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

Articles written by Alex Cooke

Photography's Power as an Agent of Social Change

Since its origins in the 19th century, photography has proven to be a powerful medium for documenting human life and bringing awareness to social issues. When a photograph captures an injustice or iconic moment, it can resonate around the world and galvanize people to take action. Photography's unique ability to convey visual information makes it an unparalleled tool for social change.

Film Photography Sees Surprise Renaissance Among Young Generation

Film cameras are making an unexpected comeback, experiencing a revival in popularity among teenagers and young adults. Vintage cameras like the Nikon F3, Canon AE-1, and Pentax K1000 that were collecting dust in basements are now selling like hot cakes on auction sites and at vintage shops. But this analog resurgence faces challenges around film scarcity and cost.

Gyms Crack Down on Influencer Filming and Photography

As influencers and amateur photographers increasingly use gyms as backdrops for photoshoots and workout videos, health clubs across the UK are starting to fight back. Citing concerns around privacy, safety, and disruption to other members, major chains like Virgin Active, PureGym, and Fitness First have begun implementing restrictions on filming and photography within their facilities.

A Review of the New Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a9 III is here with a groundbreaking global shutter, and it looks like a remarkably capable camera. What can you expect from it? This excellent video review takes a look.

Helpful Advice for Photography Beginners

Photography can be a bit daunting when you are new to the craft, with a wide range of technical and creative concepts and techniques sitting before you. If you are unsure of where to start, check out this great video tutorial that details some of the most important fundamentals and how they affect the creation of an image.

The Unpredictable and Bizarre Consequences of the Streisand Effect

In our hyper-connected online world, trying to suppress information can often backfire in spectacular fashion. This unintended consequence even has a name: the Streisand Effect. And it has produced some truly hilarious and downright bizarre outcomes when individuals, companies, and even governments try to censor content on the internet.

Man Who Killed Family Photographer Sentenced to 50 Years

The murder of 31-year-old Efrem Jones, a photographer who ran a small studio out of his apartment, has sent shockwaves through the community of Decatur and beyond. Jones was tragically gunned down on Christmas Eve in 2021 in a case of mistaken identity after taking family portraits for a local couple.

How One Photographer Landed Clients Like the New York Times

Being good with a camera and having creative vision is, of course, crucial to finding professional success, but it is not enough. Knowing how to land and retain high-impact clients is one of the most important skills a professional can have. This great video essay features an experienced photographer discussing how he has landed clients like the New York Times in the course of a storied career.

The Best Apps for Planning Photo Shoots

Smartphones are incredibly powerful tools, and they offer a ton of apps and features that make them one of the most useful things a photographer can carry with them. With the huge number of apps out there, it can be tricky to know which is right for you and your work. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced photographer walking you through some of the best options.

A Guide to Editing a Landscape Photo

Rarely is a landscape photo finished the moment you press the shutter; almost every image requires some degree of editing, both to add your personal creative touch and to give it a polished presentation. If you are new to the genre and ready to learn, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer showing you how he edits an image from start to finish using Lightroom.

Making the Unremarkable Look Remarkable

If you look at some of the most popular photos on social media, they are often of some of the most famous locations in the world, and the argument can be made that while a lot of talent goes into those images, the locations do a fair amount of the heavy lifting too. There is something to be said for making remarkable photos of the unremarkable, and this great video essay takes a look at that idea.

A Look at the New Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens

Though most mirrorless systems have been out for a few years now, 300mm f/2.8 lenses have been mostly missing save for Canon's 100-300mm f/2.8. You can now add one more option to the stable with Sony's newly announced FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS. This excellent first look video takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality on tap.

What a Landscape Photographer Has Learned After Two Decades in the Craft

Landscape photography can be a lonely genre, and it can be easy to fall into seeking external validation and creating the same images over and over. However, living fully in the present, trying new things, and taking risks leads to photographic growth. That's one of the most important lessons an experienced landscape photographer has learned over 20 years.

Do You Really Need a 4K Monitor?

Should you get a high-resolution 4K monitor or will a lower-resolution display be sufficient? There is no one-size-fits-all answer, as it depends on several factors like your vision, editing needs, and display size. However, this helpful video will help you decide.

A First Look at the New and Affordable Canon RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens

The Canon RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens replaces a hidden gem in the older EF-S lineup, giving APS-C shooters a very affordable wide angle zoom lens suitable for a variety of applications. This excellent first look video takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality one can expect from it.

Airplane Makes Forced Landing After Film Shoot Melts Windows

An Airbus A321 suffered significant damage to its cabin windows due to excess heat from film lights used the previous day, according to a report from the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). The damage was discovered shortly after takeoff on a flight from London Stansted Airport to Florida, forcing the aircraft to return to Stansted.