What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Posts from the ‘street’ category

Spotting Artemis 2

A bright full moon illuminated against a dark sky, partially obscured by tree branches and power lines, with a silhouette of a house in the foreground.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – April 2026

Normally I try to spot the man in the moon, but this time it was Artemis 2 flying around.

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

Spring Sunrise

A serene landscape depicting a sunrise through bare trees, with soft golden light illuminating the garden and distant houses.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2026

The sun beaming through as it rises. 

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

Framing Rijnstraat 8

View of urban buildings through large glass windows, showcasing modern architecture and cityscape.
The Netherlands, Den Haag – March 2026

The theme of this week’s LAPC (#392) is about framing, using the foreground, middle and background. Government office Rijnstraat 8 in The Hague.

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

Capturing Spring Rain: Foreground, Middle, and Background

A close-up view of a flowering branch with purple buds and newly sprouting leaves, set against a backdrop of blurred rain and greenery.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2026

A shower of Spring rain with sun lighting up the drops. Setting the scene in the middle ground as the foreground and background form the stage setting. The theme of this week’s LAPC (#392) is ‘foreground, middle and background’.

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

Just Around A Corner

A wide landscape featuring a vibrant purple flower field under a clear blue sky, with a meandering stream and sparse trees in the background.
The Netherlands, Voorhout – March 2026

Fortunately, this is really just around the corner. This time of year it is fun to take the bicycle and check out the flowers in the area. Especially when the sun shines. As most of my photos on here are taken on iPhone I do fit the brief of this week’s LAPC theme week (#391) ‘Phone photography’ easy.

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

A Quiet Morning

A foggy street scene with bare trees lining the sidewalk, featuring a cyclist in an orange jacket riding past residential houses, with a calm waterway visible in the foreground.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2026

A quiet morning.

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

A matter of taste and choice – Episode 7

A small flowering tree stands prominently in the foreground, surrounded by a blurred background of grass and trees, captured in black and white.
A small cherry blossom tree in full bloom with pink flowers, set against a green grassy background and a blurred building in the distance.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2026

This week’s theme #390 is ‘color in black and white’. The theme focuses on the cognitive fact that our brains still know a color, even if it is in a grey tone. So the sky is blue, the grass green etc. Here you can see what colors do in greys, and if that is appealing or not to your taste pallet. For me this challenge is a bit of fun: most of the time I am looking at the world translating colors straight into grey tones, seeing if a photo is working in monochrome or not. Thanks Egidio for this challenge.

If you visit my blog – like I hope you do or from now start to do – you must have recognized my ‘old’ love for monochrome. When I started this hobby, mono was fashionable and a standard for news photography. And it was cheaper. In this series I offer you two versions of a photo. And you can prefer one over the other, or not.

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

You see it as you not see it

Foggy landscape view featuring a canal lined with trees and houses, with a cyclist on a pathway.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2026

A view created by the panorama setting of the iPhone. It is what you can see, but not as you see it in real.

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

A matter of choice and taste – Episode 5

A foggy street scene featuring two cyclists riding alongside a canal, with bare trees and buildings in the background, captured in black and white.
A foggy street scene with bare trees and two cyclists passing by on a path beside a canal.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2026

If you visit my blog – like I hope you do or from now start to do – you must have recognized my ‘old’ love for monochrome. When I started this hobby, mono was fashionable and a standard for news photography. And it was cheaper. In this series I offer you two versions of a photo. And you can prefer one over the other, or not.

This week’s theme #390 is ‘color in black and white’. What an appropiate theme, to show the last of the series. A view out of the window. Egidio’s theme focused on the cognitive fact that our brains still know a soccer pitch is green, even in grey tones. Here you can see what colors do in greys, and if that is appealing or not to your taste pallet.

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

Grey Tones With Some Black

Exterior view of a Pandora jewelry store, featuring a well-lit shopfront with the brand name prominently displayed.

The Netherlands, Leidschendam – February 2026

Well, it is not a box, but the association with the name is quite powerful. This ‘box’ holds only sparkly things, instead of the mythological one. I published the color version a week ago. Westfield in Leidschendam, Mall of The Netherlands. 

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

Golden Slumbers Vanishing

A serene view of a neighborhood during sunrise, showcasing trees with golden leaves and houses in the background, illuminated by soft morning light.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2026

Spring knocks on the door. Sunrises through young leaves, creating golden slumbers in the early sunlight. Vanishing as the sun climbs higher in the sky.

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

Royal Library

View of modern urban buildings through large glass windows, featuring a blend of different architectural styles and heights, with a clear blue sky in the background.
The Netherlands, Den Haag – February 2026

The view towards the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (Royal Library). This weeks Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #387 is Shadowed. How do you use shadows in photography.

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

Dark and Light

Silhouette of bare trees against a colorful sunset sky, with rooftops in the foreground.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2026

A Winter sunrise. This weeks Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #387 is Shadowed. How do you use shadows in photography.

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

Rain Trees

A close-up of bare tree branches with a blurred, abstract background, creating a textured appearance through condensation or rain.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2026

This weeks Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #387 is Shadowed. How do you use shadows in photography. I am not sure if this fits the brief, the silhouettes of a tree through a rain covered window.

