What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Posts tagged ‘bnwphotography’

White Rose En Profile

Black and white close-up of two roses with dramatic lighting, showcasing the texture of the petals against a dark background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

We are fortunate to have cut-flowers all year round. Fresh and at reasonable prices.

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

White Roses

Black and white close-up of two roses with detailed petals against a dark background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

We are lucky to have cut-flowers all year round. Fresh and at reasonable prices. Here are some roses.

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

White Rose

A black and white photograph of two roses surrounded by dark leaves, showcasing their intricate petal structures.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – July 2026

We are lucky to have cut-flowers all year round. Fresh and at reasonable prices. Here are some roses.

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

At The Pub Garden

Black and white photo of a garden area with wooden picnic tables and umbrellas, featuring a building in the background and some greenery.
England, Dorking-Wotton – July 2026

LAPC #406 is ‘summer daze’. On a warm Summer’s evening at the local out in the garden.

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

At The Pub

Two women sitting at a table in a casual outdoor setting, overlooking a landscaped area, with one woman gesturing while they enjoy drinks.

England, Dorking-Wotton – July 2026

LAPC #406 is ‘summer daze’. On a warm Summer’s evening having a meal and drink at the local out in the garden.

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

Le Plat Pays – The Netherlands

A black and white aerial view of a calm body of water with numerous wooden poles protruding from it, surrounded by a moody sky.
The Netherlands, Noordwijk – July 2026

The coast of The Netherlands, showing the Dutch version of Le Plat Pays (my flat country) from an incoming Easyjet flight from London Gatwick to Schiphol Amsterdam. Lots of windmills still.

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

Choose your pick 3

A rural landscape featuring a grassy field with a fence, leading to a wooded area with trees and a dirt path in the background.
A black and white landscape featuring a barren tree in a field, with a winding dirt path and a wooden fence in the foreground. Dense forest is visible in the background.
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

Choose your pick 2

A winding dirt path leads through a grassy landscape, bordered by a fence. In the background, there are dense trees and a few large, bare trees, under a partly cloudy sky.
A black and white landscape photo featuring a winding dirt path alongside a rustic fence. In the background, there is a dense forest and a lone bare tree. The scene showcases a serene countryside setting under a partly cloudy sky.
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

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

Alien Allium

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – June 2026

Even after blooming the Allium flower stays remarkable.

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

The End of Allium

Close-up of a round flower head with multiple thin stems and small buds, photographed in black and white.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – June 2026

LAPC #403 focuses on photography tools: perspective, depth and scale. Normally it is better to cut the flower off after it has died, to keep the food in the bulb for next year. But an Allium turns into something quite spectacular.

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

Stand Still

A bronze statue of a historical figure standing on a pedestal, surrounded by vibrant green trees and flowering plants.
A black and white photograph of a statue depicting a standing figure in historical attire, set against a backdrop of dense foliage.
The Netherlands, Apeldoorn – May 2026

Colour and monochrome version of a statue 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

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.

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.

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.

Marshes With a bit of Cley Next The Sea (on the left)

Black and white landscape of a grassy marshland with distant trees and a cloudy sky.
England, Blakeney – December 2025

The last in the series of monochrome, more or less minimal photos for this week’s Lens artists photo challenge #381 (minimalism in black and white photography). 

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

Marshes

Black and white image of tall grass in a field, with varying shades and textures, capturing the natural landscape.
England, Blakeney – December 2025

Lens artists photo challenge #381 is ‘minimalism in black and white photography’. The marshes at first sunlight, as the light details the waving reeds.

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

View on Cley Next The Sea

Black and white landscape featuring a vast field of tall grass and a lone tree, with a distant view of a windmill and hills under a muted sky.
England, Blakeney – December 2025

Lens artists photo challenge #381 is ‘minimalism in black and white photography’. Overlooking the marshes at first sunlight in the direction of Cley next the sea.

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

No Horizon

England, Blakeney – December 2025

Lens artists photo challenge #381 is ‘minimalism in black and white photography’. The marshes at first sunlight.

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

Marooned

Black and white photograph of a dilapidated shipwreck on a barren landscape under a cloudy sky.
England, Blakeney – December 2025

An old boat, slowly decaying on the marshes near Blakeney. Lens artists photo challenge #381 is ‘minimalism in black and white photography’.

