What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Posts tagged ‘shotoniphone’

Rejected Photos

Lens-artists Photo Challenge #382 is about rejected photos. What do you do with photos you do not like? You can throw them away, or you can keep them. And if you keep them what can you do with them? First a story of myself, how I work. And in the end an example.

I am a snap shooter for a long time. When looking at this question for myself, I have to distinguish between the analog age and the digital age. But in both ages it is about quality, how you can assess that and what instruments are available after shooting. And above all: how can you be creative, and how much room is there to experiment?

The analog age was expensive: film was expensive, darkroom materials were expensive too. And being a poor student I shot as efficient as possible. You had to be patient while shooting, and selective. You also needed to trust your skills. Experience was essential to figure out what worked and what not. To produce good prints you needed to develop darkroom skills. And some negatives were impossible to print. But you kept them all. I never threw away negatives. That decision was beneficial in the digital age. After scanning my negatives, I properly made them look like what I had in mind when shooting them. What the darkroom did not deliver, software did.

In the digital age the cost of a photo is nearly non existent. The original photo (the former negative) can be copied lots of times. From the start technology offers instruments to oversee the quality of the photos. What you shoot is instantly visible on the camera. You can try different changes in the photo. Adjustments like shutter time, focus, and shutter opening can be tested most of the time. The RAW format offers flexibility for editing the ‘negative’ after the shoot. Software offers lots of creative tools to change the photo, or create new images.

So, do you keep rejected (bad) photos or not? I do reject photos, overseeing the result on my camera. I keep photos that can come to a good result after editing. The rest I remove straight away (e.g. bracketing shots).What I keep is stored on my NAS, where I use Lightroom as my archiving tool. I use editing tools to tweak a photo slightly. My favorite is Snapseed for web and social media publication. And Lightroom and Photoshop for prints.

The digital age is a time for unlimited creativity. The photos of ‘dinner at Wiveton Bell’ are an example of testing out the iPhone in a very dark situation. I shot about 8 frames, I kept them all but had my doubts. At home I worked them in Lightroom and Snapseed. And was surprised by what came out. And the ones that did not work were indeed deleted.

On the left the photo published and on the right the original RAW file.

Four silhouetted figures walking in a dimly lit parking area at night, with a church tower in the background under a starry sky.
Four figures walking on a gravel path toward a church under a starry sky, with parked cars on either side.
Silhouettes of two people walking in a dimly lit street surrounded by parked cars and a faint glow from a nearby light source.
Two silhouetted figures walking on a dimly lit street at night, with a faint light illuminating their path, and a distant building silhouette against a darkened sky.
A moody, abstract landscape featuring silhouetted structures against a dark, colorful sky with hints of light.
A nighttime scene featuring dark clouds and a few visible stars, with silhouettes of buildings in the foreground.
A dimly lit pathway at night with a bright moon overhead, featuring shadowy figures walking along the path, illuminated by faint light.
A group of people walking along a dark path illuminated by flashlights, with a bright moon in the night sky.

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.

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.

Dinner at the Wiveton Bell in Norfolk

Abstract night scene featuring silhouettes of buildings and structures against a colorful, illuminated sky.
A dark night scene featuring a faint moon in the sky above a shadowy path, with silhouettes of people walking along the trail.
Two silhouetted figures walking on a dark street illuminated by a car's headlights, with a dark sky and a building in the background.
Four silhouetted figures walking towards a church under a starry night sky, with parked cars visible in the foreground.
England, Wiveton, Blakeney – December 2025

Having dinner at the Wiveton Bell. A beautiful moonlight night, an open invitation to play with the iPhone. The results did surprise me.

The bottom right photo is taken with the night modus. The rest with the manual mode of ‘real light’.

The one of the church reminds me of a medieval painting.

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.

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.

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.

Autumn Sunrise Road

Sunrise over an Autumn landscape taken from inside a car, showcasing a vibrant sky with orange and pink hues, silhouetted trees along a roadside.
The Netherlands, Leiden – December 2025

Sunrise on an Autumn morning, from a car (not driving).

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

Red Mill

Sunrise over an Autumn landscape featuring a traditional windmill, captured from a car.
The Netherlands, Leiden – December 2025

Sunrise on an Autumn morning, from a car (not driving).

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

Heavy Horizon

A dramatic sky filled with dark rain clouds, featuring silhouettes of trees and a flock of birds flying across the scene.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

An iPhone long lens shot of a heavy rain sky. This was the first of the three photos I published the last three days.

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

Birds

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

An iPhone long lens shot of the horizon, catching geese by accident, against a heavy rain sky. I cropped the motorway A44 out on this one.

