What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Posts from the ‘Black and White’ category

Magnolia Close Up Daily 3


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2025

Since January I try to take regular photos of the Magnolia tree in the garden. The coming days I will publish a daily photo of a close up. For some it will be boring and repetitive, for most (I hope) it will be fun.

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

Magnolia Close Up Daily 2


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2025

Since January I try to take regular photos of the Magnolia tree in the garden. The coming days I will publish a daily photo of a close up. For some it will be boring and repetitive, for most (I hope) it will be fun.

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

Magnolia Close Up Daily 1

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2025

Since January I try to take regular photos of the Magnolia tree in the garden. The coming days I will publish a daily photo of a close up. For some it will be boring and repetitive, for most (I hope) it will be fun.

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

Magnolia Close Up Entangled

Since January I try to take regular photos of the Magnolia tree in the garden. The coming days I will publish a daily photo of a close up. For some it will be boring, for most (I hope) it will be fun.

Shot with Nikon Zf, edited using SnapseedGrainLab 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

On the horizon

The Netherlands, Leidschendam – February 2025

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

Where Old Meets New aka Advertising Space

This week Lens Artist Photo Challenge #335 is exploring color versus monochrome aka black and white. Compare a color photo with a monochrome print of it. What works better? 

A few days ago I published a resembling shot in color and mono. This post differs from the earlier ones. The tree on the right went out of the frame. And a very modern advertising pole pops up in the background.

My love for the bleak colors of Winter’s light are the same. But I prefer this mono version, even if it was originally shot in color. GrainLab is a great tool, and the atmosphere of the photo is ‘old’ but the view is modern.

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

Meet The Ducks

The Netherlands, Leidschendam – February 2025
The Netherlands, Leidschendam – February 2025

This week Lens Artist Photo Challenge #335 is exploring color versus monochrome aka black and white. Compare a color photo with a monochrome print of it. What works better? 

Two landscapes, originally shot in color. I do prefer the monochrome version. That was tweaked with GrainLab.

Yesterday I publiced this one in color. I do like it, the bleak colors of Winter light are nice. But I prefer this mono version, even if it was originally shot in color. The dark spots are much more toned and I do like the grain feel of Kodak Tri X.

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

Back Up

The Netherlands, Leidschendam – February 2025

This week Lens Artist Photo Challenge #335 is exploring color versus monochrome aka black and white. Compare a color photo with a monochrome print of it. What works better?

I tend to think in black and white at most moments. Just my preference. And if I can I shoot just in a mono mode on my iPhone or my recent purchased Nikon Zf.

Yesterday I publiced this one in color. I do like it, the bleak colors of Winter light are nice. But I prefer this mono version, even if it was originally shot in color,

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

Magnolia Up Close

The Magnolia in the front garden is slowly waking up from Winter.

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

All Along The Watertower

England, Manningtree – Horsley Cross – December 2024

Ending the year in the UK, a roadside view from the car over a foggy Essex countryside. Hence the sharpness is not optimal.

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

Capturing Foggy Countryside: We Stand Alone – Stowmarket, Suffolk


England, Stowmarket – Little Stonham – December 2024

Ending the year in the UK, a roadside view from the car over a foggy Suffolk countryside. Hence the sharpness is not optimal. This is another one I used GrainLab to put in an analogue grain feeling. It softened the darks and gave the photo a more balanced view in the highlights. Snapseed tends to distort big surfaces in the sky, and this is a nice retouch effect to repair that.

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

Capturing Foggy Countryside: England Roadside Views – Stowmarket, Suffolk

England, Stowmarket – Little Stonham – December 2024

Ending the year in the UK, a roadside view from the car over a foggy Suffolk countryside. Hence the sharpness is not optimal. This is the first time I used GrainLab to put in an analogue grain feeling. It softened the darks and gave the photo a more balanced view in the highlights. Snapseed tends to distort big surfaces in the sky, and this is a nice retouch effect to repair that.

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

Impressions of a bridge in Winter (7)

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2024

The last in a series of seven photos, taken on a foggy morning from the J.H. Oortbrug in Oegstgeest.
The photos can be found in the archive Oegstgeester Kanaal, link down here.

