Prague Without The Trains or the Cameraphone

I've always noticed this hotel on Tylovo Namesti, but I never took a proper photo until I was standing by Bohemia Bagel, had my Lomo in my hands, saw good light, and took the shot. :-)

This is another case of seeing a shot and taking it, more or less. :-)

I was standing on Resinovo next to the Zeleznicni Most, and noticed this perfect shot of the Staropramen Pivovar (Brewery) and Stadion Stahov up on the hill overlooking it. Normally, I think Staropramen have a big sign out, but either I didn't manage to get it into my shot, or they've taken it down.

This is the famed "Dancing House," constructed in 1994-1996 to both widespread acclaim and derision, it was designed by Croatian architect Vlado Milunic in cooperation with Canadian architect Fred Gehry, it now houses a French restaurant on the roof, plus offices. It was originally intended to be a cultureal centure, but this never happened. My photo is unusual in that it views the building from the southwest, whereas normally photographers prefer to catch the more radical curves to this very oddly-shaped building that face to the northwest.

Here's a sweeping view of southeastern Prague from the Palackeho Most, although the low altitude inhibits the view somewhat. You can see Vysehrad, the old castle and neighborhood which predates Prazky Hrad, most notably featuring the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, with the twin steeples.

Perfect afternoon light!!! :-)

This is a view of Vysehrad and the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul taken from Zelecnicni Most, which means literally "railway bridge" in Czech. That is indeed what it is, although there's a pedestrian walkway that's open to the public, and that's what I was using.

It took this from one of the trams going through Malostranska, and I love it. I don't know why. I think it's the blowing snow.

One of several St. Vaclav's churches in Prague, this one is considered to be Neo-Rennaissance in style. Again, maybe this shot isn't so great technically, as much of the lower part of the church is almost black, but I love how it looks.

Like the "Shops and Shadows" shot, I also liked this one for the lighting, but also for the irony of going, historically, from one extreme to the other. The building is blatantly Communist (unless someone knows otherwise and wants to make a fool out of me), but the shops are all small businesses, in the finest tradition of capitalism, as Wal-Mart hasn't destroyed this neighborhood yet.

I really liked the lighting in this shot, so I figured I'd post it to see what people think. :-) This was continuing down Stefanikova, shooting pictures of the shops.

Deviating from the Stefanikova story for a moment, here's perhaps the most spectacular view possible from a tram in Prague (not counting the Funicular). It was taken from Chotkova, on Tram 22 or 23 (I don't remember right now), southbound. The historic tram service, #91, and several other services also use it, but these three are the best for tourists because this is the way to and from Prazky Hrad, the castle. There was a bit of fog on this day as the sun melted the snow, and some of that is inevitably smog, too, but I think it adds atmosphere. As I get better shots, I'll probably post them, but for now, enjoy. :-)

The same day that I took the Andel Tram Stop picture, I decided to wander down Stefanikova to see if I could take any good street or tram shots, and this was the first good shot I got. The strange looking building on the left is now owned and run by Komercni Banka, or KB, one of the Czech Republic's major banks, while the others are mostly apartment blocks of varying ages.

Here's my Lomo screwing up again, and once again producing a very cool image by so doing. I hope you like it. :-)

When I took this, I was hoping for an interesting detail shot, still life, or whatever, but I ended up with something far stranger than I had bargained for, as the cross processing on this roll was really extreme with the expired Fujichrome Astia and all.

I've also got conventional versions of this shot, of course, but this is maybe the most interesting, being cross processed.

In addition to trams, metro trains, and of course the funicular trains/trams, DPP also has a large fleet of buses, some of them Volvos and such, but the vast majority being Karosas, as these are. I took this in Dejvicka, basically experimenting with my Lomo.

I just saw this, and took it. :-) I would love to hear peoples' views on it.