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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

The Art of Real-Time: How Visual Effects Revolutionize Sports Broadcasting

If you have watched sports long enough, you know that the quality and novelty of the broadcasts has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years, with an explosion of live visual effects. This fun video pulls back the curtain and takes a look at just what goes into all of that.

5 Crucial Photography Lessons

There are many well-known lessons in photography. However, this enlightening video delves into unconventional wisdom, sharing insightful lessons that challenge standard photography norms.

A Review of the Laowa 90mm f/2.8 APO 2x Lens

Venus Optics, recognized for creating distinct and unusual lenses with remarkable capabilities at budget-friendly prices, has long been respected for the unique offerings. The Laowa 90mm f/2.8 APO 2x is one such lens, standing out by providing double the magnification of standard macro lenses without a hefty price tag and being compatible with all major full frame mirrorless camera mounts. In this insightful video review, the lens is thoroughly examined, highlighting the performance and image quality it offers in real-world use.

How to Change a Facial Expression in Photoshop

Changing someone's facial expression is not something you will do very often, but it can be a real lifesaver for those occasional group shots where someone didn't smile or the like. This great video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to efficienty and convincingly edit facial expressions using Photoshop.

A Review of the Sony a6700 Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a6700 mirrorless camera is a compact powerhouse blending cutting-edge technology and exceptional image quality. Can it give the kind of real-world performance and image quality professionals demand? This excellent video review takes a look.

This Affordable 85mm Lens Is a Hidden Gem

The market is saturated with a wide array of 85mm lenses, ranging in price from a couple hundred to well over $2,000. While one might assume a direct relationship between cost and quality, there are exceptions offering outstanding image quality at a fraction of the price. The Yongnuo 85mm f/1.8S DF DSM is one such lens, and this detailed video review showcases the performance and image quality it offers in use.

A Review of the Fujifilm XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR Lens

The Fujifilm XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR, with its exceptionally wide angle of view, is versatile for numerous uses, making it an intriguing option, particularly alongside an affordable price. In this excellent video review, the lens is explored in depth, showcasing the kind of performance and image quality it delivers in real-world scenarios.

Will AI Be Your Child's Next History Teacher?

AI is taking the world by storm, threatening to fundamentally rewrite many paradigms. What if children could actually talk to historical figures through AI, learning through conversations with famous figures? This fun video takes a look at one of the first attempts at that.

Photographer Revolutionizes Technique by Holding Lens Wrong Way, Sparks Outrage and Confusion

Los Angeles, CA: In a bold move defying decades of established practice, local photographer Max Carter has turned the photography world upside down—literally—by opting to hold his camera lens over the top, instead of the traditional support from underneath. This unconventional technique has sparked a mixture of outrage, confusion, and reluctant admiration within the photography community.

Mastering the Art of Nighttime Video Lighting

Just like photos, lighting for video is an essential skill that not only helps you get the right exposure, but sets the mood for the frame. This excellent video tutorial will show you four different nighttime lighting setups sure to add a lot intrigue to your shots.

A Review of the Affordable and Portable Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 Lens

Viltrox has rapidly established itself as a reputable lens manufacturer, known for delivering quality results at very attractive prices. Priced at $158, the AF 20mm f/2.8 continues this trend. This lens, with its compact size and a practical focal length, raises the question: can it achieve professional-quality outcomes despite its budget-friendly price? This insightful video review explores the performance and image quality you can expect from it in real-world use.

Don't Get Sued by The Grinch This Holiday Season

During the festive holiday season, capturing holiday-themed family photographs is a cherished tradition for many. However, photographers, especially those conducting holiday photo sessions, should be wary of certain legal pitfalls. One such issue arises with the use of popular characters like The Grinch in professional photoshoots.

Don't Overlook the 15" MacBook Air

The 15-inch MacBook Air rewrote the paradigm between the Air and Pro models, offering a larger screen in the svelte form factor that first made the model popular. This might leave you wondering if you need the Air or Pro for your needs. This great video discusses why you shouldn't overlook the larger Air model.

A Review of the Tamron 17-50mm f/4 Di III VXD Lens

Tamron has emerged as a beloved brand in the photography industry, known for producing lenses that combine excellent performance and image quality with appealing prices. Among these is the 17-50mm f/4 Di III VXD lens, which offers a very pragmatic design, making it an ideal choice for those interested in landscape and architectural photography. This detailed video review explores the real-world performance and image quality that this lens delivers.

A Look at the Incredible Seestar S50 Smart Telescope

The Seestar S50, a portable smart telescope, is revolutionizing astrophotography by making it accessible and straightforward for everyone. This great video review showcases the S50's capabilities, emphasizing how it simplifies the process of capturing celestial images without requiring prior photography experience.

Next Year Will Bring Another Ridiculous Canon Lens

With lenses like the RF 28-70mm f/2L USM and the RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM, Canon has continued their reign as the premier manufacturer for top-level lenses. It looks like the company has no intention of slowing down, with another extreme lens on the radar for the second half of 2024.

A Review of the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens

Wide angle zoom lenses with an aperture of f/2.8 are often considered the standard for professionals, but there are many genres for which that wide aperture is not really needed, and photographers can take advantage of lighter, more affordable, and more capable lenses if they are willing to use an f/4 lens. One such lens is the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM, and this great video review takes a look at the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

A Look at the Incredible New Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera

Sony's a9 III is one of the most important cameras to hit the market in a long time, finally bringing to the masses the holy grail of a global shutter in a full frame camera. What do you get from a camera so jam-packed with groundbreaking features? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect.