What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Posts from the ‘Architecture’ category

Noordwijk Lighthouse 2018

A person walking away from a lighthouse under a cloudy sky, capturing a moment in black and white.
The Netherlands, Noordwijk – March 2018

The LAPC theme #385 is ‘unusual crop’. It is about cropping (re-framing an existing image) for effect. I used an old photo from March 2018 to play with for this theme. I cropped it to get rid of some elements that I kept in the original shot. This theme makes me think about how I shoot and the principles I learned in the past.

I am not sure I fully understand the essence of the brief. I only understand it if I take it literally: how it is unusual for me to use cropping while editing. Let me try to explain. Cropping afterwards is to re-frame a shot. My aim is to frame a desired photo at the shoot on the camera. That is a principal I learned long ago. Modern technology helps. You can see the result of a shot right away on the camera. And zoom lenses give you the flexibility to decide about the framing. Long ago, all I shot was on a 50 mm lens on film. Then sometimes I deliberately shot to ‘crop’ the result. E.g. when I was unable to get close enough. In the darkroom, you enlarged the picture (blow up), and then decided the result of the frame. Nevertheless, this often resulted in a loss of quality (grain, sharpness). So I learned to frame from the start, long ago.

But even in those analogue days, blowing up negatives was creative, it added to the texture of a photo. Nowadays it is easier to be playful using better technology. Camera’s, phones, software, monitors, computers all contribute to more agility in the editing process.

I am curious about the perspective of other ‘old school’ photographers. The ones who used film and a darkroom in the past before the digital age. How do they view this challenge?

Shot with iPhone 6s plus edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version.

Rejected Photos

Lens-artists Photo Challenge #382 is about rejected photos. What do you do with photos you do not like? You can throw them away, or you can keep them. And if you keep them what can you do with them? First a story of myself, how I work. And in the end an example.

I am a snap shooter for a long time. When looking at this question for myself, I have to distinguish between the analog age and the digital age. But in both ages it is about quality, how you can assess that and what instruments are available after shooting. And above all: how can you be creative, and how much room is there to experiment?

The analog age was expensive: film was expensive, darkroom materials were expensive too. And being a poor student I shot as efficient as possible. You had to be patient while shooting, and selective. You also needed to trust your skills. Experience was essential to figure out what worked and what not. To produce good prints you needed to develop darkroom skills. And some negatives were impossible to print. But you kept them all. I never threw away negatives. That decision was beneficial in the digital age. After scanning my negatives, I properly made them look like what I had in mind when shooting them. What the darkroom did not deliver, software did.

In the digital age the cost of a photo is nearly non existent. The original photo (the former negative) can be copied lots of times. From the start technology offers instruments to oversee the quality of the photos. What you shoot is instantly visible on the camera. You can try different changes in the photo. Adjustments like shutter time, focus, and shutter opening can be tested most of the time. The RAW format offers flexibility for editing the ‘negative’ after the shoot. Software offers lots of creative tools to change the photo, or create new images.

So, do you keep rejected (bad) photos or not? I do reject photos, overseeing the result on my camera. I keep photos that can come to a good result after editing. The rest I remove straight away (e.g. bracketing shots).What I keep is stored on my NAS, where I use Lightroom as my archiving tool. I use editing tools to tweak a photo slightly. My favorite is Snapseed for web and social media publication. And Lightroom and Photoshop for prints.

The digital age is a time for unlimited creativity. The photos of ‘dinner at Wiveton Bell’ are an example of testing out the iPhone in a very dark situation. I shot about 8 frames, I kept them all but had my doubts. At home I worked them in Lightroom and Snapseed. And was surprised by what came out. And the ones that did not work were indeed deleted.

On the left the photo published and on the right the original RAW file.

Four silhouetted figures walking in a dimly lit parking area at night, with a church tower in the background under a starry sky.
Four figures walking on a gravel path toward a church under a starry sky, with parked cars on either side.
Silhouettes of two people walking in a dimly lit street surrounded by parked cars and a faint glow from a nearby light source.
Two silhouetted figures walking on a dimly lit street at night, with a faint light illuminating their path, and a distant building silhouette against a darkened sky.
A moody, abstract landscape featuring silhouetted structures against a dark, colorful sky with hints of light.
A nighttime scene featuring dark clouds and a few visible stars, with silhouettes of buildings in the foreground.
A dimly lit pathway at night with a bright moon overhead, featuring shadowy figures walking along the path, illuminated by faint light.
A group of people walking along a dark path illuminated by flashlights, with a bright moon in the night sky.

Old Pub

A picturesque village square featuring traditional architecture with red-tiled roofs, surrounded by several buildings and a clear blue sky.
England, Blakeney – December 2025

The King’s Arms in in Blakeney. Founded in 1763. And still sells fresh beer.

