What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Posts from the ‘sky’ category

Paris 1989: Notre Dame as Background

Black and white image of the Seine River in Paris, featuring Notre-Dame Cathedral in the background, a pedestrian walking along the riverbank, and a group of people gathered near the water.
France, Paris – January 1989

The Notre Dame in Paris before the fire. A view from the quay toward the Île de la Cité. From a walk along the river, the third I took at almoste the same point. The previous ones I published yesterday and the day before yesterday, showing bridge arches.


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.

Paris 1989: Notre Dame and Seine

A view from under a bridge, showcasing a stone walkway by the river, with people walking in the distance and a boat on the water. The Notre-Dame Cathedral is visible in the background.

France, Paris – January 1989

The Notre Dame in Paris before the fire. The bridge arch offers a template on a sunny Winter morning. The first shot in a set of shots of three. The second I published yesterday.


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.

Orange Crush

Sunset with vibrant orange and yellow hues, silhouetted trees, and a chimney in the foreground.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – September 2026

Lens Artist’s Photo Challenge 414 looks back at challenge 44: Harmony. A silent image of a peaceful sunset.

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

Water Lines

A serene view of a river bordered by trees, reflecting the cloudy sky overhead with soft blue and white hues.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – September 2026

The days before I published photos that I took at the same time as this one. This overview gives you an idea how the previous photos came about, and show you the canal in a different way, to give an idea of the canal, its size and its environment.

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

A Long Shot

A black and white photograph of a river with a small boat navigating towards a bridge, surrounded by trees and buildings under a cloudy sky.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – September 2026

A slightly different shot than yesterday. With a bit more of the atmosphere of the canal itself.

The Netherlands has its fair share of water (canals, lakes, ponds) and a fair share of bridges and even aquaducts. LAPC #413 is ‘bridges’. The two overlapping bridges (behind the front one is a motorway bridge) are not my favourites as the brief of LAPC asks for. They are the most practical in daily life to cross the canal. In the Archive bridges you find more photos of bridges. Most of them are from ordinary daily life close to home. But two of my favourites are the Millennium Bridge in London and the Pont de Normandie in Normandy.

Black and white photograph of a modern cable-stayed bridge with tall pylons and dramatic clouds in the background.
A modern suspension bridge with a tall, slender tower, set against a backdrop of dramatic clouds.
A busy pedestrian bridge with people walking towards the camera, under a cloudy sky with city buildings in the background.
A view of the Millennium Bridge in front of St. Paul's Cathedral, featuring a cloudy sky and city skyline in the background.

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

At The Start Of A Holiday

A passenger airplane flying against a clear blue sky, viewed from below.
The Netherlands, Zandvoort – August 2026

Just after take off, a plane with most likely a holiday destination, comes straight over Zandvoor circuit.

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

Directions

A scenic beach with footprints in the sand and tire tracks, under a dramatic sky filled with clouds and a bright sun.

The Netherlands, Zandvoort – August 2026

Beaches and sunsets, sea meeting land, space wide open.

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

Kite Surfer

A kite surfer gliding through the air over shimmering ocean waves with dark clouds in the background and a silhouette of a fisherman standing in the water.
The Netherlands, Zandvoort – August 2026

The beach at Zandvoort. A kite surfer taking on the wind and waves.

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

Mono and/or colour? Zandvoort Beach

Couple walking along a beach under a dramatic sky filled with clouds, with the ocean in the background.
The Netherlands, Zandvoort – August 2026
Black and white image of a beach with two people standing in the foreground, looking out toward the sea, where wind turbines are visible on the horizon under a cloudy sky.
The Netherlands, Zandvoort – August 2026

The beach at Zandvoort. The west coast of The Netherlands is one big sand beach. Choosing for mono or colour is a choice for atmosphere. But also a way to get more attention to certain parts of the frame. Silhouettes in black in mono work stronger than in colour for me. But in the end, it is a matter of taste of course.

