Original Articles Written by Alex Cooke

Think prime lenses are still unbeatable? Think again—modern zooms are challenging everything we once believed about the best lenses.

Photography is a notoriously expensive hobby, but lack of funds doesn’t have to stifle your creativity. Here are great alternatives to expensive gear and annoying subscriptions.

Photography has always been about capturing light to preserve moments. For over a century, that meant exposing a roll of film and then disappearing into a darkroom or waiting for a lab to develop the images. It’s easy to forget how different this process was before digital cameras came along. In the 1970s, the idea of instantly seeing a photo on a screen felt like science fiction. Yet it was in this era of film and chemicals that a young engineer quietly built a device that would change photography forever. What follows is the story of how the first digital camera was invented and how it transformed the way we take and share photos.

In today’s age of instant digital connectivity, photographers can showcase their work to prospective clients across the globe with just a few mouse clicks. While the allure of far-flung destinations and exotic travel remains strong, there is a growing trend toward turning the camera’s lens closer to home. Photographers are discovering the value of prioritizing “home turf”—that is, focusing on and mastering local markets. This approach is not just a quaint alternative; it can be the pillar of a robust and sustainable photography career.

The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2025, we're featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.

The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2025, we're featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.

These opinions might ruffle feathers, but they're rooted in years of shooting, testing, and loving cameras of all shapes and sizes. From color science to craftsmanship, lens lore to mirrorless revolutions – nothing is off-limits. Disagree? Good. Fight me.

The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2025, we're featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.

As photographers grow more familiar with their gear and solidify their preferred approach, it’s easy to fall into comfortable, well-trodden patterns. We often return to the same focal lengths, shoot the same subjects, rely on the same post-processing techniques, and compose images according to established habits. While there’s value in refining a signature style, there is also a risk of stagnation.