What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Posts from the ‘The Netherlands’ category

Garden Center

A close-up view of potted plants with colorful identification tags, arranged in rows at a garden center.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2026

Spring is coming. even when we are still in Winter.

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

Foot Steps

A black and white image of a smooth, speckled floor with a faint reflection, showing the lower part of legs and feet of people in the background.
Close-up view of the floor in a busy indoor space with people walking, captured in black and white.
Black and white image of a floor with shadows, showcasing the legs of people walking and a stroller in the background.
Close-up view of a smooth, polished floor with scattered light reflections and people walking in the background.
The Netherlands, Leidschendam – February 2026

Some of the last photos with the iPhone15 Pro Max. A close view on a shopping floor. Like it is an endless circle of steps lining the floor. what can you do waiting for someone shopping?

Westfield in Leidschendam, Mall of The Netherlands. This weeks Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #387 is Shadowed. How do you use shadows in photography.

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

Food Court Above

Interior view of a modern cafe with polished metal accents, featuring customers seated at tables and a balcony above with people. The space is styled with greenery and decorative lighting.
The Netherlands, Leidschendam – February 2026

Westfield in Leidschendam, Mall of The Netherlands. 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.

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.

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.

Forsythia

Close-up of yellow witch hazel flowers on a blurred background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2026

Spring is around the corner. The garden wakes up slowly, with the Forsythia claiming the first flowering spot.The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2026

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.

Village at Night

A dimly lit pathway along a canal at night, with street lamps illuminating the concrete sidewalk and surrounding foliage. A pedestrian sign is visible, and the scene is shrouded in a foggy atmosphere, creating a moody ambiance.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2026

Streetlights.

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.

Sunflower

A close-up image of a vibrant sunflower illuminated from the side, showcasing its bright yellow petals and dark center, set against a dark 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. Here the story of two sunflowers.

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

On Wings

A flock of birds flying in a V formation against a clear blue sky.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2026

The LAPC theme #385 is ‘unusual crop’. Geese in a pretty big V.

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.

Reaching for the Sky

Construction cranes are visible against a cloudy sky, with historical building rooftops in the foreground.
The Netherlands, Den Haag – February 2026

The LAPC theme #385 is ‘unusual crop’. The skyline over Den Haag, building activities and old spires.

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

Winter Sunset Ripples

Vibrant sunset with orange and blue hues illuminating a cloudy sky.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – January 2026

The LAPC theme #385 is ‘unusual crop’. Sky shots of clouds are mostly abstract. Framing them in a way that makes sense is a challenge at times.

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

See See The Sun

Sunset viewed through the branches of two trees, with a warm orange and yellow sky in the background.
Silhouetted tree branches against a vibrant orange sunset sky.
A sunset view framed by tree branches, casting a warm orange glow in the sky with a silhouetted chimney in the foreground.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2026

The LAPC theme #385 is ‘unusual crop’. Here the cropping process in-camera using a zoom.

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.

Iced Sky

Black and white image of a textured sky filled with clouds, showing varying shades and patterns.
Close-up view of ice crystals against a blue sky, showcasing intricate snowflakes and sparkling frost.
Close-up of sparkling ice and snow with a blue background, reflecting light.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – January 2026

The sky through ice on a window.

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

Snowwhite

Snow-covered landscape featuring bare trees, a canal, and distant houses during a snowstorm.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – January 2026

Theme for Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #380 is ‘what’s around the corner’.

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

Heron in Snow

A heron standing on the snowy bank of a river during a snowfall.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – January 2026

Theme for Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #380 is ‘what’s around the corner’. A grey Heron in falling snow.

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

Frederik van Eedenpad

Winter scene featuring a snow-covered pathway lined with bare trees, a canal reflecting the surroundings, and residential houses in a quiet neighborhood.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – January 2026

Theme for Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #380 is ‘what’s around the corner’. Snow, no ice.

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.

Shopping at Zara

A man and two children stand against a wall in a shop, with the Zara logo visible in the background. One child is sitting on the floor, while the other stands beside the man, both looking at him.
The Netherlands, Leidschendam – December 2025

Sometimes I can not resist to take photo’s of people waiting for others outside a shop. Here is one from Westfield in Leidschendam, The Netherlands.

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

A Fake Sietse Goverts

An abstract image featuring swirling colors of orange, yellow, and blue, resembling a creative blur or light effect, framed in black.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – January 2026

Sometimes a photo goes wrong. Instead of a short shutter speed, the iPhone comes up with night mode. And occasionally an ‘accident’ creates an image that is quite appealing. Creativity by accident. I happen to like this one.

The image reminds me of the work of Sietse Goverts, a dutch painter.

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

Winter Spring

A bare tree with delicate white blossoms against a blurred, wintery background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

Even in Winter there is blossom. Like Spring is already here.

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

Winter Blossom

A monochrome image of a small tree with delicate blossoms, creating a contrast against a blurred background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

Even in Winter there is blossom. And in monochrome it looks like snow :-).

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

Traces

A black and white image of a cloud-filled sky with a faint contrail running diagonally across the frame.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

Traces in the sky, passing by and fleeting.

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

Winter Blossom

A small tree with delicate pink blossoms in winter, set against a blurred green background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

Even in Winter there is blossom.

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

Big Old Jet Airliner

Dusk sky with soft pink and gray clouds, featuring a vapor trail from an airplane.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

The sky at dusk is a nice canvas to play with.

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

Sky

A serene winter sky at dusk with soft pastel colors blending into deep shades.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

At dusk, a beautiful Winter sky.

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

Bridging 2025 to 2026

A misty river scene featuring a bridge in the background, with silhouettes of people crossing and a still water surface reflecting the fog.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

The year 2025 ends and we cross over to 2026. I hope the new year will be a good one. I wish it brings some of the desires I cherish in my heart. I am sure others cherish these desires as well.

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

Across

A foggy canal scene with a bridge in the background, surrounded by trees, reflecting a mysterious atmosphere.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

The canal in the fog.

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

Two Turns

A dimly lit path winding through a forest at night, illuminated by a streetlamp, surrounded by fallen leaves.
A dimly lit path winding through a dark wooded area, illuminated by a single streetlight, with fallen leaves lining the ground.
The Netherlands, Leiden – December 2025

The Groene Maredijk in the Leidse Hout.

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

Up Around The Bend

A dimly lit pathway in the Leidse Hout park at night, featuring a streetlamp illuminating a winding trail covered in fallen leaves, with two cyclists riding by.
The Netherlands, Leiden – December 2025

The Groene Maredijk in the Leidse Hout.

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

Going Home

Nighttime view of the Groene Maredijk in Leidse Hout, featuring a pathway lined with fallen leaves and illuminated by streetlights.
The Netherlands, Leiden – December 2025

The Groene Maredijk in the Leidse Hout.

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.

Going To Sea

A foggy river scene with a bridge in the background, surrounded by trees and serene water, captured in black and white.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

A small milestone maid: yesterday I passed the 300.000 views on this blog. Thank you.

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

Meerkoeten aka Moorhens

A foggy view of a canal with reflections in the water, surrounded by muted trees and a building in the background. A small ripple marks the surface where a moorhen swims.
A misty canal scene featuring a solitary moorhen in black and white, surrounded by trees and a still water surface.
Four moorhens swimming in a calm canal, captured in black and white.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

Moorhens in the canal.

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.

Purple Gold

Autumn sunrise over a canal with colorful clouds reflected in the water, framed by a railing.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

Autumn sunrise over the canal.

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