  We discuss selected results from our recent work concerning the ARPES
(angle-resolved photoemission) spectra from the cuprates. Our focus is on
developing an understanding of the effects of the ARPES matrix element and
those of strong electron correlations in analyzing photointensities. With
simulations on Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+\delta}$ (Bi2212), we show that the
ARPES matrix element possesses remarkable selectivity properties, such that by
tuning the photon energy and polarization, emission from the bonding or the
antibonding states can be enhanced. Moreover, at low photon energies (below 25
eV), the Fermi surface (FS) emission is dominated by transitions from just the
O-atoms in the CuO$_2$ planes. In connection with strong correlation effects,
we consider the evolution with doping of the FS of
Nd$_{2-x}$Ce$_x$CuO$_{4\pm\delta}$ (NCCO) in terms of the $t$-$t'$-$U$ Hubbard
model Hamiltonian. We thus delineate how the FS evolves on electron doping from
the insulating state in NCCO. The Mott pseudogap is found to collapse around
optimal doping suggesting the existence of an associated quantum critical
point.
