What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Posts tagged ‘picture’

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

Afterglow

A dark sky filled with various shades of blue clouds, creating a textured and dramatic atmosphere.
England, Charlwood – August 2026

The light of the setting sun from behind the horizon reflects in the clouds for the last moments.

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

Final Approach

A vast blue sky filled with textured clouds, featuring a small distant object hovering in the center.
England, Charlwood – August 2026

A glimmer of light in a darkening sky. A plane approaches London Gatwick.

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

Mono and/or Colored? Entangled at St. Georges-sur-L’Aa

One of the first questions I had buying my first digital DSLR was ‘how do I shoot monochrome photos from now?’. In the past it was just choosing what film I put in a camera. Going digital implied using editing to revert from color to monochrome. More recently black and white modes came back on devices. Not only on iPhone. My choice for Nikon Zf was influenced by it. But it all is a question of taste.

Two photos of the power lines at St. George-sur-L’Aa in France. Pick one or both. Both were shot on iPhone without the mono setting.

A dramatic view of high voltage power lines stretching across a cloudy sky, with multiple pylons visible in the distance.
Black and white landscape featuring multiple electric transmission towers against a cloudy sky.
France, St. George-sur-L’Aa -August 2026

Every time we travel to or from the UK via the Channel Tunnel, I try to take photos of these steel giants. They carry power lines in the area of St. George-sur-l’Aa. No worries, I’m in the passenger seat.

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.

Mono and/or Colored? Haarlem Station

One of the first questions I had buying my first digital DSLR was ‘how do I shoot monochrome photos from now?’. In the past it was just choosing what film I put in a camera. Going digital implied using editing to revert from color to monochrome. More recently black and white modes came back on devices. Not only on iPhone. My choice for Nikon Zf was influenced by it. But it all is a question of taste.

The same photo of the station of Haarlem in color and (edited) monochrome. Pick one or both.

Interior view of a train station with arched metal beams and a high ceiling, featuring platforms and waiting areas with people moving around.
Black and white photograph of a railway station interior, featuring an arched metal roof, large windows, and people walking along the platform near the train tracks.
The Netherlands, Haarlem – August 2026

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

The Final Lap: F1 Grand Prix Zandvoort 2026

A panoramic view of a motorsport event with a crowd of spectators in the foreground, sporting various team apparel, overlooking a racetrack with grandstands and a cloudy sky.
The Netherlands, Zandvoort – August 2026

The Final Lap. The sixth and last episode of F1 racing on Zandvoort. A big event, bigger than motor racing. A major event with an atmosphere that is now a benchmark for F1 races. But unfortunately is commercially no longer interesting enough for the big greed. The last time the Orange Army is out to cheer Max Verstappen a final time on his home circuit. Which unfortunately lasted one lap in the race.

The photos are shot on the Friday. It was my first visit to a F1 event. Quite remarkable to witness. And hear. Just snapped a bit noticing the limitations of an iPhone under these circumstances.

A panoramic view of a stadium area under a vibrant blue sky filled with clouds, featuring buildings and event setups below.

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

Wet Road Side

This was the last rain we had, and before that we had more than a month without rain. It is dry, rivers run low.

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

Maltese Music Parade

Malta, Valetta – September 2010

The theme for the weekly Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #407 is ‘celebrations around the world’.

A view from Mellieha on Malta. A band marching the Main Street. I’m still not sure about the occasion.

Shot with Nikon D7000, edited using Snapseed and Marksta. Click the picture for a bigger version

Between The Lines

Electricity transmission towers against a clear blue sky, with power lines stretching over a green field.
France, St. George-sur-L’Aa – July 2026

Every time we travel to of from the UK via the Channel Tunnel, I try to take photos of these steel giants. They carry power lines in the area of St. George-sur-l’Aa. No worries, I’m in the passenger seat.

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

Kent From Above

Aerial view of patchwork agricultural fields with varying shades of brown and green, interspersed with small settlements and clusters of trees.
England, over Kent – July 2026

As a Dutchman this palette of fields looks beautiful. In contrast to the look of The Netherlands from the sky: fields efficiently standardized in shape and size.

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

Somewhere only we know

A dramatic view of a cloudy sky with varying shades of gray and hints of sunlight breaking through the clouds, creating an atmospheric and moody scene.
England, Longfield – Hartley – June 2026

The skies over Kent.

