Knowledge in the Atelier (or: The First Shot of 2026)

This is my first attempt at taking a photo in 2026. I took it late one afternoon in my hometown, where I’m staying for a few days. My aim was to continue experimenting with the Nikon Z5 and various manual lenses. This time, I used the Nikkor 35 AF-D F2 — an old lens that is still very capable. Technically, the AF-D has autofocus. However, since I am using a ‘dumb’ adapter, I can only use the lens manually.

The juxtaposition between the mannequin in the background, which suggested an anatomical machine, and the owls in the foreground, a traditional symbol of wisdom and knowledge, is what pushed me to take the shot. In my mind, and therefore in my eyes, the overall composition told the story of how knowledge requires experience and experimentation.

Perhaps I have read too much into this photo. It may not actually be connected to the idea I was trying to express. However, as a test of the kit I used in the field, it worked fairly well.

Instead, it was the way I chose the focus that did not work. I should have focused on the mannequin, as it is the most visually interesting part of the image. However, I aimed at the owls, which I found more interesting, but which were not as effective. Furthermore, I missed the point of the image, which is not the owls, but the wood branch.