czech republic
Prague in black and white
Given the weather in the south east over the last week, it’ll come as no surprise that I have done very little in the way of photography. I have moved the hide from the marsh harrier site to the barn owl place and attempted a different take on an image of a great-spotted woodpecker. So, I have been doing the laborious, but necessary, task of processing images for my agents and converting a number of my photographs of Prague to black and white. This is primarily for a forthcoming Prague prints gallery on my website.
Those of you that have visited my website will know that I have quite a substantial collection of images, taken in all seasons and weathers, of the city they call “the golden city” or “the city of a hundred spires.” Since the majority were taken 4-5 years ago on transparency I have had to scan them, then convert. I am no expert on Photoshop (and I hope will never be!) but a basic understanding of tweaking colours, levels, curves, and a bit of dodging and burning can really transform an image. Prague is such a colourful city and sometimes it’s sheer vibrancy can deflect from the beauty of the architecture and gives it a rather old-world, timeless feel. Indeed many of them could have been taken a hundred years ago and you would never know!
Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral and Mala Strana or The Little Quarter. Photographed on the coldest day I have ever experienced in the Czech Republic. The large, digital road-side temperature sign read -15 C but with a strong wind blowing into my face it must have been close to -25. You really don't care what you like when it's that cold!
Statue on Charles Bridge (Karluv Most).
Steps from Prague Castle
West Towers in winter along Charles Bridge. Undoubtably the best time to experience this ever-busy bridge is to get there at dawn.
Taken during a blizzard. I added a vignette, sepia'd and cut down sharpening to give it that 'old' look. Matter of taste but quite like it. Good to try something different.
Buildings along Masarykovo Nabrezi, Prague. Taken moments before the sun set.
Tram moving across The Bridge of Legions (Most Legii) with the National Theatre (Narodni Divadlo) behind.
On the photographic side, over those years, my kit never changed. Nikon F5, 20mm, 28-105mm, 80-200mm, polarisers, ND grads, Velvia and Provia and a Manfrotto tripod. Everything was packed into a Lowepro backpack. Above all else, comfortable walking shoes! Prague is one cobbled street after another.
Czech Republic photography workshop
Prague bridges crossing the River Vltava at sunset
I’m in the throws of planning a 6 day photography workshop to the Czech Republic, taking in Prague and Cesky Krumlov, the latter being a beautiful medieval town with UNESCO world heritage status in South Bohemia. 3 nights will be spent in Prague and 2 in Cesky Krumlov. I haven’t booked the hotel or finalised exact details as yet, except for the dates, so I am just getting a feel for any interest out there before it gets put onto my website or advertised more widely.
Prague Castle
For around 5 years I made at least 40 trips to Prague and several to Cesky Krumlov, shooting images for my own library and agencies as well as for magazine articles (one of which appeared in Outdoor photography) and also for hotels in Prague. The result is that I know this place quite literally like the back of my hand and therefore know exactly where to go for dawn to dusk shooting. No time will be wasted on your part in getting your bearings, negotiating trams and the metro and potentially getting lost in the maze of medieval cobbled streets and alleys. This I would do on a regular basis for the first half a dozen trips to Prague!
Prague spires
Prague buildings
Prague at sunset
Accommodation in Prague and Cesky Krumlov will be taken care of as will transport to and from Cesky Krumlov. Numbers will be limited to just 4 participants to keep it small and friendly and it also means I can spend quality time with each person.
Cesky Krumlov at sunset
Cesky Krumlov
Dates will be September 6th to 11th 2010 and the price will be around £600 which does not include flights.
Please contact me to register your interest.
To see my full coverage of both Prague and Cesky Krumlov, please visit my website and use the drop-down Category box or in Collections.
About Robert Canis
Robert Canis is a professional photographer specialising in the natural world.
Read more about Robert Canis
