What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Posts from the ‘B4 Retouch’ category

Horses in the Fog

England, Fayegate – August 2014

About the B4 retouch series:
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. Some of them are partly retouched but most do have scratches, dust and stains
.

Shot with an unknown point and shoot pocket camera on Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Potala Palace

Tibet, Lhasa – April 2004

The Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.

About the B4 retouch series:
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. Some of them are partly retouched but most do have scratches, dust and stains.

Originally shot with Nikon F301 on Fuji Film, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Walkie-Talkie

England, London – August 2014

A view on the City with 20 Fenchurch Street (aka Walkie-Talkie) in August 2014,.

About the B4 retouch series:
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. Some of them are partly retouched but most do have scratches, dust and stains
.

Shot with an unknown point and shoot pocket camera on Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Sphinx

Egypt, Gizeh – April 2002

The 141th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is ‘geometry ’. This photo has some geometrical shapes in it 🙂

The Sphinx and pyramid of Cheops aka the Great Pyramid on the Giza plateau.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Geometry

England, Chester – July 2010

The 141th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is ‘geometry ’.

The altar and backdrop of the Chester cathedral in England.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version.

Reeuwijkse Plassen

The Netherlands, Reeuwijk – August 2014

A sunny morning on the Reeuwijkse Plassen near Reeuwijk. I forgot about the point and shoot camera I used.

About the B4 retouch series:
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. Some of them are partly retouched but most do have scratches, dust and stains
.

Shot with an unknown point and shoot pocket camera on Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Lhasa Tibet

Tibet, Lhasa – March 2004

The 139th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is ‘special moments’. Pilgrims at the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa.

In March 2004 I visited Tibet. It would be an understatement if I said it was just overwhelming. The backdrop of the Himalayas. The fact that we were ‘high’: most of the time 3500 meters over sea level, my normal level of living.
The people and their close contact with religion, Buddhism. All parts of a puzzle that hopefully will bring me back there one day.

About the B4 retouch series:
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. Some of them are partly retouched but most do have scratches, dust and stains.

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

Sphinx and Pyramid of Cheops

Egypt, Gizeh – April 2002

The 139th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is ‘special moments’. The Sphinx and pyramid of Cheops on the Giza plateau.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Stonehenge

England, Stonehenge – June 2005

The 139th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is ‘special moments’. (click the photo for a the bigger picture, this one needs it 🙂 )

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Street Paris 2000

France, Paris – April 2000

The 139th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is about ‘natural light’. A street scene.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Jardin des Tuileries

France, Paris – April 2000

The 139th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is about ‘natural light’. Jardin des Tuileries seen from Jardin du Carrousel.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Place de la Concorde

France, Paris – April 2000

The 139th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is about ‘natural light’.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Rue Rivoli

France, Paris – April 2000

The 139th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is about ‘natural light’. Rue Rivoli with its arches and light and darker spaces.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Ardennes 1977

Belgium, Ardennes – April 1977

The 139th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is about ‘natural light’. A view over the hills of the Ardennes in Belgium.

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.

Paris 2000

France, Paris – April 2000

The 139th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is about ‘natural light’.
A peek in a hair dresser shop in Paris April 2000. Image in images.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Street Paris 2000

France, Paris – April 2000

The 136th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is about ‘things that start with the letter S’.
A street scene in Paris April 2000.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Plateau

Yemen, Haraz Mountains – April 1998

This week’s theme of the weekly lens artists challenge (#135) is ‘glimpse into your world’. The brief is simple: show us what makes your world spin, or what makes you delirious with joy. Let me start by showing what makes my world spin in photography. That is to visit places, travel, and monochrome photography. One of the most impressive trips was to Yemen in 1998. A beautiful country with amazing scenery and a rich culture. A mountain view near Sanaa in the Haraz mountais in Yemen.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Yemen Mountain Landscape

Yemen, Manakhah – April 1998

This week’s theme of the weekly lens artists challenge (#135) is ‘glimpse into your world’. The brief is simple: show us what makes your world spin, or what makes you delirious with joy. Let me start by showing what makes my world spin in photography. That is to visit places, travel, and monochrome photography. One of the most impressive trips was to Yemen in 1998. A beautiful country with amazing scenery and a rich culture. A mountain view near Manakhah in the Haraz mountais in Yemen.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Qat

Yemen, Manakhah – April 1998

This week’s theme of the weekly lens artists challenge (#134) is ‘from forgotten to favorite’.

I am scanning my archive of negatives and find some treasures I had forgotten about.

