Spring

The 136th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is about ‘things that start with the letter S’.
One of the first crocuses in the garden.
Shot with iPhone 11 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

The 136th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is about ‘things that start with the letter S’.
One of the first crocuses in the garden.
Shot with iPhone 11 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version
The 136th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is about ‘things that start with the letter S’.
A street scene in Paris April 2000.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed. Shot with Nikon F90 on Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

The 136th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is about ‘things that start with the letter S’.
A week ago we had snow and ice, today it is Spring. S is a sweeper.
Shot with iPhone 11 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version
The 136th Weekly Lens Artists Challenge is about ‘things that start with the letter S’. That is easy: a sunrise.
Shot with iPhone 11 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version
This week’s theme of the weekly lens artists challenge (#135) is ‘glimpse into your world’. Roses are an inspiration.
Shot with iPhone 11 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version
This week’s theme of the weekly lens artists challenge (#135) is ‘glimpse into your world’. Long ago I was born in a small village in The Netherlands. Of course it has grown and changed over the years, but it is still a wonderful location to live. And yes: we do have an old ‘castle’.
Shot with iPhone 11 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version
This week’s theme of the weekly lens artists challenge (#135) is ‘glimpse into your world’. The brief is simple: show us what makes your world spin, or what makes you delirious with joy. Let me start by showing what makes my world spin in photography. That is to visit places, travel, and monochrome photography. One of the most impressive trips was to Yemen in 1998. A beautiful country with amazing scenery and a rich culture. A mountain view near Sanaa in the Haraz mountais in Yemen.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed. Shot with Nikon F90 on Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
This week’s theme of the weekly lens artists challenge (#135) is ‘glimpse into your world’. The brief is simple: show us what makes your world spin, or what makes you delirious with joy. Let me start by showing what makes my world spin in photography. That is to visit places, travel, and monochrome photography. One of the most impressive trips was to Yemen in 1998. A beautiful country with amazing scenery and a rich culture. A mountain view near Manakhah in the Haraz mountais in Yemen.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed. Shot with Nikon F90 on Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
This week’s theme of the weekly lens artists challenge (#134) is ‘from forgotten to favorite’.
I am scanning my archive of negatives and find some treasures I had forgotten about.
Plateaus of qat (or khat) in the sunrise near Manakhah in the Haraz mountais in Yemen.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed. Shot with Nikon F90 on Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
This week’s theme of the weekly lens artists challenge (#134) is ‘from forgotten to favorite’.
The desert of Yemen 1998, a Toyota Land Cruiser in dust in a convoy.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed. Shot with Nikon F90 on Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
This week’s theme of the weekly lens artists challenge (#134) is ‘from forgotten to favorite’. Are there images that I hoped would turn out right, but did not. And could you turn them by editing into ‘keepers’? If so, show an example.
This challenge sends me back to the days of film. Ample of good objects around, but did they come out on film the way I hoped? In those days you could not check the backside of your camera, and try a few settings and tweaks to find out what worked best. It was shoot and go. Film was expensive so most of the time it was a lucky shot based on intuition and experience. Most of them came out ok, some really were disappointing.
The photo above has a story behind it that comes close to this theme. At the end of the post is the scanned negative of the original photo. I am not sure the edited one above is a keeper, but it shows my line of thought and the original intention of framing this rock wall in a forest in the Ardennes. It did not strike me as a spot I would go for a pick nick. The road next to it, mud, rock, nothing to see but passing cars. But the details of the rock and the trees, with the strange object of the pick nick table triggered my shutter. This photo was kept on archive for a long time. It was in my secondary school notebook (the time we actually wrote with pens on paper). And recently when I was scanning my archive from negative it popped up again.
In a way I do like the object. It is kind of sinister and powerful. I wonder about your thoughts on it.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
This week the Lens Artists Challenge is about ‘the personal photographic journey’.
You can find a short overview of my photographic journey on ‘my about/Chris Breebaart’ page .
I hope you do not mind me referring to that information briefly.
This week an uplifting photo of Spring. I am looking
Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
The theme for the lens-artists #132 is ‘striped and checked’.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme for the lens-artists #132 is ‘striped and checked’.
Shot with iPhone 11 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version
The theme for the lens-artists #132 is ‘striped and checked’.
Part of the cathedral at Chartres.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The theme for the lens-artists #132 is ‘striped and checked’.
Flowing lines in the hill landscape of Limburg.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme for the lens-artists #132 is ‘striped and checked’.
One from the archive of 1982. Not too many lines but they are checked 🙂
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme for the lens-artists #132 is ‘striped and checked’.
One from the archive of 1982. A plowed field in Zeeland. The lines are there, I am not sure if it is checked.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

