What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Posts from the ‘Nikon Zf’ category

Choices And Preferences 1 (Cley next the sea)

A scenic view of the Cley windmill set against a backdrop of a cloudy sky and tall golden grasses in the foreground.
A black and white photograph of the Cley windmill, located in Cley next the Sea, set against a field of grasses under a cloudy sky.
England, Cley next the sea – January 2025

I have a fondness for black and white aka monochrome. That grew on me. Mono was cheaper 50 years ago and more ‘easy’ to handle in a dark room. Monochrome gives something extra at times. The sphere, the grain. And over all these years I learned to see objects in monochrome, visualizing what something looks like in grays.

When I bought my first Nikon digital camera (the D70), I naively asked ‘where is the monochrome setting?’. It was not there. Shooting was color only. If I wanted mono I had to create it myself afterwards in Lightroom, Photoshop or an app like Snapseed. But lucky for me, on the iPhone and on the recent Nikon Zf, there are monochrome settings. To be honest, that was one of the reasons to buy a Zf. So now I have a choice: mono or color.

I know the taste of my ‘audience’ is different than mine. In three days I like to find out more about your taste. What do you fancy more: a photo in mono or in color?

This is the famous Cley windmill at Cley next the sea. It’s by far the best name for a coastal village. Interestingly, it actually does not have a sea front. The mill was owned by the family of James Blunt. The photo was shot in color.

Shot with Nikon Zf, 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.

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.

Timeless Guildford

England, Guildford – April 2025

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

Angel Gate Guildford

England, Guildford – April 2025

The old Posting House in Guildford now the Angel Hotel.

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

Blue Belled Graveyard

England, Guildford – April 2025

Near the High Street of Guildford is a St. Mary’s Church with an old graveyard. The Church where Lewis Caroll used to preach under his real name.

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

Exploring Guildford: The Surrey Scholar

England, Guildford – April 2025

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #350 (congratulations!) is ‘zooming’. A zoomlens gets you nearer to the subject, and can be used for lots of creative effects. The brief for this LAPC is to be creative, but in this photo I used the zoom just to get closer to a section of the ‘full picture’ of the Surrey Scholar on High Street in Guildford. The zoom puts the statue in a different light, taking the context away.

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

Discovering Bluebells in Surrey: A Spring Adventure

England, Ranmore Common – April 2025

The brief for this weekly Lens-Artists Challenge #349 is ‘the first thing I thought of (when I saw this)’.
Bluebells are famous. But I never saw one with my own eyes in the wild until this Spring.

This Spring I saw them flowering in the woods of Surrey. Beautiful.

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

The pros and cons of Tree Risk Management

England, Rusper – April 2025

Lately I have not participated in the weekly Lens-Artists Challenge, but here is one that fits the brief of #349 ‘the first thing I thought of (when I saw this)’. For me this is about association, and the thought that pops up seeing a scene can be the reason for taking the photo. Sometimes a thought that brings a smile, sometimes a thought of a type of despair or frustration: why? As it was the latter in this case.

In The Netherlands, all trees are bi-annualy inspected for risks, like falling over during a storm, to prevent calamities and discomfort. Its aim is to prevent and control future situations. In a way this makes sense, if you can prevent accidents, what is not to be liked about that? On the other hand you are never sure when they come down, but you do know that it will happen! At times with severe storms, trees tend to come down on roads and motorways or train tracks. C’est la vie, say the French. Luckily, in England one can enjoy the odd dead, broken, fallen over or not too healthy tree like this one. Let nature be nature, enjoy the ride.

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

Exploring Monty Python’s Flying Circus: A Sheep’s Perspective

England, Rusper – April 2025

Lately I have not participated in the weekly Lens-Artists Challenge, but here is one that fits the brief of #349 ‘the first thing I thought of (when I saw this)’. For me this is about association, and the thought that pops up seeing a scene can be the reason for taking the photo. As it was in this case. A peaceful arcadic scene of a green, lush valley with grazing sheep in the distance, made me think of a sketch.
One of my first introductions to Monty Python’s Flying Circus was the sketch ‘Flying Sheep’. In which dim sheep are trying to be like birds, led by the most dangerous of all animals, a clever sheep (Harald). After that introduction I was a fan forever, of Python, and sometimes lamb.