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

Mono and/or coloured? Before Take off, Schiphol

View of an airport cargo area with numerous luggage containers and a Singapore Airlines plane parked nearby, set against a cloudy sky.
The Netherlands, Amsterdam Schiphol – August 2026
A black and white image of an airport cargo area showing numerous shipping containers and a Singapore Airlines airplane in the background.
The Netherlands, Amsterdam Schiphol – August 2026

Waiting for boarding can be boring, but sometimes there is an opportunity for a nice photo. And again, a tough choice, pick your favourite. LAPC #412 is ‘places shaped by water’. The airport Schiphol is located in what used to be a lake till the mid 1800 century.

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

Mono and/or Colour? Dutch Polder Landscape

A polder landscape. Living below sea level water management is needed to keep us dry. Here you see a typical polder landscape.
LAPC #412 is ‘places shaped by water’.

A dramatic sky filled with thick, gray clouds, with a hint of blue peeking through, over a rural landscape featuring fields and a few buildings in the foreground.
The Netherlands, Leidschendam – August 2026
A black and white photograph of a dramatic sky filled with textured clouds, overlooking a rural landscape with distant houses and trees.
The Netherlands, Leidschendam – August 2026

Mono and/or Coloured? Volkerakdam

One of the first questions I had buying my first digital DSLR was ‘how do I shoot monochrome photos from now?’. In the past it was just choosing what film I put in a camera. Going digital implied using editing to revert from color to monochrome. More recently black and white modes came back on devices. Not only on iPhone. My choice for Nikon Zf was influenced by it. But it all is a question of taste. And taste is specific. When I see a subject nowadays I try to use the monochrome settings and the standard colour settings; knowing that I can nowadays see the results straight away. That is a blessing.

Two different photos of the road over the Volkerakdam. This dam and the locks in it, are part of the Delta Works, safeguarding The Netherlands against floods.

LAPC #412 is ‘places shaped by water’. I think that applies exactly to the existence of The Netherlands.

A scenic view of a cloudy sky over a body of water, with a highway guardrail in the foreground and a streetlamp on the left.
The Netherlands, Volkerakdam – August 2026
Black and white photograph of dramatic cloud formations over a calm body of water, with a small boat visible in the distance and a railing in the foreground.
The Netherlands, Volkerakdam – August 2026

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

Afterglow

A dark sky filled with various shades of blue clouds, creating a textured and dramatic atmosphere.
England, Charlwood – August 2026

The light of the setting sun from behind the horizon reflects in the clouds for the last moments.

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

Final Approach

A vast blue sky filled with textured clouds, featuring a small distant object hovering in the center.
England, Charlwood – August 2026

A glimmer of light in a darkening sky. A plane approaches London Gatwick.

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

Overhead Blues

A plane flying against a clear blue sky.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – August 2026

Incoming traffic for Schiphol Airport, which is an overhead blues for us being disturbed every two minutes for another one, while sitting in the garden.

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

Into The Blue

A serene twilight sky featuring deep blue and darker hues with soft, wispy clouds near the horizon.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – August 2026

Clouds and sky, into the wide open.

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

Mono and/or Colored? Entangled at St. Georges-sur-L’Aa

One of the first questions I had buying my first digital DSLR was ‘how do I shoot monochrome photos from now?’. In the past it was just choosing what film I put in a camera. Going digital implied using editing to revert from color to monochrome. More recently black and white modes came back on devices. Not only on iPhone. My choice for Nikon Zf was influenced by it. But it all is a question of taste.

Two photos of the power lines at St. George-sur-L’Aa in France. Pick one or both. Both were shot on iPhone without the mono setting.

A dramatic view of high voltage power lines stretching across a cloudy sky, with multiple pylons visible in the distance.
Black and white landscape featuring multiple electric transmission towers against a cloudy sky.
France, St. George-sur-L’Aa -August 2026

Every time we travel to or from the UK via the Channel Tunnel, I try to take photos of these steel giants. They carry power lines in the area of St. George-sur-l’Aa. No worries, I’m in the passenger seat.

