What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Unquiet Slumbers for The Restless Sleepers …….

Dramatic sunset scene with dark clouds and colorful hues of orange and pink on the horizon.
A dramatic sunset over a cloudy sky, featuring vibrant orange and yellow hues blending with darker clouds.
Dramatic sky at sunset featuring layered clouds in shades of gray, pink, and orange.
Dramatic sky filled with dark and stormy clouds, contrasting with hints of orange and yellow from the sunset below.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

The evening sunset sky, offers a wider range of colours.

Inspired by a Genesis’ song from the Wind and Wuthering album: Unquiet slumbers for the restless sleepers ……. in that quiet earth.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Choose your pick 3

A rural landscape featuring a grassy field with a fence, leading to a wooded area with trees and a dirt path in the background.
A black and white landscape featuring a barren tree in a field, with a winding dirt path and a wooden fence in the foreground. Dense forest is visible in the background.
England, Rusper – July 2026

People who follow my photoblog (thank you!) know my love for monochrome. And sometimes it is a matter of taste what to choose: the original colour shot, or the monochrome version? That is if the original shot is not done in monochrome, I do that quite a lot on iPhone and Nikon Zf.

The question to you is: which one do you prefer, and why? Any comments are as always welcome.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Choose your pick 2

A winding dirt path leads through a grassy landscape, bordered by a fence. In the background, there are dense trees and a few large, bare trees, under a partly cloudy sky.
A black and white landscape photo featuring a winding dirt path alongside a rustic fence. In the background, there is a dense forest and a lone bare tree. The scene showcases a serene countryside setting under a partly cloudy sky.
England, Rusper – July 2026

People who follow my photoblog (thank you!) know my love for monochrome. And sometimes it is a matter of taste what to choose: the original colour shot, or the monochrome version? That is if the original shot is not done in monochrome, I do that quite a lot on iPhone and Nikon Zf.

The question to you is: which one do you prefer, and why? Any comments are as always welcome.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Choose your pick

A gravel road leading through a rural landscape, framed by wooden fences and dotted with clouds in the sky.
A gravel road leading through a green field under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
England, Rusper – July 2026

People who follow my photoblog (thank you!) know my love for monochrome. And sometimes it is a matter of taste what to choose: the original colour shot, or the monochrome version? That is if the original shot is not done in monochrome, I do that quite a lot on iPhone and Nikon Zf.

The question to you is: which one do you prefer, and why? Any comments are as always welcome.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Country Road

A gravel road leading through a grassy landscape under a blue sky with scattered clouds, bordered by a wooden fence.
England, Rusper – July 2026

Almost heaven, West-Sussex………….

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Four

A serene pasture scene featuring four horses, two brown and one gray, grazing on lush green grass, surrounded by trees and a fence in the background.
England, Rusper – July 2026

Four mares, hopefully four new foals.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Skywalker

Two brown horses standing side by side next to a wooden fence in a grassy area.
England, Rusper – July 2026

Last year in May Skywalker was born with a hip problem. He recovered from that. Here he is a year and some months later.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Red Red Rose

A close-up of vibrant red roses surrounded by green leaves and tall grass, with soft sunlight illuminating the scene.
Two vibrant red roses surrounded by green leaves and delicate pink flowers in a grassy setting.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

Sometimes a little detail catches the eye. And keeps catching the eye. And then you take some photo’s. The red roses in the mix at early sunlight.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Gold

Close-up of a dried flower head with long, slender stems and small, brown seed pods radiating outward.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – June 2026

The last stages of the Allium flower.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

In The Mix

A vibrant garden scene featuring green leaves, a young tree, and bright red flowers in the foreground, illuminated by warm sunlight.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – June 2026

The early sunrise light is almost magical.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Heatwave

A view from a wooden table overlooking a vibrant garden with plants, flowers, and outdoor furniture, featuring hanging lanterns and a glass of orange juice.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – June 2026

Climate change seems to kick in, with a heatwave stronger than before the last week. Sit in the garden, having a drink, have a read. Chill.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Alien Allium

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – June 2026

Even after blooming the Allium flower stays remarkable.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Summer Rose

A close-up of a rose bush with bright yellow flowers, supported by stakes, set against a softly lit background of trees and greenery.
The Netherlands., Oegstgeest – June 2026

LAPC #403 focuses on photography tools: perspective, depth and scale. Roses in the warm after sunrise light.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

The End of Allium

Close-up of a round flower head with multiple thin stems and small buds, photographed in black and white.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – June 2026

LAPC #403 focuses on photography tools: perspective, depth and scale. Normally it is better to cut the flower off after it has died, to keep the food in the bulb for next year. But an Allium turns into something quite spectacular.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Allium Times

A close-up of a pink flower surrounded by lush greenery and soft blurred background, showcasing nature's beauty.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – May 2026

LAPC #403 focuses on photography tools: perspective, depth and scale. Sometimes framing helps to tell a story.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Alone

A close-up of a round purple flower with thin petals, growing on a green stem against a stone surface.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – May 2026

LAPC #403 focuses on photography tools: perspective, depth and scale. A ‘iPhone long shot’ of an Allium.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Slightly Different Allium Groups

A vibrant field of purple allium flowers with long stems, set against a backdrop of green foliage and soil.
The Netherlands, Lisse – May 2026
A field of vibrant purple allium flowers in neat rows, with green leaves emerging from the soil.

