail, and creative vision. If you are working on mastering flash, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer sharing perhaps the biggest mistakes photographers make when working with flash.

An In-Depth Review of the New Fujifilm X-S20 Mirrorless Camera for Photography Work
0
by

The Fujifilm X Series of mirrorless cameras has become a favorite of many photographers, offering a fantastic blend of tactile shooting experience, professional features, and impressive image quality. The X-S20 is the newest member of the X Series, and it offers a nice balance of capabilities and cost, making it a nice option for many photographers. This great video review takes a look at the camera for photography use and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

A Common Mistake Photographers Make When Pricing Their Work
0
by

Pricing can be an extremely tricky things for photographers to master, and even small mistakes can add up to big losses over time. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced commercial photographer discussing a common and easy-to-make mistake, how to recognize it, and how to fix it.