In midsummer 2024, I was in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, with a group of friends. There is a direct train connection from my home town of Dresden, which takes you to your destination in around two hours after travelling through the picturesque Elbe valley.
The holiday itself was not really dedicated to taking photos, but rather to discovering the city together with my friends. But although I was only armed with my camera and two lenses, in other words without any filters, tripods or similar accessories, the pictures I took are still worthy of their own page.
Prague itself is located in an area that has been continuously inhabited for the longest time in European history and therefore dates back to before the birth of Christ. The construction of the castle in the ninth century marked the beginning of the city's rise to its present-day status. However, Prague was granted the status of capital city only after the First World War, when it became the new political centre of the formed Czech Republic. It regained this title after the end of the Second World War and the associated German occupation.
The city is known for its architecture, which consists mainly of Baroque and Wilhelminian elements. This architecture was the reason why we decided to take a trip to this beautiful city.
We arrived at the central station on time on a warm Friday evening and before we had even got to the hotel and eaten dinner, it was already dark. And so the first photos I took in Prague were fascinating night shots that captured the hustle and bustle of this vibrant city, but also its old age and permanence.
The night-time stroll through the historic alleyways gave us an idea of the beauty that we were able to admire the next day in some wonderful weather.
The next day was characterised mainly by sightseeing. We started near the central station and began to explore the streets. And then came the fatal moment when I wanted to take my first photo...
I had everything with me, camera, alternate lens - only the battery was still in the hotel, of course. So while my friends moved on, I had no choice but to go back to my room and get the power pack. Annoying, but unfortunately it couldn't be changed.
I arranged to meet my friends at the Karlovy Vary Bridge, a pedestrian-only crossing over the River Vltava, from where you have an excellent view to the castle and the Old Town in front of it.
As they needed some time, however, I had enough to dedicate myself to this view with my camera, which was now supplied with power. At midday, the sky was scattered with large clouds that left enough space for the sun in between, so that the sunlit city contrasted with a very dramatic sky.
Together we then explored Prague's alleyways, its beautiful facades and picturesque gardens, including that of the Czech Senate. Even though the city was full of tourists, it gave off an enormous sense of peacefulness, which was probably due in particular to the ancient buildings that could be found everywhere.
On Sunday, our last day in Prague, we travelled around the city again and visited a large Italian Renaissance-style park near our hotel. Havlíček Park, as it is called, surrounds a large estate on a hill, with countless vineyards planted on its slopes. From there, we enjoyed one last view over Prague before starting our journey home in the late afternoon.
- SchludgyShot of the trip -
My picture of the trip was taken on Saturday afternoon. After exploring the old town and the castle and taking a break by the River Vltava, we decided to drive up Mount Petřín, a hill located directly opposite the castle.
The hill is covered in trees and is more or less a large park. On the plateau at the top, there are also spacious gardens that invite you to stay a while. Our destination, however, was the Petřínská rozhledna, a cast-iron observation tower that resembles the Eiffel Tower - at least in some ways.
So we set off from the town valley on an ancient funicular railway up Petřín and when we reached the top, we headed straight for the observation tower. After paying the entrance fee, briefly considering whether the lift was an option and then deciding to take the stairs, we were standing on the first level shortly afterwards. From here, we already had a great view over the entire city.
This went largely unnoticed by me, however, as I spotted the nearby St Laurentius Church. It stood out from the mighty green trees surrounding it which, with their bright orange colour and copper roofs, made it an ideal photo opportunity.
But why do I think it is the best shot of the whole trip? Firstly, the church stands out due to its colour scheme, as the façade is designed in the complementary colour to the oxidised copper roof. The picture is also particularly impressive because of the imposing background. This shows the entire south-east of Prague, while the church towers above the city. It stands amidst ancient, mighty trees in rich shades of green, which in turn are complementary colours to the strong red of the roof tiles.
All in all, this picture is for me the best example of outstanding colour harmony. I am so taken with this picture, this chapel and its surroundings that it has become my absolute favourite picture from Prague. The open aperture of my 50mm prime lens added a little something extra. The result is impressive!
