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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

A Review of the Impressively Affordable Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.2 Lens

We have seen a boom in affordable third-party lenses in recent years, with many of them offering good performance and image quality at prices that significantly undercut those from first-party manufacturers. Viltrox has been one of the manufacturers leading that charge, and the AF 75mm f/1.2 is emblematic of that, offering a nice portrait focal length in tandem with an extremely wide aperture. How does it hold up in practice? This fantastic video review takes a look at what you can expect.

How to Make Flash Look Like Natural Light

Flash can sometimes be used to create dramatic, otherworldly portraits whose lighting jumps off the screen, but other times, you want to use flash to mimic the look of natural light. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to use flash for a subtle effect that looks like it was natural light the whole time.

How to Shoot in Flat and Boring Light

Overcast days can produce rather flat light that lacks dimension and can feel rather boring, and as such, it can be a bit tricky to product images that are compelling. That does not mean you should just pack it up and head home, though. Flat light can actually lead to fantastic images, and this excellent video tutorial will show you how to find and shoot them.

Helpful Advice for Taking Better Landscape Photos

Landscape photography is a challenging genre, but when you get a good shot, it makes all the time and effort worth it. If you would like to improve your landscape photos, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer sharing a range of useful advice to help you get on the right track.

Why You Should Try a 135mm Lens for Portrait Photography

When it comes to portrait photography, the classic focal length is 85mm, but of course, that is not the only option you can use for creating worthwhile images. 135mm lenses have long been a popular alternative to the classic 85mm option, and this great video essay discusses why you should consider using one in your work.

A Mistake Many Modern Photographers Make

Most modern photographers interact with social media at least to some degree, and it can have more of an effect on your work and your creative evolution than you might think. This insightful video essay discusses how social media can lead professional and amateurs alike to make a mistake that handcuffs their ability to grow and to enjoy the craft of photography.

A Review of the New Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

With an array of flagship features and a gigantic folding display, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 looks like the sort of powerhouse phone that creatives who want to do serious work on the go crave. With an improved hinge, brighter display, and faster processor, should you place your preorder? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect.

Your Guide to All of Canon's APS-C Mirrorless Cameras

Canon has filled out their APS-C mirrorless line quite nicely with an array of models that offer everything from highly affordable options to professional-level models capable of tackling just about anything you can throw at them. So, which model is right for your budget and needs? This helpful video gives an overview of every option to help you choose.

5 Reasons Your Photography Might Not Be Improving

We all want to be better photographers, but rarely is the path to accomplishing that plainly obvious, and it can be easy to make unconscious mistakes that stop us from reaching the next level. If you feel like you are a bit stuck in a rut, check out this insightful video essay that features an experienced photographer discussing five common reasons photographers fail to improve and how to break free and take the next step forward.

How to Light and Shoot Moody and Dark Portraits

The beauty of artificial lighting is that it allows you to create just about any photo your imagination can envision with total control over every last detail. And while we often aim for bright, soft, and flattering lighting in our portraits, if you want to explore your artistic side a bit more, a dark and moody look can yield some very interesting images. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to light and shoot those dark and moody portraits.

An Often Overlooked Aspect of Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is a challenging but rewarding genre, and with all the time and effort it can take to get to a location, it is worth considering the approach you take once you are there to ensure you come away with as many great photos as possible. The insightful video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer discussing the philosophy that helps him to consistently produce worthwhile images.

A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR Lens

Superzoom lenses offer the ultimate level of convenience, replacing several other lenses and allowing a photographer to travel lighter and work faster. For Nikon mirrorless shooters, there is the 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from the lens in real-world use.

What We Can Learn From a Master Photographer

American documentary photographer Alec Soth's work has a strong element of narrative and metaphor, making it not just powerful imagery to enjoy, but worthwhile instructional material for improving our own photos. This fantastic video essay takes a look at Soth's work, how it creates such powerful narratives, and how we can use the lessons we take from it in our work.

How Thinking About Camera Height Can Improve Your Wildlife Photos

Just like portrait photography, the height you hold your camera relative to your subject makes a significant difference in how your wildlife images come across to your viewers. If you would like to improve your wildlife images, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer discussing the impact camera height has on storytelling in your photos.

Here Comes Another Extreme Canon Lens

Canon has taken advantage of the additional capabilities offered by the RF mirrorless mount, creating a variety of highly capable lenses that push the boundaries of lens design. It looks like they have no intentions of slowing down, with yet another high-level professional lens likely on the way soon.

A Common Mistake Photographers Make With Their Websites

Nowadays, your website is one of the most important parts of your photo business, and as such, it is well worth putting a lot of time and effort into making yours as good as possible. If you would like to make sure yours is as good as possible, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced wedding photographer discussing a common mistake creatives make with their websites and how to ensure yours rises above the rest.

Thoughts on How AI Will Impact the Professional Photography Industry

AI has caused a ton of excitement and controversy in the last year, and the photo industry has not been immune to it. This has led to many creatives wondering how the role of the professional photographer will evolve under the shadow of AI. This insightful video essay features an experienced commercial photographer discussing his thoughts on the topic.

The Power of Contrast for Creating Compelling Photos

Contrast is one of the most fundamental properties of a photo, and it offers you many powerful ways to create a mood, make the subject clearer, and more. As such, learning how to leverage it and all the factors that influence contrast in the frame is crucial. This fantastic video tutorial discusses contrast and a variety of different ways to use it in your images.

4 Natural Light Portrait Setups Using Only a Reflector

Shooting outdoor portraits offers a lot of creative opportunities, but it can be a bit of a pain to lug lighting to a location. Knowing how to work with natural light and a reflector can give you a lot of the versatility of an artificial light without all the inconvenience. This fantastic video tutorial will show you four different ways to use a reflector for outdoor portraits.

Canon Patents More Interesting Lenses

Canon has produced some incredible RF mount lenses thus far, and they have shown they have no plans of slowing down. A new set of patents have emerged, and they show quite a versatile lens in the works.