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

Dinner at the Wiveton Bell in Norfolk

Abstract night scene featuring silhouettes of buildings and structures against a colorful, illuminated sky.
A dark night scene featuring a faint moon in the sky above a shadowy path, with silhouettes of people walking along the trail.
Two silhouetted figures walking on a dark street illuminated by a car's headlights, with a dark sky and a building in the background.
Four silhouetted figures walking towards a church under a starry night sky, with parked cars visible in the foreground.
England, Wiveton, Blakeney – December 2025

Having dinner at the Wiveton Bell. A beautiful moonlight night, an open invitation to play with the iPhone. The results did surprise me.

The bottom right photo is taken with the night modus. The rest with the manual mode of ‘real light’.

The one of the church reminds me of a medieval painting.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version. 

Steamtrain Museum Katwijk Leiden

Close-up of an old, rusty steam locomotive in a museum with visible wear and tear, showcasing its historical significance.
Close-up view of a vintage steam train locomotive in a museum, showcasing its weathered metal exterior and unique design.
Close-up of a weathered metal plaque with inscriptions, displaying the numbers and text related to bridges, tunnels, and earthworks, mounted on a rusty background.
Close-up of an old, rusty steam engine cabin displayed in a museum, with a cobblestone floor and a transparent roof.
A close-up view of old steam locomotives in a museum, showcasing their vintage design and machinery with informational plaques in a well-lit indoor space.
Rusty steam locomotive on display at the Steamtrain Museum in Katwijk, Leiden, showcasing vintage machinery and historical preservation.
The Netherlands, Valkenburg – October 2025

The Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #374 is ‘on the move’. Most of what is on these photos has not moved in a long time. However, the machines they got moving again are brilliant. It is a place where they try to keep history alive and accessible, touchable and usable.

The Steamtrain Museum Katwijk Leiden is run by volunteers. It offers the history of steam trains and their use on narrow gauge tracks. And the volunteers fix up and restore old locomotives, carriages and other cars. They have a big storage full of old parts and rusty machines.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Berlin Mall

View of the interior of the Mall of Berlin, showcasing its glass roof and spacious design with people walking, shops lining the sides, and a food court area.
Black and white image showcasing the interior of the Mall of Berlin, featuring a high glass roof, shops lining the walkways, and people walking through the spacious atrium.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

Every big city has its own mall, a big shopping center. Most of the times the shops and brands are the same as in the mall next to where you live. And the food court can be slightly different. The Mall of Berlin is no exception to that rule. The location (Leipziger Platz) makes it interesting, as does the architecture.

As always I can not choose: color, or mono?

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz: From Wall to Skyscrapers

A woman walks along a wide pavement at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, surrounded by modern high-rise buildings under a cloudy sky.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

Human measure on Potsdamer Platz. During the time of the Berlin Wall people were a spic in a vast open space. Now they are a spic being over towered by high rising.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Berlin Gendarmenmarkt

Reflection of the Französischer Dom visible in the glass doors of the Deutscher Dom at Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025
A view of the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral) at Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin, featuring its ornate dome and statues, with visitors strolling in the square.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

One of the beautiful squares in Berlin: the Gendarmenmarkt. On one side you find the Deutscher Dom a.k.a. Neue Kirche (German Cathedral), and opposite the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral). The top photo reflects the latter in the doors of the Deutscher Dom.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Gedächtnis Kirche Berlin

View of the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtnis Kirche, a memorial church in Berlin, surrounded by modern buildings, with cloudy skies overhead.
Black and white photograph of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, showcasing its historic architecture alongside modern buildings.
View of the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtnis Kirche, a historical church in Berlin, showcasing its damaged structure alongside modern buildings and scaffolding.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

One of the memorial landmarks of Berlin is the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtnis Kirche. In its simplicity it is a powerful landmark and memorial.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Bird Under A Wire

A small bird standing on the platform of Amsterdam Central Station, beneath a large, arched glass roof.
The Netherlands, Amsterdam – September 2025

A small bird in a big Amsterdam Central Station. The things you see while waiting for a train.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Connected

A group of people waiting at a train platform, some using their mobile phones, in black and white.
The Netherlands, Leiden – September 2025

On the platform waiting for a connection being connected by mobile phone.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Over the bridges

Black and white view of Leiden's canals and historic architecture, featuring a dome and trees lining the waterfront.
The Netherlands, Leiden – August 2026

A more detailed view of the photo I published yesterday of Leiden. Leiden used to be famous for fabrics, and canals provided the infrastructure for the logistics. Some of the canals were filled up in the second half of the 20th century. However, there are debates about opening a few of them again. These discussions focus on sustainability and environmental quality.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Old Front

Detail of decorative architectural relief featuring figures and inscriptions at the top of a historic building in Breestraat, Leiden, with emphasis on the former restaurant 'In den vergulden Turk.'
The Netherlands, Leiden – September 2025

Detail from a front in the Breestraat in Leiden. In den vergulden Turk used to be a restaurant. It moved decades ago to a different spot in town. It then changed its name to Wienerwald. The top of the original front is still there, and recently brought back to its old splendor.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

(The) Doors Revisited

This week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #361 is ‘Doors revisited’. That theme was also the brief for LAPC #20. A door is a pass way to another space behind it. That space can be something we know already. Or something we like to imagine to see there when we go through. And in books you can end up in another world. In this post a few doors I met in my life. One I used for a long time, most I just passed by or passed through on holidays.