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.

Magnolia Revisited

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – April 2025

This year I followed the flowering of the magnolia tree in our front garden. The mono photos are taken with Nikon Zf, the colors come from the iPhone.

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

Flower Parade 2025: The Last Ones

The Netherlands, Voorhout April 2025

April 12 2025 was the yearly Bollenstreek flower parade; an impressive treat of creativity and beauty. The colors on display, the fragrance, the beautiful arrangements and the wonderful weather made it a true treat. 

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

Flower Parade 2025: Pump it Up

The Netherlands, Voorhout April 2025

April 12 2025 was the yearly Bollenstreek flower parade; an impressive treat of creativity and beauty. The colors on display, the fragrance, the beautiful arrangements and the wonderful weather made it a true treat. 

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

Flower Parade 2025: Advertising by Flowers

The Netherlands, Voorhout – April 2025

April 12 2025 was the yearly Bollenstreek flower parade; an impressive treat of creativity and beauty. The colors on display, the fragrance, the beautiful arrangements and the wonderful weather made it a true treat. 

Some of the floats were sponsored by countries, to promote tourism or expressing a bond. Here some photos of the floats of China, Thailand and Brazil.

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

Flower Parade 2025: Tulips in Nature

The Netherlands, Voorhout – April 2025

April 12 2025 was the yearly Bollenstreek flower parade; an impressive treat of creativity and beauty. The colors on display, the fragrance, the beautiful arrangements and the wonderful weather made it a true treat. 

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

Flower Parade 2025: Monkey Business

The Netherlands, Voorhout – April 2025

April 12 2025 was the yearly Bollenstreek flower parade; an impressive treat of creativity and beauty. The colors on display, the fragrance, the beautiful arrangements and the wonderful weather made it a true treat. 

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

Flower Parade 2025: King of the Sea

The Netherlands, Voorhout – April 2025

April 12 2025 was the yearly Bollenstreek flower parade; an impressive treat of creativity and beauty. The colors on display, the fragrance, the beautiful arrangements and the wonderful weather made it a true treat. 

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

Flower Parade 2025: Sail Amsterdam 2025

The Netherlands, Voorhout – April 2025

April 12 2025 was the yearly Bollenstreek flower parade; an impressive treat of creativity and beauty. The colors on display, the fragrance, the beautiful arrangements and the wonderful weather made it a true treat. 

This float is themed Sail Amsterdam 2025.

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

The Continuing Story of Magnolia Close Up (final sequel)

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March April 2025

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

The Continuing Story of Magnolia Close Up (penultimate sequel)

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March April 2025

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

The Continuing story of Magnolia Close Up (mono sequel)

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2025

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

The continuing story of Magnolia Close Up (colorful sequel)

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2025

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

Mr. Duck


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2025

This little guy is going to be a daddy soon, as Spring is coming in.

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

Magnolia Close Up Daily 10

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 Snapseed, GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Magnolia Close Up Daily 9


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 Snapseed, GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Magnolia Close Up Daily 8


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 Snapseed, GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Magnolia Close Up Daily 7


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 Snapseed, GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Magnolia Close Up Daily 6

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 Snapseed, GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Magnolia Close Up Daily 5

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 Snapseed, GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Magnolia Close Up Daily 4

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. And they are not all in monochrome :-).

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

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 Snapseed, GrainLab 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 Snapseed, GrainLab 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 Snapseed, GrainLab and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

Magnolia Close Up Entangled

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – January/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, for most (I hope) it will be fun.

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

Magnolia Up Close

The Netherlands, Oegstgeestt – January 2025

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.

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

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