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

The Runner

A person walking down a path towards the horizon, surrounded by a grassy landscape and a cloudy sky, in black and white.
England, Blakeney – December 2025

Lens artists photo challenge #381 is ‘minimalism in black and white photography’. The marshes at Blakeney are a place for running and hiking.

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.

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.

Cocktail Hour

Aerial view of a bustling bar scene at an end-of-year event, with staff dressed in black uniforms interacting and serving drinks against a backdrop of bottles and bar equipment.
The Netherlands, Scheveningen – December 2025

End of the year event in Encore in Scheveningen.

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

A Grey Quiet Day

A silhouette of a chimney emitting smoke against a monochromatic background, capturing the essence of a quiet evening.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

Who says chimneys are boring?

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

Steamtrain Museum Katwijk Leiden

Close-up of an old, rusty steam locomotive in a museum with visible wear and tear, showcasing its historical significance.
Close-up view of a vintage steam train locomotive in a museum, showcasing its weathered metal exterior and unique design.
Close-up of a weathered metal plaque with inscriptions, displaying the numbers and text related to bridges, tunnels, and earthworks, mounted on a rusty background.
Close-up of an old, rusty steam engine cabin displayed in a museum, with a cobblestone floor and a transparent roof.
A close-up view of old steam locomotives in a museum, showcasing their vintage design and machinery with informational plaques in a well-lit indoor space.
Rusty steam locomotive on display at the Steamtrain Museum in Katwijk, Leiden, showcasing vintage machinery and historical preservation.
The Netherlands, Valkenburg – October 2025

The Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #374 is ‘on the move’. Most of what is on these photos has not moved in a long time. However, the machines they got moving again are brilliant. It is a place where they try to keep history alive and accessible, touchable and usable.

The Steamtrain Museum Katwijk Leiden is run by volunteers. It offers the history of steam trains and their use on narrow gauge tracks. And the volunteers fix up and restore old locomotives, carriages and other cars. They have a big storage full of old parts and rusty machines.

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

Autumn Atmosphere

Two people walking along a tree-lined path with colorful autumn foliage and fallen leaves.
A tranquil tree-lined path in sepia tones, featuring people walking on a leaf-covered ground surrounded by lush foliage.
The Netherlands, Leiden – October 2025

The same location, two photos.

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.

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.

Berlin Brandenburger Tor Photographers

Black and white photo of the Brandenburger Gate in Berlin, with various people exploring and taking pictures in the foreground.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

Brandenburger Gate (Brandenburger Tor) is a much used backdrop for photos in Berlin.

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

Berlin: Charlie left in November 1989

Black and white photograph of Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, featuring a crowd of people walking past a historic guard booth and a large image of a soldier on a building.
A black and white photograph of Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, featuring a large portrait of a soldier on a billboard. The scene includes people walking and a McDonald's in the background.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

Checkpoint Charlie, symbol of the cold war.

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

Berlin U-Bahn

A black and white photograph of a subway corridor in Berlin, featuring a person walking ahead with another figure visible in the distance, illuminated by overhead lights.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

Berlin has a wonderful (and cheap) public transportation infrastructure. One of the building blocks is the U-Bahn.

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

Holocaust Memorial Berlin

A narrow pathway lined with tall, gray concrete slabs at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, taken in black and white.
A close-up view of the concrete pillars at the Memorial to the murdered Jews in Europe, showing the textured surfaces and the path that winds through them.
A narrow pathway lined with tall concrete slabs at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, captured in black and white.
A black and white photograph of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, featuring numerous concrete slabs of varying heights arranged in a grid pattern, surrounded by trees.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

Last September I revisited Berlin after 46 years. One of the reasons to come back was to visit the Memorial to the murdered Jews in Europe. I had read stories and seen photos, and I wondered how I would take photo’s of it. And what it would be like to wonder through it. This visit I had my first experience with the monument. Here is the first impression (and the coming days I will publish some more).