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

Waiting for Rain

A serene landscape view featuring lush trees and a golden sky at sunset, with a grassy field in the foreground.
England, Charlwood – August 2026

Drought in England after months without rain and an unusual amount of heatwaves. The landscape turned dramatically.

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

The Final Lap: F1 Grand Prix Zandvoort 2026

A panoramic view of a motorsport event with a crowd of spectators in the foreground, sporting various team apparel, overlooking a racetrack with grandstands and a cloudy sky.
The Netherlands, Zandvoort – August 2026

The Final Lap. The sixth and last episode of F1 racing on Zandvoort. A big event, bigger than motor racing. A major event with an atmosphere that is now a benchmark for F1 races. But unfortunately is commercially no longer interesting enough for the big greed. The last time the Orange Army is out to cheer Max Verstappen a final time on his home circuit. Which unfortunately lasted one lap in the race.

The photos are shot on the Friday. It was my first visit to a F1 event. Quite remarkable to witness. And hear. Just snapped a bit noticing the limitations of an iPhone under these circumstances.

A Red Bull racing car speeds past cheering fans at a Formula 1 event, with spectators holding up their phones to capture the moment.
A Formula 1 car racing past a crowd at a racetrack, with spectators watching from behind a fence.
A red Formula 1 racing car with the number 44 driving on the track, surrounded by spectators and a safety fence.
A McLaren Formula 1 car racing on a track, showcasing vibrant team colors and sponsor logos, with a blurred background to emphasize speed.
A red Formula 1 car racing on a track, with spectators in the foreground holding smartphones. The car features sponsors' logos and the number 16.
A Formula 1 car racing past a crowd at a Grand Prix event, with spectator stands and promotional banners visible in the background.
A helicopter hovers above a race track where several Formula 1 cars are racing, while marshals signal to the drivers. Spectators are watching from the stands.
Race personnel managing tire carts in a pit area with a Heineken advertisement in the background and temporary structures visible.
A panoramic view of a stadium area under a vibrant blue sky filled with clouds, featuring buildings and event setups below.

Summer Sunrise

Sunset view behind trees and a tall structure, with warm orange and yellow hues.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – August 2026

Summer heat starting up with the sunrise.

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

Eclipse

A partially eclipsed sun with a bright orange glow, set against a dark background.
Close-up photo of a solar eclipse showing a crescent-shaped sun against a dark background, with glowing orange and yellow hues.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – August 2026

We witnessed the last partial eclipse in Western Europe for the next 58 years in the beginning of August.

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

Vincent

A dramatic sky with swirling clouds and sunlight peeking through, capturing a serene landscape at dusk.
The Netherlands, Voorhout – August 2026

It seems I’m into sky and clouds during the warm days this Summer. This landscape is typical Dutch with some hints towards paintings of Vincent Van Gogh. Sun is setting. Not a starry night yet.

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

Detailed Space

A tranquil twilight sky transitioning from deep blue to soft orange, silhouetted by rooftops and a few clouds.
Silhouette of a rooftop and chimney against a gradient sky at sunset with scattered clouds.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

Sunsets these days are sometimes interesting with cloud shapes light up.

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

Impressionism

A gradient sky transitioning from deep blue at the top to orange at the horizon, with a few clouds near the center and silhouettes of rooftops and trees at the bottom.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

Sunsets these days are sometimes interesting with cloud shapes light up. With poor light conditions it can turn out to be a quite rough photo. I added to that roughness deliberately.

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

Sky Foam

Dramatic clouds in a moody sky at sunset, featuring various shades of gray and hints of gold light.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

Sunsets these days are sometimes interesting with cloud shapes light up.

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

Golden Hour

A vibrant sunset sky filled with fluffy clouds showcasing shades of yellow and blue.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

Sunsets these days are sometimes interesting with cloud shapes light up. At the golden hour.