The theme for the lens-artists#131 is ‘emotions’.
An old tradition is ‘ringsteken’. Literally stitching a ring from a wood block, hanging from a rope over the road, sitting in a carriage, pulled by one or more horses. The jury is watching.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme for the lens-artists#131 is ‘emotions’.
An old tradition is ‘ringsteken’. Literally stitching a ring from a wood block, hanging from a rope over the road, sitting in a carriage, pulled by one or more horses.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme for the lens-artists#131 is ‘emotions’.
This is the American cemetery in Margraten. One name among many.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme for the lens-artists#131 is ‘emotions’.
The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville sur Mer.
shot with Nikon D7000, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme for the lens-artists#131 is ‘emotions’.
An old tradition is ‘ringsteken’. Literally stitching a ring from a wood block, hanging from a rope over the road, sitting in a carriage, pulled by one or more horses.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme for the lens-artists#131 is ‘emotions’.
This is the American cemetery in Margraten. A place for sadness, but also joy and many thanks.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme for the lens-artists#130 is ‘It’s a small world’.
Looking forward to flowers coming out end at the end of Winter.
Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
The theme for the lens-artists#130 is ‘It’s a small world’.
The winter is mild so far, and plants are a bit mixed up. This Hebe flowered till deep in December.
Shot with iPhone 11 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

The theme for the lens-artists#130 is ‘It’s a small world’.
One from the archive of 1982. A motor cycle in close up showing its chrome heart.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak TriX, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme for the lens-artists#129 is ‘favorite 2020 photos’.
This is the top 10 of the photos that got the most hits last year. I can’t wait to go out again, travel, go to work and snap what it is there! Till then the world is smaller unfortunately.
Christmas is about light, shining in the dark, a promise of possibilities, of new events. Small sparks that may turn into the brightness of a beautiful sun, offering warmth, comfort, trust, security, well being and new life.
I wish you lots of light in the coming year, to see and observe the difference between the light and the darkness, to embrace and accept them both as parts of our life.
This year’s last Lens-Artists Challenge (#128) is ‘And here comes the holiday season………..’
Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
This year’s last Lens-Artists Challenge (#128) is ‘And here comes the holiday season………..’
The Full Moon Inn in Morton near Southwell. In normal times the pub to celebrate Christmas with friends. See you next year.
Shot with iPhone 6s plus using Huemore edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version
The weekly theme for lens artists weekly photo challenge (in short LAPC) #127 is ‘precious moments’.
A memory can be triggered by here and now. Last weekend I visited Den Haag physically for the first time after the lock down started in March. It was exciting and at the same time sad to see the city and the familiar landmarks. ‘Normally’ at this time of year, the center is crowded with people doing Christmas shopping, but now it is (depending on the hour of the day) more or less quiet. At times it is however too busy. The apparent human need to cluster closely together (in shops, or at home) is probably a reason why we see a rise in cases again. Tonight a more strict lock down will be announced. To curb the second wave. Department stores like the 150 year old Bijenkorf and other ‘unnecessary’ shops will close again. That hurts them enormously. But luckily there is light at the end of this tunnel. I hope the light of Christmas will soon turn into a bright sun that opens up our now small worlds and gives us the space and opportunities to be more human again. Till then: courage.
Shot with iPhone 11 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version
The weekly theme for lens artists weekly photo challenge (in short LAPC) #127 is ‘precious moments’.
During a visit to the world famous Royal Delft (where they make pottery with the famous blue color), this endearing two piece was on display in the shop. Portraying a precious moment between a female figurine and male figurine. For some the traditional clothes are precious too, but I am happy not to wear clogs any more :-).
Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
The theme for Weekly Lens Artists 126 is ‘A stands for … ’.
A is of course Aqua, water.
I just found out that I republished this photo. First time was March 2020.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version
The theme for Weekly Lens Artists 126 is ‘A stands for … ’.
A is of course Aqua, water.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.