The Netherlands, Lisse – May 2026

LAPC #403 focuses on photography tools: perspective, depth and scale. Here two photos of the same group of Aliums in a field, slightly different use of depth and framing. The main difference is the use of focus and framing. I am not sure which one is better, so you be the judge of it.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Greens leaves

A field of tall, golden grass illuminated by soft sunlight against a dark background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – May 2026

LAPC #403 focuses on photography tools: perspective, depth and scale. Here a little detail on a sunny morning. The sunny backlight in the undergrowth.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Embedded

A tranquil pond surrounded by lush greenery and colorful flowering bushes, with a small wooden dock at the water's edge, reflecting the vibrant colors in the calm water.

The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

The park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger 

Sun Screen

A dramatic sky filled with dark clouds and a bright opening revealing the sun, creating a contrast between light and shadows.
A cloudy sky with the sun peeking through, creating a halo effect around it.
A dramatic, monochromatic image of a cloudy sky with varying cloud formations and light peeking through.
A black and white image of a cloudy sky with light peeking through, creating a dramatic atmosphere.
Dramatic black and white image of a cloudy sky with varying cloud formations and light peeking through.
Black and white image of a cloudy sky with a visible sun behind the clouds, featuring a textured, dot-pattern overlay.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – June 2026

The sky is an amazing object. It is always there, but we only pay attention to it a few times a day. When there are rain clouds, if it is blue, if the sun comes up, or goes down. And yet, living in a country with a low horizon, it is part of our life. At times a little message comes in making me pay attention. And do something simple, playful with the sky, the clouds and the sun. I admit, mostly near sunset time. Here six photos of the sky taken through a sun screen of a roof window. I do hope you enjoy them.

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #402 is a return to the first ever LAPC: wonder. I added a ‘sky’ archive. It is just an indicator of the role the sky has in my photos, 700 plus photos, so that is a long browse :-). You are warned.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Lions

A tranquil lake surrounded by lush green trees, featuring two lion statues on stone pedestals at the foreground, reflecting clouds and foliage in the water.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

The pond in the park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Frontal

A brick building facade featuring large windows with red shutters, a black door in the center, and two ornate lanterns on either side.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #402 is a return to the first ever LAPC: wonder. In this world there is plenty to wonder about. Like how they build something as beautiful as this, brought back to its original state in the nineties of last century, was created. It is part of a big palace, palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

On The Shore

A serene lakeside view featuring a tree, ducks, and colorful flowers in the background, under bright blue skies.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #402 is a return to the first ever LAPC: wonder. In this world there is plenty to wonder about. Sometimes it only takes a step outside of a pattern. Think of the way we are used to look at the world. In a photo you can use the light and darkness to frame a story of a very familiar subject.

The pond in the park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Embrace The World

A bronze statue of a girl with curly hair, standing with arms outstretched, in a shallow water fountain.
A bronze statue of a joyful child with arms outstretched, standing near a fountain with water droplets shimmering in the sunlight, surrounded by greenery.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #402 is a return to the first ever LAPC: wonder. Embrace the world and what it brings to you.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Downside Up

Reflection of clouds and trees on water, creating a serene and abstract visual effect.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #402 is a return to the first ever LAPC: wonder. In this world there is plenty to wonder about. Sometimes it only takes a step outside of a pattern. Think of the way we are used to look at the world. Just because we stand straight up most of the time (and the advantage is that you can take the photo the ‘right’ way up and just turn it while you edit it).

The pond in the park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Red Road

A brick pathway lined with trees under a partly cloudy sky, leading towards two people walking in the distance.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

The park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Lake View

A serene pond surrounded by lush green trees, reflecting the vibrant foliage and blue sky, with two people seated on a small island by the water's edge.
A serene park scene featuring a reflective lake surrounded by lush greenery, with two lion statues positioned at the water's edge.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

The lower part of the pond in the park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Nobody is an island except an island

A serene view of a pond surrounded by lush greenery and blooming flowers, under a partly cloudy sky.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

A pirate island in the middle of the pond in the park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Green

A serene landscape featuring lush green trees surrounding a calm pond, reflecting the trees and sky.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

The best of Spring: young green on trees, in such a vibrant color in the park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Up where we be long

A serene forest scene featuring tall trees with lush green leaves flanking a winding gravel path.

