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Alexander Popkov photo


Helios 44-2 review - beyond swirly bokeh
Helios 44-2 is cheap Soviet glass famous for swirly bokeh, low contrast, flare, and focus suffering. It will not give you clean modern perfection, and that is exactly the point. This is a field review of how its imperfect rendering works for portraits, nature details, dark atmosphere, and slow photography, not a brick-wall sharpness ritual.
Alexander Popkov
Jun 215 min read


The Naked Truth About Finnish Sauna Etiquette
Finnish sauna etiquette sounds calm in guides. Here is what actually happens when sauna culture meets parties, nudity, löyly, and lakes.
Alexander Popkov
May 54 min read
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