The theme for Weekly Lens Artists 126 is ‘A stands for … ’. Aachen, the Christmas market.
Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
The theme for Weekly Lens Artists 125 is ‘you can pick it’.
A view from the ‘red house’ in Monschau. Yesterday I posted the colored version of this photo. Like earlier this week I like to know if you prefer the color or the mono version. Leave your comments with your choice! After all: this week it is your pick.
Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
The theme for Weekly Lens Artists 125 is ‘you can pick it’.
A view from the ‘red house’ in Monschau.
Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
The theme for Weekly Lens Artists 125 is ‘you can pick it’. Any way.
Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
The theme for Weekly Lens Artists 125 is ‘you can pick it’.
Yesterday I posted the monochrome version of this photo. They do differ, not only in color. I wonder which one you prefer.
Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
The theme for Weekly Lens Artists 125 is ‘you can pick it’.
Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
The theme for Weekly Lens Artists 125 is ‘you can pick it’.
Where fiction, art and reality meet. I googled for some more information about this fountain and found it on the site of the Aachen tourist service. It is called ‘Kreislauf des Geldes’ aka Money Cycle.
In this cycle money goes from hand to hand. The fountain was created in 1976 by Karl-Henning Seemann. The people shown symbolise avarice, greed, patronage and begging. Just like money, the water in the fountain flows all year round, since it is fed by the thermal springs. In the summer in particular, the fountain is a popular meeting point for Aacheners and visitors to the city, and for young and old looking to cool down in the flowing water. (source: Aachen Tourist service)
Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
The theme for Weekly Lens Artists 125 is ‘you can pick it’.
A very old sunset from long ago showing the sky over Oegstgeest and the tower of the Roman Catholic Church.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme of Lens-Artists #124 is ‘Now and then’.
Meeting a cow in the main street can be a surprise. During Covid pandemic the cow might be the only object in the street.
Shot with Nikon D500, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version
The theme of Lens-Artists #124 is ‘Now and then’.
A long time ago, somewhere in the Ardennes on a cold April day. Going round in circles. Learning how to use black and white and shoot a decent photo.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme of Lens-Artists #124 is ‘Now and then’.
The coast of Finistère in Summer is breath taking. This was then, but it still is amazing.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
The picture was originally shot with Pentax K1000 on Kodak Plusx, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme of Lens-Artists #124 is ‘Now and then’.
Paris in December 1981. A view from the hill of Sacré Coeur into the city at the end of the Winter afternoon just before sunset. A shot on Kodak Color II brought back to monochrome. Camera unknown.
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 on Kodak color II, scanned from negative and tweaked using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a larger version.
The theme of Lens-Artists #124 is ‘Now and then’.
In times of covid things change, some in small ways, some in quite ‘big’ ways. The world is not getting smaller but seems smaller. Going away for a long weekend is more like a logistical planned event than a spontaneous ‘let’s get away’. And even the way I take photo’s is changed. I see less that catches my eye, all is so familiar close by. So I went way back till way then, October 1990, a long weekend with old school mates. The mates are still there, on Whatsapp. But the feeling of this image is different. A swarm of birds against a sunset. Being free, to wander, to roam. Patience my dear heart.
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.
The theme for Lens-artists Weekly Photo Challenge #123 is ‘Found in the Neighborhood’.
Well, this is a photo of a neighborhood from a long time ago during a holiday in France.
The B4 retouch series
I browsed my archive for pictures to publish. All of them are not completely retouched yet. Scratches, dust and stains are not removed.
Shot with Nikon F90 on Kodak TriX, scanned from film and edited using Snapseed and Marksta, Click the picture for a bigger version
The theme for Lens-artists Weekly Photo Challenge #123 is ‘Found in the Neighbourhood’.
Shot with iPhone 11 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version
The theme for Lens-artists Weekly Photo Challenge #123 is ‘Found in the Neighbourhood’.
Shot with iPhone 11 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version