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

London Gatwick

View of an airport terminal with a bridge connecting to airplanes, featuring several aircraft and ground service vehicles on the tarmac.
England, London Gatwick – July 2026

Early morning, before take off.

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

Over The Lake

The pond 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

Watered Wood

Close-up of wooden planks with sunlight reflecting off the surface, showcasing a mix of dark and light tones.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – May 2026

The theme of LAPC #398 is ‘choose your color’. The brief is to present a photo with a dominant color. Despite being a big fan of monochrome, I do love colors. The fun of colors is their subjectivity; any color has fans and haters. The sense making of colors is as diverse as people are unique. And that’s good. We need colors and images in our life to tell our stories.

An abstract of the texture of garden furniture with a little pool of water.

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

Coast Crawler Trawler

A serene seascape featuring a small fishing boat in the foreground, with a large cargo ship in the distance and wind turbines visible on the horizon, under an overcast sky.
The Netherlands, Katwijk – May 2026

The theme of LAPC #398 is ‘choose your color’. The brief is to present a photo with a dominant color. Despite being a big fan of monochrome, I do love colors. The fun of colors is their subjectivity; any color has fans and haters. The sense making of colors is as diverse as people are unique. And that’s good. We need colors and images in our life to tell our stories.

So here you can choose between silver and grey. Or both :-).

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

Summer Approaching

Outdoor dining area with tables and chairs, featuring red umbrellas and blue sky in the background.
The Netherlands, Katwijk – May 2026

Summer is coming nearer, but the present temperatures are not matching that. But behind the glass, out of the wind, being on the beach is a pleasant stay.

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

Strand at the Beach

A flag flying on a pole against a blue sky with wispy clouds.
The Netherlands, Katwijk – May 2026

The theme of LAPC #398 is ‘choose your color’. The brief is to present a photo with a dominant color. Despite being a big fan of monochrome, I do love colors. The fun of colors is their subjectivity; any color has fans and haters. And sometimes the use or non use of colors stems from group think.

The sense making of colors is as diverse as people are unique. And that’s good. We need colors and images in our life to tell our stories. Today I stick with blue. Colors are context dependent, hence subjective. Blue is a lot of times associated with sorrow, pain, loss, or life experience. And it creates the most beautiful music.

I’m Mister Blue
I’m here to stay with you
and no matter what you do
when you’re lonely, I’ll be lonely too

René Klijn

While a deep blue sky might express power, focus and the absence of worries. Be any color you want.

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

Grey Clouds, Bright Sea

A coastal view featuring a ship on calm waters, with wind turbines visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
The Netherlands, Katwijk – April 2026

Grey clouds over the sunset lit up sea.

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

Floral Abstract

Vibrant red and yellow tulips in full bloom, filling the frame with color.
The Netherlands, Lisse – May 2026

This week’s LAPC (#397) is ‘Texture‘. The Keukenhof is a world famous botanical garden, yearly displaying the impressive beauty of bulb flowers. It is only open for eight weeks to the general public; this year from March 19 till May 10. About one and a half million visitors enjoy it in that short period.

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

The Last Week Keukenhof 2026 (2)

This week’s LAPC (#397) is ‘Texture‘. The Keukenhof is a world famous botanical garden, yearly displaying the impressive beauty of bulb flowers. It is only open for eight weeks to the general public; this year from March 19 till May 10. About one and a half million visitors enjoy it in that short period. Last week was its last week.

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

The Last Week of Keukenhof 2026

This week’s LAPC (#397) is ‘Texture‘. The Keukenhof is a world famous botanical garden, yearly displaying the impressive beauty of bulb flowers. It is only open for eight weeks to the general public; this year from March 19 till May 10. About one and a half million visitors enjoy it in that short period. Last week was its last week.

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

The End Of King Day

Outdoor dining area with tables and chairs, featuring closed umbrellas; a flag and colorful bunting visible against a sunset sky with clouds.
The Netherlands, Katwijk – April 2026

The sunset of King’s Day in The Netherlands.

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

After Flowers

A colorful field of blooming flowers with rows of red, white, and brown plants against a backdrop of a cloudy sky and distant windmill.
The Netherlands, Voorhout – April 2026

Layers of colors with in the front the brown of out of time hyacinth flowers. Then the light of daffodils and the red of tulips. On top the skyline of the horizon with an iconic windmill.