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

Blues

A long shot of a dark sky with heavy rain, featuring birds flying over motorway A44, with a blue car passing and bare trees in the foreground.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – November 2025

A long shot with an iPhone; a heavy rain sky with birds over motorway A44.

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

Out of the chimney

Silhouette of a chimney with smoke against a twilight sky.
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.

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.

Just missed Saint Nicholas, or Waiting For Santa?

Silhouette of a rooftop with smoke rising from a chimney against a blue sky.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – December 2025

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

Close To The Mono Edge

A monochrome photograph of a boat moving through calm water, with ripples extending from its wake, surrounded by trees and a distant bridge.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – November 2025

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

Christmas 2025: How Big A Reindeer Are You?

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

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

Christmas 2025: New Balls

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

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

Christmas 2025: Merchandising S*** Show

A close-up view of rolls of toilet paper decorated with festive Christmas-themed designs, including Santa Claus and reindeer, stacked together.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

Christmas sales have kicked off, and you even can change your toilet area into a Christmas atmosphere. If it is tasteful? I am not sure about that.

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

Night View

The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

The garden at night. The Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #375 is ‘where to find the mysterious’.

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

Incremental

A dramatic sunset sky filled with wispy clouds, showcasing shades of blue, pink, and soft yellow.
Artistic depiction of swirling autumn clouds during sunset, featuring shades of pink and gray.
Colorful swirling clouds against an autumn sunset sky.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

Autumn skies at sunset.

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

Bottom’s Up

A close-up view of a champagne glass on a marble table, capturing the sparkling drink and reflections in the glass.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

A dinner in our favorite restaurant, exquisite food with an excellent wine arrangement.

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

Heron Times 2

A heron standing by a canal, surrounded by tall grass and reeds.
A heron standing in green grass near a canal, facing away from the camera with its long neck extended.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

This Heron is a frequent visitor along the little canal in front of the house.

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.

Rose

A close-up image of a white rose with soft petals, set against a blurred dark background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

Having fresh flowers in the house is a blessing.

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

Windowed Leafs

A close-up view of a single leaf resting on a rain-soaked window, with a blurred blue sky in the background.
Close-up of colorful leaves floating on a wet window pane with a cloudy sky in the background.
Fallen autumn leaves scattered on a wet window with a cloudy sky in the background.
Fallen leaves drifting against a cloudy sky, viewed through a window with raindrops.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

The sky and fallen leaves on windows.

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

Sky Views

A plane flying through a dynamic sky filled with clouds of various forms and shades of blue.
A dramatic sky filled with dynamic clouds showcasing a mix of colors and light.
A dynamic sky filled with clouds in various forms and colors, with sunlight peeking through and a small airplane flying in the distance.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

The sky and clouds are a dynamic big display of forms, colors and light. Looking up at times can take your mind off the daily life at moments.

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

Oegstgeest, The Netherlands

A scenic view of a tree with autumn leaves, surrounded by cloudy skies and a park setting, featuring benches and bicycles in the background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

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.

In The Dutch Mountains

A lush green field in the Netherlands with a herd of cows grazing under a blue sky with fluffy clouds.
The Netherlands, Voorhout – September 2025

The Netherlands, as its name indicates, is flat. ‘Flat as a pancake’. But sometimes it looks as if we have mountains.

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

Letting go

Close-up of autumn leaves displaying vibrant red and orange hues, highlighting the ephemeral beauty of the season.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

Autumn is the time of year were beauty is short and temporarily. Glimpses of moments that pass quickly and are gone fast. The end is the start of the new cycle of growth for the next year.

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

Autumn Details

Close-up of vibrant autumn leaves in shades of red, orange, and yellow with a blurred background, capturing the beauty of the season.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

Autumn is there, colors and details of the leaves are beautiful. Glimpses of moments that pass quickly and are gone fast.

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

Red Autumn

Close-up of vibrant autumn leaves showcasing shades of orange, red, and yellow against a blurred background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

Autumn is there, colors of leaves are beautiful.

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

Where Green Goes Red

Close-up of colorful autumn leaves with vibrant red, orange, and green hues, set against a blurred background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

Autumn is there, colors of leaves are beautiful. A spot of green is all that remains for a short while.

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

In the wind

Close-up of autumn leaves with vibrant red and orange colors, against a blurred background.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

Autumn is there, colors of leaves are beautiful. Unfortunately we had a lot of wind, so lots of leaves are off.

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

Hosta

Close-up of a vibrant yellow leaf among green foliage, showcasing autumn colors and textures.
The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – October 2025

Autumn is approaching, the rain and gray skies are more and more the new normal. Luckily there is the occasional sun to enjoy, and the beautiful coloring of plants and trees.

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