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

Gedächtnis Kirche Berlin

View of the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtnis Kirche, a memorial church in Berlin, surrounded by modern buildings, with cloudy skies overhead.
Black and white photograph of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, showcasing its historic architecture alongside modern buildings.
View of the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtnis Kirche, a historical church in Berlin, showcasing its damaged structure alongside modern buildings and scaffolding.
Germany, Berlin – September 2025

One of the memorial landmarks of Berlin is the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtnis Kirche. In its simplicity it is a powerful landmark and memorial.

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

Bird Under A Wire

A small bird standing on the platform of Amsterdam Central Station, beneath a large, arched glass roof.
The Netherlands, Amsterdam – September 2025

A small bird in a big Amsterdam Central Station. The things you see while waiting for a train.

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

Over the bridges

Black and white view of Leiden's canals and historic architecture, featuring a dome and trees lining the waterfront.
The Netherlands, Leiden – August 2026

A more detailed view of the photo I published yesterday of Leiden. Leiden used to be famous for fabrics, and canals provided the infrastructure for the logistics. Some of the canals were filled up in the second half of the 20th century. However, there are debates about opening a few of them again. These discussions focus on sustainability and environmental quality.

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

City of Rembrandt

A black and white view of a canal in Leiden, featuring trees lining the banks, historic buildings, and reflections in the water under a cloudy sky.
The Netherlands, Leiden – August 2026

A view on the city where Rembrandt van Rijn was born, Leiden. It was the home where he grew up. There he started his now famous career as a painter. Later, he moved to Amsterdam.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #366 is ‘City Mouse/Country Mouse’. I am not familiar with the story. But as the brief puts it ‘there is no place like home’. Home is where the heart is.

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

After Rain

A black and white photo of a beachside area in Scheveningen after rain. People are gathered near a kiosk, with wet surfaces reflecting the sky above, showcasing a mix of clouds and bright patches.

The Netherlands, Scheveningen – September 2025

After rain comes sun at Scheveningen beach.

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

Old Front

Detail of decorative architectural relief featuring figures and inscriptions at the top of a historic building in Breestraat, Leiden, with emphasis on the former restaurant 'In den vergulden Turk.'
The Netherlands, Leiden – September 2025

Detail from a front in the Breestraat in Leiden. In den vergulden Turk used to be a restaurant. It moved decades ago to a different spot in town. It then changed its name to Wienerwald. The top of the original front is still there, and recently brought back to its old splendor.

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

Sunny Street: Breestraat Leiden

A black and white photograph of Breestraat in Leiden, featuring the town hall in the background, with people walking and bicycles parked along the street.
The Netherlands, Leiden – September 2025

The Breestraat in Leiden with the townhall.

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

Outstanding

Black and white close-up of a Knautia Arvensis plant, showcasing its leaves and budding flower against a blurred background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – August 2025

In the front garden, next to the Japanese Anemone, there is a Knautia Arvensis. It is more easily known as Field Scabiosa.

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

Star

A close-up, black-and-white image of a Knautia Arvensis flower, also known as Field Scabiosa, standing tall in a garden. The flower has a star-like appearance with a slender stem.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – August 2025

In the front garden, next to the Japanese Anemone, there is a Knautia Arvensis. It is more easily known as Field Scabiosa. It is literally a star.

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

Monochrome Moods

Monochrome photograph of delicate flowers with soft focus, showcasing their intricate details and textures.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – August 2024

I like monochrome photography for many reasons. One of them is the ability to play with the mood in the photo. Just by adjusting the aperture time or the opening of the lens, the same light delivers a different mood. This one and the photo I published yesterday, were shot on the same day.

Lens- Artist Challenge #364 is ‘Quiet Moment’. Close ups of natural beauty are a wonderful instrument to just be quiet, enjoying the view. And to realize all is connected.

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

Delicate

Black and white close-up photo of delicate flowers and buds against a blurred background, emphasizing their natural beauty.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – August 2025

Lens- Artist Challenge #364 is ‘Quiet Moment’. Close ups of natural beauty are a wonderful instrument to just be quiet, enjoying the view. And to realize all is connected.

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

Growing Up

Black and white photograph of a thin branch with sparse twigs, set against a softly blurred background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – August 2025

The aim is to get up into the light and find your place among the rest of the garden.

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