[Theme] In search of spring, 2016

[Lars Hansen]

A few ones I meant to post earlier this month. 

[the solitaire]

Lumi found Spring

[Jakov Minić]

Buddy, I wonder which lens was used?
Shallow depth of field and blur circles in the background create a lovely effect!

[the solitaire]

Thank you Jakov. The lens used is the 55mm f1,2 Nikkor-S.C. Used wide open nailing focus can be a bit tough but out of 60 pictures I took yesterday 12 were good enough to process with focus and framing the way I intended each shot. I hardly ever crop my shots in post processing because the 12 megapixel sensor on my camera requires me to frame as tight as possible already to preserve most of the detail. I believe none of the shots above was cropped in post. None of them were sharpened either. Most of what I did was raise the intensity of the greens a bit and bring back/tone down some highlights

[John Geerts]

Beautifully done, Buddy. Great effect.  I think the SC is even a bit 'softer' than the last Ai version of the 55/1.2

[the solitaire]

Thank you John. I do think sample variation plays a part there as well. At f1,2 there is just so much that can go "wrong" and that gives each copy of the lens a distinct and unique look. Personally I am very happy with my copy but always on the search for a 2nd copy because I really like this lens that much.

A few weeks ago Chris offered me a copy of the lens and in retrospect I should have taken him up on that offer.

[Thomas G]

two more of the aquilegia vulgaris.

[John Geerts]

Beautiful Thomas.

Not sure if this belongs to the spring, but the Field Pea (also called Pisum sativum subsp. arvense has very impressive uncommon flowers.

[Thomas G]

Little guests. They just came along ...

[Lars Hansen]

So many great flower shots! I should get down on my knees and try harder myself - very inspiring.

Thomas - I like the extra dimension with the bugs and especially the spider ... flowers can be a dangerous place 

[John Geerts]

Nice guests

Fresh fern in the woods.

[the solitaire]

John, ferns are just intruiging. You captured them well

I also captured some fresh leaves on the Dutch/German border

[armando_m]

5 days of growth

[ArendV]

I visited a cheese farm this weekend, where they had about 10 very young calfs. This one was young enough not to have those ugly yellow earmarks yet. Certainly spring to me !

[Thomas G]

Nice one, Arend. Spring for sure!

Dandelion, again. Very fertile this time. Keep the calv away :-D

[edit] uuh, dirt on the sensor [/edit]