Plateaus of qat (or khat) in the sunrise near Manakhah in the Haraz mountais in Yemen.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Land Cruiser

Yemen, April 1998

This week’s theme of the weekly lens artists challenge (#134) is ‘from forgotten to favorite’.

The desert of Yemen 1998, a Toyota Land Cruiser in dust in a convoy.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Ardennes 1977

Belgium, Ardennes – April 1977

This week’s theme of the weekly lens artists challenge (#134) is ‘from forgotten to favorite’. Are there images that I hoped would turn out right, but did not. And could you turn them by editing into ‘keepers’? If so, show an example.

This challenge sends me back to the days of film. Ample of good objects around, but did they come out on film the way I hoped? In those days you could not check the backside of your camera, and try a few settings and tweaks to find out what worked best. It was shoot and go. Film was expensive so most of the time it was a lucky shot based on intuition and experience. Most of them came out ok, some really were disappointing.

The photo above has a story behind it that comes close to this theme. At the end of the post is the scanned negative of the original photo. I am not sure the edited one above is a keeper, but it shows my line of thought and the original intention of framing this rock wall in a forest in the Ardennes. It did not strike me as a spot I would go for a pick nick. The road next to it, mud, rock, nothing to see but passing cars. But the details of the rock and the trees, with the strange object of the pick nick table triggered my shutter. This photo was kept on archive for a long time. It was in my secondary school notebook (the time we actually wrote with pens on paper). And recently when I was scanning my archive from negative it popped up again.

In a way I do like the object. It is kind of sinister and powerful. I wonder about your thoughts on it.

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.

Road

The Netherlands, Nieuwerkerk – April 1982

The theme for the lens-artists #132 is ‘striped and checked’.

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Chartres

France, Chartres – August 2002

The theme for the lens-artists #132 is ‘striped and checked’.

Part of the cathedral at Chartres.

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.

Margraten landscape

The Netherlands, Margraten – October 1982

The theme for the lens-artists #132 is ‘striped and checked’.

Flowing lines in the hill landscape of Limburg.

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

On The Road

The Netherlands, Nieuwerkerk – April 1982

The theme for the lens-artists #132 is ‘striped and checked’.

One from the archive of 1982. Not too many lines but they are checked 🙂

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

My Hometown 8

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – August 1982

A test shot for a new long zoom lens.

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax ME super II on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

My hometown 7: Errands

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – August 1982

A test shot for a new long zoom lens.

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax ME super II on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

My Hometown 6

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – April 1979

The theme for the lens-artists#131 is ‘emotions’.

An old tradition is ‘ringsteken’. Literally stitching a ring from a wood block, hanging from a rope over the road, sitting in a carriage, pulled by one or more horses. The jury is watching.

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

My Hometown 5

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – April 1979

The theme for the lens-artists#131 is ‘emotions’.

An old tradition is ‘ringsteken’. Literally stitching a ring from a wood block, hanging from a rope over the road, sitting in a carriage, pulled by one or more horses.

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Margraten 2

The Netherlands, Margraten – October 1982

The theme for the lens-artists#131 is ‘emotions’.

This is the American cemetery in Margraten. One name among many.

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

My Hometown 4

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – April 1979

The theme for the lens-artists#131 is ‘emotions’.

An old tradition is ‘ringsteken’. Literally stitching a ring from a wood block, hanging from a rope over the road, sitting in a carriage, pulled by one or more horses.

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Margraten

The Netherlands, Margraten – October 1982

The theme for the lens-artists#131 is ‘emotions’.

This is the American cemetery in Margraten. A place for sadness, but also joy and many thanks.

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

My Hometown

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – January 1979

Winter 1979, an old former farmhouse ‘Ora et Labora’.

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

My Hometown 3

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – January 1979

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

My Hometown 2

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – January 1979

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Lighthouse

The Netherlands, Haamstede – April 1982

A photo of long ago. The lighthouse of Haamstede in Zeeland, The Netherlands.

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Rain Drops

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 1979

The theme for Weekly Lens Artists 126 is ‘A stands for … ’.

A is of course Aqua, water.
I just found out that I republished this photo. First time was March 2020.

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.

The  picture was scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version

Water

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – June 1977

The theme for Weekly Lens Artists 126 is ‘A stands for … ’.

A is of course Aqua, water.

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.

The  picture was scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Sun silhouette

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – June 1977

The theme for Weekly Lens Artists 125 is ‘you can pick it’.

A very old sunset from long ago showing the sky over Oegstgeest and the tower of the Roman Catholic Church.

