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Alex Cooke

Cleveland, OH
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Articles from Alex Cooke

Common Editing Mistakes That Hold Your Photos Back

Editing can make or break your images, and mastering the details separates polished work from amateur results. Knowing what pitfalls to avoid can significantly improve your photos and streamline your workflow.

There's Never Been a Better Time to Dump Adobe

Adobe's recent shift toward the AI-focused Creative Cloud Pro plan makes now an ideal moment for photographers to reconsider their reliance on Adobe products. With the company automatically migrating subscribers to this pricier tier starting June 17, 2025, costs for individuals on annual plans are increasing from $60 to $70 monthly, and from $90 to $105 for month-to-month subscribers.

Single-Light Portraits: Professional Results on a Budget

Creating a clean, white background for portraits can be tricky, especially if you’re limited to just one light. Getting this right without relying on heavy editing can improve your skill set and streamline your workflow.

ASUS Announces the New ROG G700 Desktop With AMD and Intel Processor Options

ASUS has unveiled its new high-performance desktop, the ROG G700, featuring advanced specifications tailored for demanding gaming and creeative tasks. Available with either AMD or Intel processors, the ROG G700 aims to deliver robust performance, easy upgradeability, and efficient thermal management.

ASUS Announces the New 2025 ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 Laptops

ASUS has unveiled its latest gaming laptops for 2025, the ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16, each targeting gamers and creative professionals looking for powerful performance in portable designs. Both laptops offer notable updates in display quality, processing power, and advanced cooling systems.

ASUS Launches the 2025 ROG Strix G16 and G18 Laptops With Intel and AMD Options

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has unveiled its latest generation of gaming laptops, the 2025 ROG Strix G16 and G18 series, featuring two distinct versions powered by Intel and AMD processors. Both editions bring significant enhancements to performance, display technology, cooling systems, and overall build quality.

Trump Signs 'Take It Down Act,' Criminalizing Deepfake and Revenge Porn

On Monday, President Donald Trump signed the “Take It Down Act” into law, putting the United States among the first countries to impose criminal penalties on creators of non-consensual deepfake and revenge porn content. The bill, passed by a broad bipartisan majority in Congress, targets the rising threat of AI-generated explicit imagery and videos, especially those shared online without the subject’s consent.

Photography Beyond the Iconic: Finding Your Own Vision

The Faroe Islands offer stunning landscapes, but your best photos there might not feature the epic cliffs or famous waterfalls. Instead, they could reflect a more personal side of your photographic journey, revealing moments you'd least expect.

Embracing Uncertainty in Landscape Photography

Photography road trips often unfold in ways you don't anticipate, and learning how to handle these surprises can drastically shape your experience. Managing uncertainty effectively can help you create images that genuinely reflect your personal journey.

How Softbox Size and Distance Impact Your Photos

Understanding where to position your softbox and choosing the right size matters more than you might realize. Good lighting isn't just about power; it's about placement, distance, and modifier size, which can dramatically alter the feel of your images.

Returning to Old Locations Makes You a Better Photographer

Returning to a location you've photographed multiple times can feel like hitting replay, but it’s actually one of the best ways to push your creativity. Each visit, approached thoughtfully, can challenge you in fresh ways and help you find new images even in familiar scenes.

Improve Your Photography Without Leaving Home

Improving your photography doesn't have to mean expensive gear or exotic locations. Your own home can provide a space for effective practice and significant skill growth.

Boost Your Creative Vision in Just One Hour

When time is tight, creativity often feels like the first casualty. But imposing thoughtful limitations can actually improve your photographic eye and sharpen your skills.

Is the Fujifilm GFX100RF Worth the Premium Price?

The Fujifilm GFX100RF has captured significant attention, offering a fresh twist on medium format photography. It blends high-end imaging with a form factor that might surprise you, standing out in a crowded camera market.

Advanced Lightroom Edits Without Photoshop

Removing unwanted elements from your images can drastically change their impact, and knowing how to quickly and effectively achieve this within Lightroom alone can streamline your editing workflow.

How to Find Perfect Dark Sky Locations for Astrophotography

Astrophotography hinges on choosing the right location, often even more than equipment or technical skill. Whether you're battling city lights or traveling to remote spots, knowing how to select a dark sky location directly impacts the quality of your images.

Advanced Composition Tips for Captivating Photos

Understanding how to compose images beyond basic rules like thirds is vital for elevating your photography. It helps you tell more compelling visual stories and makes your photos stand out.

Pathways to Better Photography

If you're feeling directionless with your photography, exploring paths—literal roads, rivers, or trails—can offer the structure and creative freedom you've been missing. Many renowned photographers have anchored their work around these journeys, resulting in compelling narratives and unexpected discoveries.

How to Quickly Develop a Distinct Photography Style

Developing your photography style isn't something that has to happen passively over years—it can and should be intentionally shaped. A well-defined style quickly communicates your value, attracting clients who genuinely appreciate your creative vision rather than just your pricing.

Misconceptions Holding Back Your Street Photography

Street photography has its share of myths that can hold you back or limit your creativity. Understanding these misconceptions helps you find your unique path and approach, improving your images without unnecessary constraints.

Selective Editing Techniques for Richer Landscapes

When editing landscape photos, your handling of colors and tones can define whether an image truly comes alive or falls flat. Knowing how to enhance details without overdoing it is crucial to producing compelling images.

Take Full Control of Your Landscape Photo Edits

Landscape masking isn’t just another feature buried in your editing software—it’s a direct way to control where the viewer’s eye travels, what they notice first, and how your image feels. If you’re working with scenes that have complex skies, fields, or multiple subjects, learning to harness masking and adaptive presets matters because it lets you guide your edit instead of settling for what the camera captured.

Smarter Editing With Photoshop’s Overhauled Actions Panel

For the first time in over a decade, Photoshop’s Actions panel is getting a significant update. If you want a faster, smarter way to try out edits or explore effects without needing to build custom actions from scratch, this new feature is worth a look.

Real-World Landscape Tips That Actually Work

Some of the most common tips you see online about landscape and outdoor photography seem straightforward, but they can hold you back more than help you. Sorting out what works and what doesn't in real-world shooting is what keeps you from wasting time and missing good shots.

Finding Direction When You Feel Lost with Your Camera

Many photographers go through periods where inspiration feels out of reach or shooting feels aimless. Knowing how to regain momentum can be the difference between a dry spell and a breakthrough. Finding purpose in your work, even when it’s not tied to a big project, is something that can make all the difference.