Welcome to Cool Stuff, a weekly feature where we post our favorite links from the past week, including our favorite articles and how-tos, videos, images and more.

Another slow week, folks, but there’s always something to talk about, so here it is…

• Headshot photographer Peter Hurley has a new tutorial video out called “The Art Behind the Headshot.” Our full review is forthcoming, but so far it looks like a must-have for any portrait photographer, not just headshot photographers.
• If you know about Peter Hurley, you’ve seen him shoot with Kino-Flo lights and you know how awesome they are. Here’s a video that gives you some info about how to build your own for about $100.
• Think being a National Geographic photographer is cool? Well, yes, it undoubtedly is, but it’s also a hazardous job. The Photo Society, a group of photographers who have been published in NatGeo have a reality check for you about working there. Our scariest incidents: Various Parasites or Trips into Chernobyl Reactor.
• Still wanna be a NatGeo photographer? William Allard, who’s been published in those hallowed pages describes how he landed his gig.
• Photographer Matthew Gore has a great video (below) showing how shutters in our DSLRs work, and why this is important to flash users.
• Think high-speed photography might be your thing? Then have a look at this tutorial from DIYPhotography.
• Reuters has published their list of the 100 best photos of 2011. Here it is, for your viewing pleasure.
• Timelapse photography is everywhere. Good timelapse photography, though, deserves a mention when it comes around. This Oregon timelapse falls into the latter category.
  
• Our friends at DPS show you how to create a timelapse in Lightroom
• Finally, we leave you with Stephen Colbert’s scathing commentary on CNN’s recent layoff of photographers. Their reason? The accessibility of quality cameras. Translation: people work for super-cheap, even free.

That’s it for this week’s cool stuff. If you have something you think should be included, let us know! Email us at [email protected]