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.

The  picture was scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Going in circles

Belgium, Ardennes – April 1977

The theme of Lens-Artists #124 is ‘Now and then’.

A long time ago, somewhere in the Ardennes on a cold April day. Going round in circles. Learning how to use black and white and shoot a decent photo.

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.

The  picture was scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

L’Aber Wrac’h

France, L’aber Wrac’h – August 1981

The theme of Lens-Artists #124 is ‘Now and then’.

The coast of Finistère in Summer is breath taking. This was then, but it still is amazing.

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak Plusx, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Paris Then December 1981

France, Paris – December 1981

The theme of Lens-Artists #124 is ‘Now and then’.

Paris in December 1981. A view from the hill of Sacré Coeur into the city at the end of the Winter afternoon just before sunset. A shot on Kodak Color II brought back to monochrome. Camera unknown.

About the B4 retouch series:
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. Some of them are partly retouched but most do have scratches, dust and stains.

Originally shot on Kodak color II, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Birds

The Netherlands, Achterhoek – October 1990

The theme of Lens-Artists #124 is ‘Now and then’.

In times of covid things change, some in small ways, some in quite ‘big’ ways. The world is not getting smaller but seems smaller. Going away for a long weekend is more like a logistical planned event than a spontaneous ‘let’s get away’. And even the way I take photo’s is changed. I see less that catches my eye, all is so familiar close by. So I went way back till way then, October 1990, a long weekend with old school mates. The mates are still there, on Whatsapp. But the feeling of this image is different. A swarm of birds against a sunset. Being free, to wander, to roam. Patience my dear heart.

About the B4 retouch series:
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. Some of them are partly retouched but most do have scratches, dust and stains.

Originally shot with Nikon F301 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Hirondelles

France, Luc-en-Diois – August 1998

The theme for Lens-artists Weekly Photo Challenge #123 is ‘Found in the Neighborhood’.

Well, this is a photo of a neighborhood from a long time ago during a holiday in France.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using  Snapseed and Marksta, Click the picture for a bigger version

Playful Sunset

Greece, Crete Rethymnon – July 1979

The theme for Lens-artists Weekly Photo Challenge #122 is ‘The sun will come out tomorrow’

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.

The  picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak Plusx, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Père Lachaise

A black and white photograph of a serene cemetery path lined with bare trees, leading into rows of tombstones and monuments.
France, Paris – January 1989

The theme for Lens-artists Weekly Photo Challenge #121 is ‘Focus on the subject’.

One from the archive. Père Lachaise is a famous graveyard in Paris, with lots of celebrities being rested there.

About the B4 retouch series:
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. Some of them are partly retouched but most do have scratches, dust and stains.

Originally shot with Nikon F301 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Père Lachaise

Preview(opens in a new tab)

A narrow, winding cobblestone path through a foggy cemetery, lined with tombstones and shadowy trees in the background.
France, Paris – January 1989

The theme for Lens-artists Weekly Photo Challenge #121 is ‘Focus on the subject’.

One from the archive. Père Lachaise is a famous graveyard in Paris, with lots of celebrities being rested there.

About the B4 retouch series:
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. Some of them are partly retouched but most do have scratches, dust and stains.

Originally shot with Nikon F301 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Parc Güell

Two men in collared shirts stand facing away from the camera, observing a bustling street scene with a diverse crowd of people engaged in various activities.
Spain, Barcelona – September 1990

The theme for Lens-artists Weekly Photo Challenge #121 is ‘Focus on the subject’.

Parc Güell in Barcelona.

About the B4 retouch series:
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. Some of them are partly retouched but most do have scratches, dust and stains.

Melancholy

A young child riding a bicycle down a wide, paved pathway lined with trees and distant pedestrians.
France, Montpellier – August 1998

The theme for Lens-artists Weekly Photo Challenge #121 is ‘Focus on the subject’.

One from the archives. A little boy in Montpellier.

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 Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using  Snapseed and Marksta, Click the picture for a bigger version

Vercors 1990

France, Vercors – August 1990

The theme for Lens-artists Weekly Photo Challenge #115 is ‘Inspiration’.

Coming from a land that is flat as a pancake, mountains and hills are a source of inspiration, reflection and sport. Climbing a mountain by bicycle is a wonderful experience, offering lots of insights about who and what you are. This one was shot with Pentax Mju on Fuji Film.

About the B4 retouch series:
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. Some of them are partly retouched but most do have scratches, dust and stains.