The word ‘doors’ for me is also linked to the band The Doors. The name of the band came from a book by Aldous Huxley, The doors of perception. And Huxley took it from William Blake, who used it as a metaphor:

“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro’ narrow chinks of his cavern . Doors lead you to another side or space, break on through to the other side.”

‘Break on through to the other side’ became the title of a Doors’ song.

So a lot can be said about doors. Luckily, we still have the photos. Here are a few from my conscious memory.

Close-up of a door handle and keyhole on a white door, featuring a circular knob and a round lock.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – November 1991

This is the front door to the house I was born and lived in for 25 years. The photo is shot on Ilford XP with a Pentax K1000.

A detailed close-up of a wooden door featuring a unique hand-shaped door knocker, showcasing an intricate design.
France, Caylus – September 2005

This door in Caylus is ready to be knocked. Shot on Nikon D70.

A small white chapel with a blue door and a cross on top, set against a mountainous landscape.
Greece, Karpathos – September 2009

I looked through my archive. It struck me that lots of the doors I saw there are doors of small or bigger churches. This one is on Karpathos. Shot on Nikon D70.

A black and white photograph of a double door with a simple design, partially open, situated beside a wooden chair against a white wall.
Greece, Karpathos – September 2009

Another church door on Karpathos, shot on Kodak TriX with Nikon F90.

A large, intricately designed wooden door with a reddish hue, set within a stone archway. Above the door, there is a circular painting of a figure, likely religious, surrounded by decorative elements.
Greece, Lesbos – August 2007

A chapel door in Lesbos, also shot on Nikon D70.

A detailed black and white photograph of a wooden door adorned with intricate carvings and a padlock, showcasing traditional architectural elements.
Nepal, Kathmandu – March 2004

Kathmandu, shot with Nikon F90 on Kodak TriX.

Exploring Delft: A Glimpse of City Hall and New Church

The Netherlands, Delft – June 2025

The city hall of of Delft with the steeple of the New Church in the background.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Capturing Katwijk: Church and Rooftops

The Netherlands, Katwijk aan Zee – June 2025

This part of Katwijk is not much photographed, I guess. The roofs and the tower of the church made a nice composition.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

On Policy

The Netherlands, Den Haag – May 2025

The LAPC challenge for this week (#354) is ‘reflections’. Reflecting can be visual but also in a way of contemplating. On the photo three Dutch government policy departments.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

A Walk Through The Park


England, Southwell – April 2025

The cemetery of Southwell’s Minster.

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

Nobody Can Wait Forever

The Netherlands, Den Haag – May 2025

Den Haag Central Station.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Den Haag Central Station

The Netherlands, Den Haag – May 2025

Den Haag Central Station.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed,  GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version. 

Den Haag Tower

The Netherlands, Den Haag – May 2025

Den Haag Central Station.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed,  GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version. 

Southwell Minster Choir Gate

England, Southwell – April 2025

Choir Gate of Southwell’s Minster.

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

Southwell Minster Window

England, Southwell – April 2025

A window of Southwell’s Minster.

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

The importance of cleaning windows


The Netherlands, Den Haag – March 2025

Over looking Den Haag Central Station. Yesterday in mono, today in the original colors.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed, GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version. 

Dirty Windows

The Netherlands, Den Haag – March 2025

Over looking Den Haag Central Station. 

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed, GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version. 

Mobility in Color

The Netherlands, Den Haag – March 2025

The mobility hub above Den Haag Central Station.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed, GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Under The Roof

The Netherlands, Den Haag – March 2025

The mobility hub above Den Haag Central Station.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed, GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version. 

Den Haag Central Station

The Netherlands, Den Haag – February 2025

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed, GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Museum at night (2)

The Netherlands, Amsterdam – November 2024

The Scheepvaartmuseum/National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Museum at Night (1)

The Netherlands, Amsterdam – November 2024

The cellar of the Scheepvaartmuseum/National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Coming In – Going Out

The Netherlands, Schiphol Amsterdam – September 2024

Incoming and outgoing traffic at Schiphol Amsterdam. Just a drive by, and no worries, I was not driving the car.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Cairo 2002: Vintage Balcony Scene Captured on Kodak TriX | B4 Retouch Series

Egypt, Cairo – April 2002

A left over from an earlier LAPC ‘balconies’.

