What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Posts from the ‘Trees’ category

The pros and cons of Tree Risk Management

England, Rusper – April 2025

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

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

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

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

England, Rusper – April 2025

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

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

Creating Fisheye Effects with iPhone’s Panorama Feature? (a view from a hill)

England, Rusper – April 2025

The iPhone has a cute panorama feature. The result of a pan shot is the above. I wonder if you could ‘turn it around’ so that it looks more like a wide angle/fisheye shot. That would look more natural to me. Anyone has any ideas? Now it looks like a view from a corner.

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

Morton Main Street

England, Morton – April 2025

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

Clouds and Rays

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – April 2025

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

Bicycle Passing By 3


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2025

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

Bicycle Passing By 2

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2025

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

Bicycle Passing By

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2025

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

Magnolia Close Up Daily 10

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2025

Since January I try to take regular photos of the Magnolia tree in the garden. The coming days I will publish a daily photo of a close up. For some it will be boring and repetitive, for most (I hope) it will be fun.

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

Magnolia Close Up Daily 9


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2025

Since January I try to take regular photos of the Magnolia tree in the garden. The coming days I will publish a daily photo of a close up. For some it will be boring and repetitive, for most (I hope) it will be fun.

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

Magnolia Close Up Daily 8


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2025

Since January I try to take regular photos of the Magnolia tree in the garden. The coming days I will publish a daily photo of a close up. For some it will be boring and repetitive, for most (I hope) it will be fun.

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

Magnolia Close Up Daily 7


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2025

Since January I try to take regular photos of the Magnolia tree in the garden. The coming days I will publish a daily photo of a close up. For some it will be boring and repetitive, for most (I hope) it will be fun.

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

Magnolia Close Up Daily 6

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2025

Since January I try to take regular photos of the Magnolia tree in the garden. The coming days I will publish a daily photo of a close up. For some it will be boring and repetitive, for most (I hope) it will be fun.

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

Magnolia Close Up Daily 5

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2025

Since January I try to take regular photos of the Magnolia tree in the garden. The coming days I will publish a daily photo of a close up. For some it will be boring and repetitive, for most (I hope) it will be fun.

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

Magnolia Close Up Daily 4

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2025

Since January I try to take regular photos of the Magnolia tree in the garden. The coming days I will publish a daily photo of a close up. For some it will be boring and repetitive, for most (I hope) it will be fun. And they are not all in monochrome :-).

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

Magnolia Close Up Daily 3


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2025

Since January I try to take regular photos of the Magnolia tree in the garden. The coming days I will publish a daily photo of a close up. For some it will be boring and repetitive, for most (I hope) it will be fun.

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

Magnolia Up Close

The Magnolia in the front garden is slowly waking up from Winter.

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

Klinkenberger Plas

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – January 2025

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

Capturing Road Side Views: The Sun Also Rises – Colchester

England, Colchester- Little Bentley – December 2024

Ending the year in the UK, a roadside view from the car over a foggy countryside. Hence the sharpness is not optimal.

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

Capturing Road Side Views: Fakenham

England, Fakenham – Pensthorpe – December 2024

Ending the year in the UK, a roadside view from the car over a foggy Norfolk countryside. Hence the sharpness is not optimal.

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

Capturing Foggy Countryside: We Stand Alone – Stowmarket, Suffolk


England, Stowmarket – Little Stonham – December 2024

Ending the year in the UK, a roadside view from the car over a foggy Suffolk countryside. Hence the sharpness is not optimal. This is another one I used GrainLab to put in an analogue grain feeling. It softened the darks and gave the photo a more balanced view in the highlights. Snapseed tends to distort big surfaces in the sky, and this is a nice retouch effect to repair that.

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

Capturing Foggy Countryside: England Roadside Views – Stowmarket, Suffolk

England, Stowmarket – Little Stonham – December 2024

Ending the year in the UK, a roadside view from the car over a foggy Suffolk countryside. Hence the sharpness is not optimal. This is the first time I used GrainLab to put in an analogue grain feeling. It softened the darks and gave the photo a more balanced view in the highlights. Snapseed tends to distort big surfaces in the sky, and this is a nice retouch effect to repair that.

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

Exit Santa 2024

The Netherlands, Wassenaar – December 2024

And off he went.

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

Old Trees

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – November 2024

These trees are a decade older than I am. When I was young they were small as well.

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

Leaves, Raindrops, Branches and Clouds

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

Autumn Light

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – November 2024

Autumn was mild and bright till last week.

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

Red and Gold

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2024

The iPhone had developed into a nice camera. It is not the same quality als a DSLR or system camera, but it is a lovely point and shooter with more and more options added. The zoom is quite nice, but the human side – holding it still – is a challenge.

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

Blue Canal in Autumn

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2024

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

Leiden seen passing by : Zijlpoort

The Netherlands, Leiden – October 2024

The Zijlpoort in Leiden seen from a passing car while not driving.

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

Arched

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2024

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

One Step Before Beyond


The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2024

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