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

Impressions of a bridge in Winter (6)

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2024

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

Impressions of a bridge in Winter (5)

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2024

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

Impressions of a bridge in Winter (4)

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2024

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

Impressions of a bridge in Autumn (3)

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2024

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

Impressions of a bridge in Winter (2)


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2024

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

Impressions of a bridge in Winter (1)

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2024

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

Monochrome Autumn


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2024

One of the first photos of my new camera, the Nikon Zf. A retro FM2 on the outside but on the inside full of brilliant Nikon Z technology. Its a real hands on camera, with manual settings. I’m learning to use it. One of the reasons to buy it was the availability of three monochrome presets. 

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

Another Bridge

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2024

Crossed to a new year, 2025 is just started. I wish everyone a wonderful 2025 in good health, with loads of love and moments in which wishes become reality. Where we can talk and bridge judgments.

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

Monochrome Leaves

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2024

The first photos of my new camera, the Nikon Zf. A retro FM2 on the outside but on the inside full of brilliant Nikon Z technology. Its a real hands on camera, with manual settings. I’m learning to use it. One of the reasons to buy it was the availability of three monochrome presets.

Shot with Nikon Zf, edited using Snapseed 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

Klinkenberger Plas

The Klinkenberger Plas in Autumn.

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

View of Scheveningen from Katwijk aan Zee

The Netherlands, Katwijk aan Zee – November 2024

View on Scheveningen in the distance.

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

2341@TCOgst16

Walking Dogs


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2024

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

One Step Before Beyond


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2024

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

Over Pass


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2024

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

Over The Bridge


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2024

The access to the J.H. Oortbrug.

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

From The Bridge, Into The Distance

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2024

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

Glimpse


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2024

This week lens artists challenge #323 is ‘silence’. How to depict silence?

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

The Link

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

Intentional Creative Movement – Bicycle

This week’s Lens Artitsts Photo Challenge (#321) is Intentional Camera Movement (ICM). These photos are from a workshop in 1997 in France, where we had to create movement with a low shutter speed while following the subject. Basically a fun excercise but done on film. So the result literally came to light after developing the film. The excitement and anxiety about the possible results were out of scale! Patience.

These film archives are the source of my B4 retouch series.

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 andMarksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Exploring the Amsterdam-Sloterdijk Power Plant

A fossil power plant on smoke, next to the A5 in Amsterdam-Sloterdijk.

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

The monochrome loneliness of the SUP Paddler

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – September 2024

Another – monochrome – photo of the SUP Paddler. The full sunrise colorful one is here.

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

Finding Beauty in the Ordinary: Canal Reflections

LAPC #316 is ‘Finding beauty in unexpected places’. One of the objects for photographs is the canal that runs through my village. It is quite ordinary, there is a vast amount of small and little canals to dispose of water in The Netherlands. To manage water in a country that is partly under sea level, one has to build infrastructure to keep dry feet. Two pictures taken at the same moment of the day, slightly different in monochrome style. The first is with the silvertone setting, the last with the dark setting on the iPhone. It changes the atmosphere completely. And one may be more beautiful than the other, it is all in the eye of the beholder.

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

Terrace Life

LAPC #316 is ‘Finding beauty in unexpected places’.

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

Coming In – Going Out

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

An evening at Katwijk aan Zee Around Sunset – August 2024

The Netherlands, Katwijk aan Zee – August 2024

Sometimes it just happens. You are in a place and the light is fantastic, and there is so much to frame in a photo. The sunset is spectacular and for some odd 30 minutes you are in a photography candy shop. This is a selection of what ended up on my phone on that hot August evening.

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

Stunning Black and White Sunsets in Katwijk (Give a Little Bit)


The Netherlands, Katwijk aan Zee – August 2024

Yesterday I told you about my passion and history in monochrome. And that I do shoot sunsets in black and white. Here is another one of the same sunset, but framed different. I will publish an overview of all those shots of same sunset that evening. Each of them show a bit of it, it’s in my humble opinion nice to see the big picture.

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