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

Den Haag Haagse Poort

A foggy urban street scene featuring tall buildings, with pedestrians walking and cars on the road. The atmosphere is muted in black and white, enhancing the sense of depth and mystery.
The Netherlands, Den Haag – January 2026

Den Haag Haagse Poort on a day with fog. Just a mono.

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

Question: Mono or Color?

A low-angle black and white photograph of a modern building with patterned facade, shrouded in fog. The foreground features parked cars along a wet street, with a bus stop and streetlights visible.
A view of a modern building partially obscured by fog, with multiple parked cars in the foreground and a bus stop visible on the sidewalk.

The Netherlands, Den Haag – January 2026

It is quite a simple question to ask. Do you prefer the monochrome version or the colored version of a photo?

I grew up with monochrome. Because it was cheaper. That applied to films as well as darkroom costs.

The mono version emphasizes the background and atmosphere. The colored version is high lighting the front of the frame.

But in the end, as the famous nr. 14 Johan Cruyff said: every advantage has its disadvantages. And the choice is as always subjective.

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

Evening Snow

A winter scene showing a snowy residential street with houses in the background and leafless trees. Street lamps illuminate the path, casting a warm glow on the snow-covered ground.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2026

The last of snow – so far – this Winter. Just a little cover at the start of the evening.

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

Two Trees

Black and white photo of a public space featuring planters, bare trees, and people walking. Two women are seen in the background with a dog, and a building is partially visible.
A black and white photograph depicting a park scene with a tree, trash bins, and distant cars under a cloudy sky.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2026

LAPC #386 invites to use the power of juxtaposition. I give the brief a bit more room for experiment, and put two pictures next to another. They both have a narrative of their own. It is basically the same subject (trees) but framed in a different way.

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

Street Lamp

Nighttime view of a street with a pedestrian sign illuminated by a streetlight, surrounded by houses and trees in the background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2026

LAPC #386 invites to use the power of juxtaposition. Basically put two objects in a frame to create a narrative or reaction about their relation. A street lamp and two poles.

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

On a Station Into the Distance

Black and white photograph of a deserted railway station platform with rail tracks extending into the distance, featuring a bench and clear sky.
Black and white image of a train station platform with empty tracks stretching into the distance, under a covered waiting area.
A monochrome image of a train station platform with railway tracks disappearing into the mist. The scene features overhead wires, signal lights, and a distant view of the station buildings.
The Netherlands, Den Haag – January 2026

The LAPC theme #385 is ‘unusual crop’. Station Den Haag – Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indië (that is a throat breaker for most of you non-Dutch speakers). Tracking the tracks.

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

It’s all in the details

Black and white image of tall buildings partially obscured by fog, featuring a grid-like facade and reflections.
The Netherlands, Den Haag – January 2026

The LAPC theme #385 is ‘unusual crop’. This one was cropped/framed by zoom on the iPhone while shooting.

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

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.

Sunny Rain

A scenic view of a riverbank scene with buildings on one side, a sandy area in the foreground, and dramatic clouds in the sky, capturing the beauty of nature and architecture.
England, Blakeney – December 2025

Lens-Artist’s Photo Challenge #383 is ‘patterns and designs’. A Winter rain shower over the quaside of Blakeney.

Shot with Nikon Zf, 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.

Down To The Harbour

England, Blakeney – December 2025

Westgate Street in Blakeney, the access to the Quay at the seafront.

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

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.

Keeping Warm

Narrow alleyway between two buildings with pebbled walls and brick accents, leading to a wooden gate and rooftops in the background under a clear blue sky.

England, Blakeney – December 2025

An alley in Blakeney.

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

Bus Stop Morning

A black and white photograph of a quiet road with street signs and a central traffic island in the distance, surrounded by trees and a cloudy sky.
England, Blakeney – December 2025

Lens artists photo challenge #381 is ‘minimalism in black and white photography’. A bus stop at sunrise.
If you wonder how it looks in color? Here is an iPhone shot of 2024 at the same spot. In the monochrome the sun is not over the horizon, in the color one it is.

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. 

Snow Shopping

A snowy pathway lined with trees and street lights, with a person walking down the path carrying a bag.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – January 2026

Theme for Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #380 is ‘what’s around the corner’. Last week we had snow in the village.

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

Spring Ready

Close-up of Magnolia leaves with varying colors, featuring one vibrant yellow leaf and a smaller green leaf, set against a blurred background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

The last leaves of the Magnolia

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

Autumn in Oegstgeest

A tranquil village scene featuring autumn-colored foliage reflecting in a calm waterway, with a small duck swimming in the foreground.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

Autumn colors color the village.

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

Oegstgeest in Autumn

A misty autumn scene featuring a winding path lined with trees displaying fall colors in a village setting.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

Autumn colors color the village.

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

The Grass Is Always Greener

Close-up of vibrant green grass with sunlight reflecting off the blades, set against a dark background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

There is not a wall or hill, or other side. It is just green.

