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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

A Review of the Affordable Viltrox AF 28mm f/1.8 Lens

Viltrox has continued to gain a reputation as a manufacturer of lenses with performance and image quality of levels far above what their affordable prices imply. The AF 28mm f/1.8 looks to continue that tradition by offering a versatile focal length in tandem with a wide maximum aperture at a price less than half that of many first-party options, and this great video review takes a look at if it can live up to that promise.

A Review of the Impressive Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Lens

35mm lenses with wide maximum apertures are highly popular, as they can adeptly handle a huge range of scenarios and creative needs, ranging from weddings to astrophotography and much more. For Sony users who want one of the best options out there, the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM promises spectacular performance and image quality. Can it live up to that in real-world usage? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect.

A Comparison of the Apple iPhone 15 and Google Pixel 8 Smartphones

The Apple iPhone 15 and Google Pixel 8 are two of the most exciting phones on the market, offering photographers and filmmakers loads of advanced capabilities sure to satisfy the needs of many creatives. Which phone is right for you? This awesome video review takes a look at the two phones to help you choose.

What Kind of Cameras Was Canon Making 25 Years Ago?

Camera technology was in a very different place in 1998, and it was quite an exciting time, as it seemed like every month brought another major leap forward in digital technology. The PowerShot Pro70 was one of the company's first bridge cameras, coming two years before the release of the D30, their first in-house DSLR. How did this extremely early digital camera perform? This neat video review takes a look at the historical camera.

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

Tamron has become one of the industry's most respected lens manufacturers in recent years, creating lenses that push the boundaries of design and others that offer very practical capabilities at competitive prices. One of the latter type is the new 17-50mm f/4 Di III VXD, which offers a nice range of focal lengths sure to please landscape photographers. This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

A Review of the Insanely Wide 7artisans Photoelectric 9mm f/5.6 Lens

Mirrorless mounts have allowed the creation of increasingly lens designs, and as such, we have seen more and more rectilinear full frame lenses that push to wider and wider focal lengths, including single-digit focal lengths. One such example is the 7artisans Photoelectric 9mm f/5.6, which offers people like landscape and architectural photographers a unique field of viewer that inspires creativity. Can it offer the performance and image quality to match? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect.

The Canon EOS R1 Flagship Mirrorless Camera Is on Its Way

The Canon EOS R1 has been in the pipeline for a few years now, and with the standards set by cameras like the Sony a1 and Nikon Z9, many users are excitedly waiting to see what kind of technology Canon will put in its flagship mirrorless camera. Thankfully, it looks like we're inching closer to learning just what the company will offer.

7 Helpful Tips for Better Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is a challenging genre that requires a wide range of technical and creative skills, a lot of perseverance, and often, just a bit of luck. If you would like to improve your landscape work, check out this helpful video tutorial that features an experienced photographers sharing seven useful tips sure to put you on the track to better photos.

A Beginner's Guide to Lighting Outdoor Portraits With Flash

Flash can feel a bit daunting to photographers who have not used it before, particularly when you take it outside and have to learn to balance it with the sun. You will find it a lot easier if you master a few fundamental concepts first, and it will make you a far more versatile portrait photographer. If you are ready to start learning, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you everything you need to know.

The Fine Art of Composition in Landscape Photography

Composition is one of the trickiest parts of photography no matter what genre you shoot, but it can be especially challenging in genres in which you have no control over the placement of the elements in the environment, such as landscape photography. This great video features an experienced landscape photographer discussing some of the difficulties of composition and showing how even minor adjustments can make or break an image.

More Canon Lenses Are Coming Before the End of 2023

Canon has had their foot firmly planted on the gas when it comes to RF lenses, releasing many in a short few years and pushing the boundaries of design with some remarkably capable options. And while 2023 is coming to a close, it seems the company is not yet done, with more lenses likely to come in the next few months.

Why Believing in Yourself Matters in Photography

Being a creative is often anything but easy, and doubt in your abilities can creep in due to all sorts of factors. That can have serious consequences on your ability to produce images, and that can lead to a spiral of reinforcement that hinders your progress. This excellent video essay features an experienced landscape photographer discussing the issue and why a positive mindset can lead you to compelling photos even in poor conditions.

A Photographer's Review of the New Google Pixel 8 Pro Smartphone

The new Google Pixel 8 Pro smartphone is here, and the company continues to place some pretty neat photography innovations in their devices. This excellent video review takes a look at the new phone, particularly its photo features, and shows the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

A Review of the 7artisans Photoelectric 9mm f/5.6 Lens

At 9mm, the 7artisans Photoelectric 9mm f/5.6 offers the widest focal length available in a full frame rectilinear lens, making it an intriguing choice for landscapes, architecture, and much more. With such an extreme design and a reasonable price ($479), can it still offer the sort of performance and image quality discerning photographers demand? This excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect.

Which Mac Is Right for You?

Photographers and filmmakers have never had so many choices of Macs available to them, and as such, it can be a little tricky knowing which one is right for you. If you are looking for a new computer and wondering which Mac is best for your work, check out this helpful video that will take you through the lineup and show you the best models for different applications.

The Joy of Large Format Photography

While there are differences between micro four thirds, APS-C, full frame, and medium format, the general shooting experience of all those various sensor sizes is mostly the same. On the other hand, large format photography is an entirely different process and approach, but if you are willing to put in the time and effort to tackle the beast, you will be rewarded with incredible images unlike anything you have even seen before. This awesome video takes a look at the experience and its impact on how you shoot.

A Review of the Impressive Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena Lens

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena lens is making waves for its incredible image quality and bokeh, making it an enticing option for portrait and wedding photographers. Just how good is it in usage? This great video review takes a look at everything you can expect from the lens.

A Review of the New Nikon NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S Lens

The new Nikon NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S promises wildlife, bird, and sports photographers a ton of reach in tandem with a remarkably portable design sure to please those who are used to carrying around massive supertelephoto primes. How does it hold up in practice? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

What Filters Are Really Necessary for Landscape Photographers?

Landscape photographers often employ filters for a variety of reasons in order to shape and improve their images. With so many options out there, it can be difficult for a beginner to know which filters are truly useful and which you can probably live without. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer discussing some of the most important filters for the genre.

Do You Really Need a Tilt-Shift Lens?

Tilt-shift lenses were once must-have equipment for certain genres of photography, particularly architecture, as they allowed photographers a high level of control in order to correct geometric issues and produce the highest quality images. Nonetheless, cameras have come a long way in recent years, and modern editing software can produce small miracles. So, do you still need a tilt-shift lens? This interesting video essay discusses the issue.