What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Posts from the ‘sun’ category

France 1997: Terrace in Arles


France, Arles – August 1997

A terrace inArles. Everyone has a memory of a terrace I bet.

LAPC #417 is ‘Memories’. Sometimes the LAPC themes coincide with my ‘planning’ for my blog. The last weeks I am looking back into my archive of photographic memories. And this is one of them. 

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.

France 1998: Swan

A black and white image of a swan taking off from the water with its wings partially spread.
A black and white photograph of a swan gracefully flapping its wings on the surface of a serene water body, creating ripples around it.
A swan taking flight from the water, captured in black and white, creating a dramatic contrast with rippling water and leaves.
France, Saint-Hippolytus-du-Fort – August 1998

LAPC #417 is ‘Memories’. In a way freezing images of moments in time is creating and storing a memory. In the analogue time of film the notion of shooting a great set of photos was the first step in a process. The next step was printing it in the darkroom. That was manual labor. And some photos are just not easy to bring out. A big step towards the digital time of now. Software now is amazing, and allows me to create what I could not achieve with my not adequate dark room skills.

So this is a memory of a moment I did not feel too well being harshly told off by a French garage owner to piss off and not bother him trying to shoot photos at his workshop. As part of a course assignment in a workshop.

I walked to the bridge and this swan came down, landing in the river. Majestic. A gift.

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.

Still Green

Close-up view of vibrant green leaves illuminated by sunlight, showcasing the lush foliage of a plant.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – September 2026

September was a warm month, but also the last moment everything was still green. Autumn is here now, but nice to see a photo of a green Magnolia basking in the sun.

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

Rome 1997: Scooter Alley

Narrow cobblestone street in a historical city, with weathered buildings on either side and two scooters parked along the curb. A person walks down the street, illuminated by sunlight.
Italy, Rome – September 1997

What is Rome without scooters? LAPC #416 is ‘where does this lead?’.

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.

Rome 1997: View From Pincian Hill

Black and white panoramic view of urban rooftops with distant church towers and trees in the foreground.

Italy, Rome – September 1997

Rome is build on seven hills, but some hills are not counted in that list. One of the non listed hills is the Pincian Hill, that – like all of them – offers beautiful views over the eternal city.

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.

Rome 1993: Dry Trevi Fountain

A black and white image of the Trevi Fountain in Rome, showcasing intricate sculptures and figures, with a crowd of people gathered in front.
Italy, Rome – March 1993

Lens Artist’s Photo Challenge 414 looks back at challenge 44: Harmony. One from the archives, 32 years ago. The Trevi Fountain – without water – in Rome. 

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.

Haarlem Station

Black and white photograph of a railway station with a high arched roof, featuring train tracks leading into the distance and people walking along the platform.
The Netherlands, Haarlem – August 2026

The station of Haarlem.

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

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

In The Dirty Window

A black and white close-up of mint leaves in a pot, with a pair of scissors placed beside it, against a slightly dirty window background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – August 2026

Herbs in the kitchen window that needs a wash.

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.

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

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

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

The Field on the Side of the Road

A picturesque landscape featuring a golden field under a clear blue sky, framed by green trees and a wooden fence. The sun shines brightly on the horizon.
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

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

Before Take Off

View of the airport tarmac through an airplane window, featuring easyJet planes, a baggage truck, and clear blue skies.
The Netherlands, Schiphol Amsterdam – July 2026

Before take off. Just before the adventure starts (LPAC #405 is ‘adventure’).

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

Heatwave

A view from a wooden table overlooking a vibrant garden with plants, flowers, and outdoor furniture, featuring hanging lanterns and a glass of orange juice.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – June 2026

Climate change seems to kick in, with a heatwave stronger than before the last week. Sit in the garden, having a drink, have a read. Chill.

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

Greens leaves

A field of tall, golden grass illuminated by soft sunlight against a dark background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – May 2026

LAPC #403 focuses on photography tools: perspective, depth and scale. Here a little detail on a sunny morning. The sunny backlight in the undergrowth.