The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

The park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Boathouse

A serene blue wooden boathouse surrounded by lush greenery and a flowering bush, reflecting in a calm pond.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

A boathouse in the park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Getting There

A tree-lined path leading to a building in the distance, framed by vibrant green leaves and a blue sky.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026
A historic building with a large facade, featuring multiple windows and a Dutch flag flying atop. The surrounding area includes a cobblestone pathway and decorative lamp posts, and the sky is filled with clouds.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

The front of palace Het Loo.This week’s LAPC #401 is ‘Focus on the subject (#121 revisited).

If you are interested what posts I entered for LAPC #121, you can find them following this link.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

June 6 1944 – June 6 2026

To the brave and courageous

Who were willing to pay the ultimate price

And gave me my freedom

As a precious treasure

Never to be taken as a right

But like they did then to be defended

Again and again

Lest not forget

White cross gravestone with the name Elmer T. Bryant, 508 Parachute Infantry Regiment, South Carolina, June 6, 1944, with a red rose placed at its base in a cemetery.
Colleville sur Mer, France – July 2004

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville sur Mer.

shot with Nikon D70, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Over The Lake

A wooden dock leading out over a calm lake surrounded by vibrant green trees and blooming flowers, with a bright blue sky and fluffy white clouds.
A serene pond surrounded by lush greenery and blooming trees under a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds.
A scenic view of a calm lake framed by a decorative metal arch, with lush greenery and colorful flowers along the banks, under a partly cloudy sky.
A serene lake surrounded by lush greenery, featuring a white gazebo-like structure by the water and two people near a wooden dock.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

The pond in the park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Carp(e Diem)

Two fish swimming beneath the surface of murky green water, with swirling reflections visible on the water's surface.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

The pond in the park of palace Het Loo is filled with carps.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Bench Sitters

Serene park scene featuring a calm pond surrounded by lush green trees and colorful flowering shrubs, with a person sitting on a bench by the water's edge.
A serene park scene featuring lush green trees reflected in a calm lake, with two distant figures seated on the shore.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

A pond in the park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Stand Still

A bronze statue of a historical figure standing on a pedestal, surrounded by vibrant green trees and flowering plants.
A black and white photograph of a statue depicting a standing figure in historical attire, set against a backdrop of dense foliage.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

Colour and monochrome version of a statue in the park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Bench

A tranquil park scene featuring a black bench in the foreground, a statue behind the bench surrounded by lush greenery and flowering bushes.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

Bench and statue in the park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Two of Us

Two ducks swimming gracefully in calm water, creating ripples on the surface.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

Two geese in the park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Three Geese

Three geese standing by the water's edge, with greenery in the foreground and a serene pond in the background.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

LAPC #400 (congratulations) is ‘ rule of three’. Three geese in the park of palace Het Loo.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Bleu

A close-up view of a cluster of blue daisies with green stems and buds, set against a blurred background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – May 2026

LAPC #399 ís ‘stuck in a place’. Egidio offers a way to create motivation or inspiration to go out and about. This method is in my words ‘open up to what is right under your nose’. For me the garden is always a source of inspiration.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Fleurs

Black and white photo of a cluster of daisies surrounded by green foliage, featuring blooming flowers and buds.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – May 2026

LAPC #399 ís ‘stuck in a place’. Egidio offers a way to create motivation or inspiration to go out and about. This method is in my words ‘open up to what is right under your nose’. For me the garden is always a source of inspiration.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Mono Water Drips

Close-up of wet leaves with droplets in black and white.
Close-up of large green leaves with droplets of water on them, in black and white.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – May 2026

LAPC #399 ís ‘stuck in a place’. Egidio offers a way to create motivation or inspiration to go out and about. This method is in my words ‘open up to what is right under your nose’. For me the garden is always a source of inspiration, especially when it has rained and the sunlight creats little diamonds on leaves. In this case Hosta and water drops.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Water Drops on a Bed of Green

Close-up of green leaf surface covered in water droplets, showcasing a pattern of shiny beads of water reflecting light.
Close-up of a green leaf covered in water droplets, showcasing the texture and curvature of the leaf.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – May 2026

LAPC #399 ís ‘stuck in a place’. Egidio offers a way to create motivation or inspiration to go out and about. This method is in my words ‘open up to what is right under your nose’. For me the garden is always a source of inspiration, especially when it has rained and the sunlight creats little diamonds on leaves. In this case, the same Hosta and water drops in color.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

The Dark Side

Close-up of a leaf showing water droplets on its textured surface in black and white.
Close-up of a leaf with water droplets in black and white, showcasing the texture and curves of the leaf.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – May 2026

LAPC #399 ís ‘stuck in a place’. Egidio offers a way to create motivation or inspiration to go out and about. This method is in my words ‘open up to what is right under your nose’. For me the garden is always a source of inspiration, especially when it has rained and the sunlight creats little diamonds on leaves. In this case, Hosta and water drops.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Wood

Close-up of a textured wooden surface in black and white, showing grain patterns and shadows.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – May 2026

An abstract of the texture of garden furniture.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version