BlackandWhite | hans broeksteeg PHOTOGRAPHY

Black and White

By stripping away the distraction of colour, I aim to reveal the true essence of the subject and the overall scene. Without colour, my focus shifts entirely to the raw interplay of light, shadow, texture, contrast, and form. Through this collection of monochrome, outdoor photographs, I celebrate minimalism and atmosphere.

I sometimes try to use negative space to create breathing room, capturing the quiet mood of misty mornings and dramatic vistas during the early hours. My goal is to transform familiar and natural scenes into timeless, emotive works of art, uncovered and distilled through my lens.

" We see in colour all the time. Everything around us is in colour. Black and white is therefore immediately an interpretation of the world, rather than a copy. "

-- Michael Kenna --

To get conditions like this, you need not only sunlight but also humid, cold air. The best moments, in my opinion, occur approximately an hour after sunrise, when the sun is a bit higher in the sky. This morning the great conditions lasted about half an hour, so lots of opportunities to capture some nice shots. 😁 It's often a struggle to get a decent shot in the woodlands without too much distracting clutter in the frame. A long lens can help to isolate the subject.

Chasing the Light

Hoge Veluwe NP, NL -

Capturing light rays in the forest requires patience and the right elements: crisp morning air, lingering humidity, and low sunlight. Roughly an hour after sunrise, the forest transformed for a brief thirty minutes. Woodland photography is often a patient struggle against visual clutter. By deliberately choosing a longer lens, I aimed to isolate the trees and compress the perspective, translating a chaotic environment into a timeless display of light and shadow.

ISO64 | 200mm | f11 | 1/15s

27-01-2024 - 10:59

NIKON Z8

Brooding Sky

Drenthe, NL -

To capture a scene with a dark and moody atmosphere, patience is essential — sometimes requiring to stand in the pouring rain, waiting for the light to break through. Such was the case on this quiet morning. Having noticed this distant pair of trees a few days prior, I had envisioned a specific composition. The flat landscape initially lacked a compelling foreground element, but I eventually stumbled upon a small ridge that added a pleasing sense of dimension and depth. I patiently waited for the light to concentrate right behind the two trees, allowing their isolated silhouettes to gently stand out against the heavy elements.

ISO64 | 24mm | f11 | 1/4s

04-10-2023 - 07:55

NIKON Z8

Scots Pine

Veluwezoom, NL -

Without fog, this Scots pine, standing slightly isolated, would completely blend into the background trees. I leaned its slightly curved shape towards the centre of the frame to achieve the right balance. The shadow beneath the tree adds just that little bit extra.

ISO64 | 78mm | f5 | 1/320s

09-09-2023 - 08:23

NIKON Z8

Mist and Mood

Veluwezoom, NL -

Embracing negative space on a quiet, misty morning. The heavy fog simplifies the landscape, leaving only the essential contrast between the silhouettes and the soft light.

ISO64 | 170mm | f16 | 1/5s

09-08-2023 - 07:20

NIKON Z8

Two trees with some dark and light cloudy sky as background

Contrast of Elements

Veluwezoom, NL -

Patience is at the heart of this composition. By waiting for the precise moment when the sky directly behind the branches cleared, a brilliant contrast was born against the ink-black clouds looming above, grounding the image in a powerful sense of scale.

ISO64 | 90mm | f9 | 1/50s

08-10-2022 - 16:48

NIKON D850

Vikurkirkja

Vik, Iceland -

Standing on the famous black sand beach, I captured this shot handheld due to the fierce Icelandic wind. While this iconic church is known for its brightly coloured red roof, I consciously chose a black and white presentation to emphasise form over colour. The harsh afternoon light and deep sky provided the ideal canvas for a monochrome conversion; stripping away the red allows the pristine white structure to become a geometric anchor, standing out dramatically against the dark, sweeping lines of its volcanic surroundings.

ISO400 | 200mm | f8 | 1/1250s

04-07-2022 - 17:39

NIKON D850

Búðakirkja

Iceland -

During our journey through Iceland, whilst exploring the Snæfellsnes peninsula, we made a detour to Búðakirkja — perhaps the most iconic and photographed church in the country. This historic black wooden structure sits beautifully isolated close to the sea against a rugged mountainous backdrop. By translating the scene into monochrome, the dramatic, heavy sky mirrors the dark timber of the church, whilst the brilliant white door and windows become sharp, striking focal points that pierce the moody landscape.

ISO64 | 35mm | f8 | 1/160s

01-07-2022 - 14:16

NIKON D850

An Inverse View

Westkapelle, NL -

While everyone else remained focused on the sea and the beach, I turned around and noticed this lone bench standing on top of the dike. Through my use of a polariser filter to deepen the dark sky and intensify the pure white clouds, this everyday object is instantly transformed into a powerful symbol of quiet contemplation.

ISO80 | 75mm | f8 | 1/160s

15-06-2021 - 14:33

NIKON D850

Sometimes, the most powerful elements in photography are born from pure serendipity. While I was busy capturing the dramatic, churning sky behind one of my favourite local trees at sunset, these two figures walked into the frame. I waited for the precise second they crossed between the setting sun and my lens, transforming them into sharp silhouetted anchors. Their presence not only heightens the story within the landscape but lends a striking sense of scale to the solitary tree.

Walking by

Veluwezoom NP, NL -

Sometimes, the most powerful elements in photography are born from pure serendipity. While I was busy capturing the dramatic, churning sky behind one of my favourite local trees at sunset, these two figures walked into the frame. I waited for the precise second they crossed between the setting sun and my lens, transforming them into sharp silhouetted anchors. Their presence not only heightens the story within the landscape but lends a striking sense of scale to the solitary tree.

ISO64 | 24mm | f11 | 1/40s

02-07-2020 - 21:00

NIKON D850

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