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

Who’s Afraid Of Pink

A vibrant field of pink tulips in neat rows under a clear blue sky.
The Netherlands, Warmond – May 2026

The last tulips on the field, some already beheaded, some still in bloom.

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

Behind The Lines

A vibrant field of pink tulips under a clear blue sky, with rows of flowers stretching into the distance.
The Netherlands, Warmond – May 2026

The last tulips on the field, some already beheaded, some still in bloom.

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

And The Winner Is …….

A scenic landscape featuring vibrant pink tulip fields under a blue sky with wispy clouds, alongside a winding path and a small stream bordered by green grass.

The Netherlands, Voorhout – April 2026
A monochrome landscape featuring a winding canal bordered by grassy banks, under a cloudy sky. Fields stretch out in the background.

The Netherlands, Voorhout – April 2026

A major part of The Netherlands lies beneath sea level. Water, and the management of it in infrastructure as polders, dams and canals, is normal. We even not think of living under sea level. We feel safe. 
The flat landscape makes it interesting to look for lines that guide the eyes through the space. In a polder there are always canals that do the trick.

The question here is: which appeals most to your taste buds?

LAPC #395 looks back to LAPC #155 ‘On the water’. Water is not on our minds, but it is mindful to keep defending dry land against rising sea, rivers and soon (thanks to climate change with a bigger financial effort) rain. Meanwhile water is seen in most of the landscapes of The Netherlands.

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

Any Way The Wind Blows

A scenic view of a green agricultural field under a blue sky with scattered clouds, featuring a small tree in the background and a waterway in the foreground.
The Netherlands, Voorhout – April 2026

A major part of The Netherlands lies beneath sea level. Water, and the management of it in infrastructure as polders, dams and canals, is normal. We even not think of living under sea level. We feel safe.
Most of The Netherlands is flat, with a low horizon, offering a wonderful quantity of sky over the horizon. Being near the coast there is always wind. Reflected in the sky and the water of the canals, serving to manage the water levels in the polder.

LAPC #395 looks back to LAPC #155 ‘On the water’. Water is not on our minds, but it is mindful to keep defending dry land against rising sea, rivers and soon (thanks to climate change with a bigger financial effort) rain. Meanwhile water is seen in most of the landscapes of The Netherlands.

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

Windmill, Water and Tulips

A scenic landscape featuring vibrant pink and red tulip fields under a gray sky, with a traditional windmill in the background and a narrow stream lined with grass in the foreground.
The Netherlands, Voorhout – April 2026

A major part of The Netherlands lies beneath sea level. Water, and the management of it in infrastructure as polders, dams and canals, is normal. We even not think of living under sea level. We feel safe.

Here a polder with an old windmill (painted by Monet long ago) – originally used to pump water out of a polder- and a small canal in a polder with tulips. Only the clogs are missing!

LAPC #395 looks back to LAPC #155 ‘On the water’. Water is not on our minds, but it is mindful to keep defending dry land against rising sea, rivers and soon (thanks to climate change with a bigger financial effort) rain.

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

At the back

It is not only flowers on fields around the villages, but every garden has its own share of bulbflowers popping out in the Spring. 

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.

Sunrise Sparkles

Close-up of bare branches with small, budding leaves against a blurred green background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2026

The Magnolia against the upcoming sunlight 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

So Close, So Far Away

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

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

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

A matter of choice and taste – Episode 3

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. Thought I am not really sure about this piece of land, it is just been plowed it seems.

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

A matter of choice and taste – Episode 2

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. On the color version you can see the deep purple of early hyacinths. With Some yellow late Daffodils.

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

A matter of choice and taste – Episode 1

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. On the color version you can see the deep purple of early hyacinths. With Some yellow late Daffodils.

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

All Seasons Lavender

A close-up view of blooming lavender plants with vibrant purple flowers and green foliage.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – March 2026

Long ago each season had its own indicators: vegetables, flowers, products. But nowadays in a world economy you can eat vegetables all year round. And now you can have lavender all year round as well. Not the whole year but starting from Spring.

Lavender for me is a ride through the Provence, with the scent in the air as you oversee fields of purple. In Summer.

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

When Spring Calls

Close-up of a tree with bright yellow flowers or buds against a dark background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – February 2026

Spring knocks on the door. Sunrises through young leaves, creating a fabric of soft gold in the tree against the sunlight.

Shot with iPhone 15 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.

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.

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.