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

On The Road At Sunrise

View of the A44 and A4 highways towards Schiphol Amsterdam at sunrise, with wind turbines along the roadside and a clear blue sky transitioning to orange hues.
A scenic view of the A44 and A4 highways leading to Schiphol Amsterdam at sunrise, featuring silhouetted wind turbines and vehicles on the road.
The Netherlands, Haarlemmermeer – September 2025

On the road at sunrise, the A44 and A4 to Schiphol Amsterdam.

I am not sure this is filling the brief of LAPC #373 ‘looking back at landscapes’. It’s more looking forward on the road.

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

Oegstgeest, The Netherlands

A scenic view of a tree with autumn leaves, surrounded by cloudy skies and a park setting, featuring benches and bicycles in the background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

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

Smoking at Work: Reichstag Berlin

A staff member in formal attire standing on a terrace at the Reichstag, using a smartphone. Reflections of the building's modern architecture and venetian blinds are visible in the glass.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

From the roof of the Reichstag. A member of staff has a smoke break. A slightly less common street detail nowadays for LAPC #371.

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

Looking East (and for the West)-Berlin

View of the Bundestag offices and pedestrian bridge over the Spree River in Berlin, showcasing modern architecture against a cloudy sky.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

The last time, before this visit in September, I saw this part of Berlin was in November 1989. This side was West Berlin, the Spree and across was East Berlin. The Berlin Wall cut straight to the right. It was just 20 meters from the East wall of the Reichstag.

Now the Bundestag offices connect both sides of the river. The tension of the Berlin Wall is literally out of sight. But not forgotten. Seven crosses are just outside this frame on the right side. They remind us of the people who tried to flee East Germany and were killed.

Shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version. The monochrome photo of 1989 was shot with Nikon F301 on Kodak TriX.

High Rise Head’s Up Berlin

A modern high-rise building with a curved facade and numerous windows, set against a cloudy sky.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

This high rising can be found near the  Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtnis Kirche.

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

Clean Berlin

View of a historic building at the former Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, with a blue sky and street scene, featuring a bicycle and an orange trash can.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

On the corner of the former Checkpoint Charlie (on the West Side).

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

Marketing

A street view in Charlottenburg featuring a black car parked in front of two shop windows displaying sale signs and colorful balloons.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

A street in Charlottenburg.

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

Cube Hauptbahnhof Berlin

Reflections of modern buildings and trees in the glass facade of the Hauptbahnhof in Berlin.
A modern glass cube building with angular reflective surfaces, set in an urban environment with vehicles and people in view. The sky is overcast, adding a dramatic effect to the scene.
Close-up view of the Cube building in Berlin, showcasing its angular glass facade and reflections.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

During the days of the Berlin Wall, the central transport hub of West-Berlin was Zoo station (Tiergarten). In 2006 the new Hauptbahnhof opened. In front of it is this 3XN Cube.

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.

Eating Out in Berlin

Interior view of a dimly lit restaurant in Berlin, featuring green and orange lighting, decorative hanging lamps, and wooden furniture.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

Food in Berlin is cheap (and in the right places) good!

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

Fernseh Turm Alexanderplatz

A view of the TV Tower (Fernsehturm) at Alexanderplatz, Berlin, with people sitting on a bench, surrounded by trees, and passerby walking in the background.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

A landmark you can not overlook. The TV Tower (Fernsehturm) at Alexanderplatz. Here seen from the Paul Löbe Allee, next to the offices of the prime minister of Germany.

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

Reichstag Dome

Monochrome view from inside the Reichstag dome, showing visitors standing on a glass walkway surrounded by geometric architecture.
A monochrome interior view of the Reichstag dome in Berlin, featuring several visitors walking along the curved glass and metal structure. The design showcases intricate geometric patterns, with reflections of the city visible through the transparent surfaces.
Monochrome view from the Reichstag dome in Berlin, showcasing the iconic architecture and city skyline, with visitors exploring the rooftop.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

The dome on the Reichstag offers a wonderful panoramic view on Berlin. And you can walk the rest of the roof as well to look over the city. Here an impression in monochrome.

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

Reichstag Berlin: Dem Deutsche Volke

The front view of the Reichstag building in Berlin, showcasing its grand architecture and flags, with cloudy skies in the background.

The front of the Reichstag. A visit was on the top of my list. In 1989 the Berlin Wall was right next to the building; and since 1989 this area was completely developed. So we booked a visit to the dome. On this photo I left the dome out consciously. I wanted to have an image like the building looked in November 1989 below.

Black and white photograph of the Reichstag building in Berlin, taken in November 1989, featuring two men in the foreground, one holding a sign that reads 'Berlin ist Freiheit'.
Germany, Berlin – November 1989

The history of the Reichstag is connected to my hometown and Leiden. In 1933 Marinus van der Lubbe was accused, tried and sentenced by the Nazi-regime for setting fire to the building. He was born in Leiden en lived in Oegstgeest, as did his family.

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 iPhone 15 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version. The monochrome photo of 1989 was shot with Nikon F301 on Kodak TriX.