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

The Dark Side

Close-up of a leaf showing water droplets on its textured surface in black and white.
Close-up of a leaf with water droplets in black and white, showcasing the texture and curves of the leaf.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – May 2026

LAPC #399 ís ‘stuck in a place’. Egidio offers a way to create motivation or inspiration to go out and about. This method is in my words ‘open up to what is right under your nose’. For me the garden is always a source of inspiration, especially when it has rained and the sunlight creats little diamonds on leaves. In this case, Hosta and water drops.

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

Fly By

A flag waving against a clear blue sky, with a jet contrail crossing above.
The Netherlands, Katwijk – May 2026

The beach at Het Strand. A bit tongue in cheek: strand in Dutch means beach.

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

Golden Birch

A close-up view of tree branches illuminated by golden sunlight against a blue sky.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – April 2026

Sunset and golden hour.

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

Magnolia

Close-up of vibrant pink magnolia flowers surrounded by green leaves against a blurred background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2026

Magnolia, it is not only about bulbflowers this Spring.  

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

Ticking Away The Moments

Tall modern office building with glass facade and a clear blue sky in the background.
The Netherlands, Den Haag – April 2026

The theme of this week’s LAPC (#398) is illustrate a quote with a picture. There are notorious opinions about the civil service, lots of them framed in jokes. This is the Departement of Eduction, Science and Culture in Den Haag. A bit tongue in cheek (I am one of that civil service), this came up in my mind:

‘Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way‘

Pink Floyd, Time (The Dark Side of the Moon)

Of course the above is applicable to the private sector as well.

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

Entangled Sun

Silhouette of bare trees against a sunset sky with warm hues.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2026

The sun in a web of branches.

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

Sunrise in black and grey

Silhouette of bare trees against a misty sky with the sun partially visible in black and white.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest –

A monochrome sunrise in black and greys.

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

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.

So Close, So Far Away

A scenic view of a blue sky filled with various clouds, showcasing different shades and textures.
A serene sky featuring wispy clouds and a gradient of blue tones.
A bright blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds and wispy vapor trails.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2026

Clouds for this week’s LAPC theme week (#391) ‘Phone photography’.

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

When The Night Falls

A twilight sky filled with streaks of contrails, with silhouettes of houses in the foreground.
A colorful sky at dusk featuring wispy clouds and airplane contrails, creating a serene atmosphere.
A clear sky with multiple contrails forming intersecting lines against a gradient blue backdrop.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2026

Dusk for this week’s LAPC theme week (#391) ‘Phone photography’.

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 4

A black and white landscape featuring a winding road beside a small canal, under a cloudy sky with the sun visible.
A scenic view of a winding path next to a small canal, surrounded by lush green fields under a clear sky with sun and wispy clouds.
The Netherlands, Voorhout – 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 is ‘Time to relax’. On a bicycle ride through fields where soon bulb flowers will pop up, together with other cyclists. This is a piece of a polder showing the low horizon in the sun.

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

On The Run

A black and white image of a winding road through a rural landscape, with two people walking along the path and a small stream running alongside. The horizon is lined with trees and fields.
The Netherlands, Voorhout – March 2026

This week’s theme is ‘Time to relax’. On a bicycle ride through fields where soon bulb flowers will pop up, together with other cyclists and the occasional runner.

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

A Sunday Walk

A scenic black and white image of a pathway bordered by trees, with two people walking in the distance. The atmosphere is serene and foggy, suggesting a quiet early morning or late afternoon.
The Netherlands, Voorhout – March 2026

Spring is here and last weekend I made a little bicycle ride to check out the bulb flower fields. Daffodils where coming up, and at odd places hyacinths started to show. A nice way to relax and enjoy the lovely day outside. As did others by walking, running or cycling. Fitting this week’s theme ‘Time to relax’.

Shot with iPhone 17 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and 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.

Tree

Silhouetted trees against a twilight sky with a gradient of blue and orange hues at sunset.
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.