The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.

Shot with Nikon F90 on KodakTriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Night Club Sign and Balconies in Rethymnon, Crete

Greece, Rethymnon – September 2016

LAPC 309 is about balconies. I have to admit that I do not pay special attention to balconies, unless they trigger me as I look around and they catch my eye. This in Rethymnon on Crete. A bit of a messy shot, but I spotted the sign of the night club (does one have to be envious to visit?) and the adjacent balconies and roof, mimicking the eye lashes of the club sign. A kind of eyebrows raised photo.

shot with Nikon D7000, edited using Snapseed and Marksta.  Click the picture for a larger version.

2nd Balcony Scene, but it’s not Shakespeare

Greece, Rethymnon – September 2015

LAPC 309 is about balconies. I have to admit that I do not pay special attention to balconies, unless they trigger me as I look around and they catch my eye. This in Rethymnon on Crete. My first entry was an original monochrome on film. With this one I could not decide between the original and the edited monochrome version. Hence you see them both. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

shot with Nikon D7000, edited using Snapseed and Marksta.  Click the picture for a larger version.

1st Balcony Scene, but it’s not Shakespeare

Belgium, Antwerp – August 2024

LAPC 309 is about balconies. I have to admit that I do not pay special attention to balconies, unless they trigger me as I look around and they catch my eye. This in Antwerp. My previous entry was an original monochrome on film. With this one I could not decide between the original and the edited monochrome version. Hence you see them both. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Shot with iPhone 13 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Capturing Views from a Train Window

The Netherlands, Den Haag – June 2024

Lines in the sky seen from one of the most beautiful frames for pictures in The Netherlands: a train window offering a beautiful frame with always changing content in it.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Exploring Rotterdam’s Kop van Zuid | Twins (4)

The Netherlands, Rotterdam – May 2024

Architecture can be beautiful in full color as well in monochrome. In ‘twins’ I show the monochrome twin of the color shot at the Kop van Zuid in Rotterdam. The fourth set is New Orleans.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Exploring Rotterdam’s Kop van Zuid | Twins (3)

The Netherlands, Rotterdam – May 2024

Architecture can be beautiful in full color as well in monochrome. In ‘twins’ I show the monochrome twin of the color shot at the Kop van Zuid in Rotterdam. The third set is the Montevideo.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Exploring Rotterdam’s Kop van Zuid | Twins (2)

The Netherlands, Rotterdam – May 2024

Architecture can be beautiful in full color as well in monochrome. In ‘twins’ I show the monochrome twin of the color shot at the Kop van Zuid in Rotterdam. The second set is an old elevator at the Rijnhaven.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Exploring Rotterdam’s Kop van Zuid | Twins

The Netherlands, Rotterdam – May 2024

Architecture can be beautiful in full color as well in monochrome. In ‘twins’ I show the monochrome twin of the color shot of the high risings in Rotterdam on the Kop van Zuid in Rotterdam. The first set is De Rotterdam by Rem Koolhaas.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Exploring Rotterdam’s Kop van Zuid | Blocked



The Netherlands, Rotterdam – May 2024

LAPC challenge #305 is about composition: two rectangles as a play tool to frame a photo. Sometimes you get lots more than two, which adds to another aspect of composition: repetition. Not sure if this qualifies as a valid entry, but I do like the building. This is De Rotterdam by Rem Koolhaas.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Exploring Rotterdam’s Kop van Zuid | Floats

The Netherlands, Rotterdam – May 2024

The Rijnhaven in Rotterdam seen from the Kop van Zuid in Rotterdam.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Exploring Rotterdam’s the Kop van Zuid: Old Trade

The Netherlands, Rotterdam – May 2024

The Rijnhaven in Rotterdam seen from the Kop van Zuid in Rotterdam.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

The Final Parrot


England, Dorking – Forest Green – May 2024

The outside terrace of The Parrot in Forest Green/Dorking.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

Horsham in May 2024: Leisure

England, Horsham – May 2024

A pub, one of the best places for community connections (connect LAPC 303).

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

D-Day 80 years ago

France, Sainte-Mère-Église – July 2013

Today we remember that 80 years ago thousands were willing to pay the highest price to give us our freedom. John Steele landed on the pinnacle of this church in the early morning of June 6 1944 in Sainte-Mère-Église.

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

shot with Nikon D7000, edited using Snapseed and Marksta.  Click the picture for a larger version.

Parrot’s View

England, Dorking – Forest Green – May 2024

The view from the outside terrace of The Parrot in Forest Green/Dorking.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version