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

Sky Stripes

A black and white image of a textured sky filled with clouds, showcasing a moody and atmospheric scene.
Black and white photograph of a dramatic sky filled with various cloud formations and textures.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

Sunsets these days are sometimes interesting with cloud shapes light up. Even in monochrome.

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

Dots

A vibrant sky filled with scattered fluffy clouds against a deep blue backdrop.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

Sunsets these days are sometimes interesting with cloud shapes light up.

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

Beam me up Scotty

A dramatic sky featuring wispy clouds illuminated by golden light, creating a serene atmosphere.
A dramatic sunset with vibrant orange and yellow hues illuminating clouds, alongside a silhouette of a tower in the foreground.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

Sunsets these days are sometimes interesting with cloud shapes light up.

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

Here comes the flood

A dramatic sky filled with various cloud formations illuminated by the setting sun, featuring shades of blue, orange, and white.

The sky at dusk, showing scenery that takes your imagination far. LAPC #408 is ‘over the top’.

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

Where do the sheep clouds go at night?

A dramatic sky filled with scattered fluffy clouds against a deep blue background, illuminated by soft golden light, creating a serene and picturesque atmosphere.
A dramatic sky filled with scattered clouds, showcasing a blend of blue and white hues.
A black and white photograph of a textured cloud formation in the sky, showcasing various patterns and shapes.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

LAPC #408 is ‘over the top’. The sky at dusk, showing what we call ‘schapenwolken’ in Dutch. Literally over the top. In case you can not sleep, counting them would help. But where do they go after you counted them?

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

Between The Lines

Electricity transmission towers against a clear blue sky, with power lines stretching over a green field.
France, St. George-sur-L’Aa – July 2026

Every time we travel to of from the UK via the Channel Tunnel, I try to take photos of these steel giants. They carry power lines in the area of St. George-sur-l’Aa. No worries, I’m in the passenger seat.

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

Sunset

A gradient sunset with a deep blue sky transitioning to a warm golden hue, silhouetting rooftops and trees at the horizon.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

LAPC #406 is ‘summer daze’. The heat presented itself with some abstract sunsets.

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

The Field on the Side of the Road (the sequel)

A scenic view of a rural landscape featuring a large tree in the foreground, a wooden fence, and a sun setting over a golden field under a clear blue sky.

England, Dorking-Wotton – July 2026

The driveway to Wotton House in Dorking. 

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

On Wings

View from an airplane window showing the wing of an easyJet aircraft against a blue sky and ocean, with wind turbines visible in the distance.
Aerial view of several wind turbines in a blue ocean, with faint silhouettes of boats in the background.
Aerial view of an airplane wing with the easyJet logo, overlooking a blue ocean populated with numerous wind turbines in the distance.
The Netherlands, over The North Sea – July 2026

The North Sea and windmills from an Easyjet flight.

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

Zig Zag

A picturesque sky filled with soft, wispy clouds against a blue backdrop, with a subtle sunset glow reflecting off the clouds and a faint jet trail crossing the scene.
A beautiful sky filled with clouds, showcasing a gradient of colors from blue to soft orange and hints of pink, indicating either dawn or dusk.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

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

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

Somewhere only we know

A dramatic view of a cloudy sky with varying shades of gray and hints of sunlight breaking through the clouds, creating an atmospheric and moody scene.
England, Longfield – Hartley – June 2026

The skies over Kent.

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

The Land Down Under

Aerial view of a calm body of water with multiple wind turbines in the distance, illuminated by a soft golden and blue gradient sky.
The Netherlands, Noordwijk – July 2026

The coast of The Netherlands, showing the colour original of the monochrome of two days ago. The window of the plane gives layer of colors that I did not like at first. Not Australia but from up here it is down under.

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

London Gatwick

View of an airport terminal with a bridge connecting to airplanes, featuring several aircraft and ground service vehicles on the tarmac.
England, London Gatwick – July 2026

Early morning, before take off.

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

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

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

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

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

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