May 2026

[christeo]

May 6

Rhododendron

Zf  Voigtländer 28mm f/2

Lovely image. I like the composition and colors.

[Frank Fremerey]

Kniphofia  (Poker plant)
Zf  40/2

Very beautiful. I guess I underestimate the little piece of plastic

[Birna Rørslett]

The Nikkor 40mm f/2 (SE version, but that's just a window-dressing variant to extract more money from the hard-core old-timers) is in fact a surprisingly nice and versatile optic, despite its plastic design. It is further endeared by being a very capable performer in Infrared too. I'm on my third sample now; first was the "wrong" non-SE version so I traded it in, the second was stolen (together with my black Zfc) thus I purchased another 40 SE + black Zfc to replace these items. I had similar experiences with all these copies. Handling on the Z fc is perfect and on the Zf, nearly so as well.

[John Geerts]

Very beautiful. I guess I underestimate the little piece of plastic

Thanks Frank.  The 40/2 is very nice and versatile, I also have the SE version and with the metal sunhood HN-3 a bit unplasticed.

[John Geerts]

Kniphofia's are nice there are some hybrids in special colours. https://hessenhof.nl/genera/kniphofia-vuurpijl-knip
I generally find them too tender for our climate, unless you find the right spot.

The streetgarden on the south with full sun seems a great place for the Kniphofia's 

[John Geerts]

Nice photo. Nice rendering, too, is it with the Nikon Z 40 f/2, or Voigtländer of any kind?

Thanks Christeo. This is the Nikon Z 40/2  SE 

[Fons Baerken]

Lovely image. I like the composition and colors.

Thank you Christeo.

[John Geerts]

The Leica M8 is IR sensitive

Here with Voigt Nokton 35/1.2 and IR 720nm filter

[Birna Rørslett]

Have you considered doing a w/b of that IR shot? Cannot say I'm very partial to the wash of bland, reddish colours.

An interesting factoid is the cones of the Larix (?) tree are IR black. That reminds me of the bracts of dandelions and similar species in the Asteraceae.

[Birna Rørslett]

Silent spring.

(Z fc, 16-50 kit lens)

[John Geerts]

Have you considered doing a w/b of that IR shot? Cannot say I'm very partial to the wash of bland, reddish colours.

An interesting factoid is the cones of the Larix (?) tree are IR black. That reminds me of the bracts of dandelions and similar species in the Asteraceae.

I think it are Platanus trees

[christeo]

Thanks Christeo. This is the Nikon Z 40/2  SE

Thanks!

The Nikkor 40mm f/2 (SE version, but that's just a window-dressing variant to extract more money from the hard-core old-timers) is in fact a surprisingly nice and versatile optic, despite its plastic design. It is further endeared by being a very capable performer in Infrared too. I'm on my third sample now; first was the "wrong" non-SE version so I traded it in, the second was stolen (together with my black Zfc) thus I purchased another 40 SE + black Zfc to replace these items. I had similar experiences with all these copies. Handling on the Z fc is perfect and on the Zf, nearly so as well.

Good too know!
I think I, some day, will by the 40 mm f/2 as a more compact alternative to my 35 f/1.8 S. I do not expect the same image quality though.
A 35 f/1.2 S is on my dream list, but would likely not be used enough to defend the investment and it is very far from being light and compact :-) Maybe I will by a used copy in 5-10 years, or so :-)

[golunvolo]

Beautiful image of the Spanish spring. Seems like a good time to travel there.

  Thank you.
 It is the best time. Not too hot, not too many tourist. May is the month

[golunvolo]

Quiet time.

  Z9, 24-70 2.8S

[photoni]

I think it are Platanus trees

It looks like a Liquidambar - sweetgum (Styraciflua) to me. Its deciduous leaves are divided into 5-7 narrow, elongated triangular lobes with serrated edges (similar to those of maple); when rubbed, they release a pleasant scent. The autumn fruits are spiny, spherical, 3 cm in diameter, with a long stalk, similar to cherries.