Prague New Year 2019 pt1

Jan and I are going back to Prague for the New Year again, we last went two years ago when it was really foggy , but a fabulous atmosphere.  We have arrived at our apartment which is near the "Memorial to victims of communism" below Petrin hill  at 7.30 pm, so after a quick unpack we are going out for a walk and to find something to eat.
We are going over the Strelecky ostrov bridge and then along the river towards Charles bridge.

Having made our way along to Charles Bridge, we turn off and head through the streets to get to Old Town Square.  that is where the Christmas markets and Tree are situated.
Here is the world famous Astronomical clock, which has recently been restored. the colours looks fabulous now .

                                         Old Town Square, busy with all the market stalls.

The huge Christmas tree is different from previous years in that it hasn't got the dripping lights all over it .  But it turns out the lights are computer controlled in a pattern sequence to music .

Dinner time now, I remember a small place not far from here ,  I marked it in google maps for future reference.   having found the street there is another restaurant almost next door, so we are trying this one , since I hate food its difficult finding something I will eat!

                                                       Look at the size of this sausage!

                                    We are about 2 floors underground here, looks like a cave.

Back through to the square now and along to Charles bridge to cross the river to go back to our apartment.

                                    I remember these light globes from last time we where here.

                                        Onto Charles bridge, its always busy on here.

The castle and St Vitus Cathedral  looking splendid overlooking the river.  not great picture with the phone though.

The end tower of the bridge,  we turn off left just up the road from here to head along to Petrin park.

The end of our first evening in Prague, tomorrow is New Years Eve, which is going to be a very long day!

Prague River walks 3/4 th January 2017

It is 6 am and i have got up and walked down to the bridge hoping for a nice sunrise ,   That's something i very rarely shoot as i can never get up   lol
On the bridge there is at least a few breaks in the cloud and i might just get a bit of colour.   Its fairly quiet but a few other photographers are on the bridge already.

                      There is a bit of colour , a long exposure of 140 seconds at f14 for this image.

                     46 seconds for this one , the cloud is building but is still well broken.

 Looking up river and that's were the best colour is unfortunately.     the yellow Penguins really stand out in front of the modern art museum.

                                                      Love the snow covered roofs .

One last bridge shot ,  47 seconds.      a load of photographers are standing still at the end of the bridge so the long exposure hasn't ghosted them out.

                            The colour hasn't reached behind me over the castle ,  never mind.

                      Its 8.32 and i had better get back to the hotel and see if Jan is up yet  haha.

After breakfast of Caramel waffles and hot chocolate we are walking up river past the penguins .

                                                        We are at the Penguins , selfi time

                                                                   Very Strange!

 We have walked up to the next bridge upstream where the mid river island is, and we have gone down on to Strelecky ostrov ( shooters island)
                               A long exposure for this image   43 seconds with little stopper

After a walk around a local christmas market  and through the castle , stopping off for more mulled wine for Jan i have left her at the hotel for a fast walk up to Letna hill to shoot the river after dark.
100-400 mm lens for this image  8 seconds f14

                 And stopping off to shoot the bridge from the swan feeding area on the way back.

    Our last evening in Prague we take a last look around old town square , firstly the Astronomical clock.

We are leaving today , its a bit snowy at moment but forecast is for clearing up , so a walk down the river past Letna to the island and back before we have to leave for the airport.

An hour later and its beautiful , a 30 second exposure looking across river to the castle lit up with sunlight.

                           A lovely walk along the river and onto the island looking for the weir.

                            It has clouded over now so a b&w conversion is best for this image.

The end of a fabulous few days in Prague ,  and after almost getting snowed in at the airport we arrived home safe and sound at 2 am in the morning .

Prague at Night 2 nd January 2017

Continuing on from Morning adventure in the snow  
  The sun is setting and the lights are starting to come on along the river.  i am on the side of Charles Bridge looking across the river ,plenty of snow on the rooftops on the castle district.


                                  30 second exposure looking across to the castle district.

 I have now moved upstream of Charles Bridge , the snow is still on the wooded deflectors making a good focal point.
                                                                13 second exposure

    A slightly longer 30 second  shutterspeed gives a bit of movement as the water falls over the weir.

 A quick run over the bridge to take a couple images as the lights come on , then i have to get back to the hotel to pick up Jan.

 After dinner we are walking back to the river , the square below the bridge still has a bit of snow left and the small Christmas market is still open.  a long exposure has ghosted all the people out .

 We have walked upstream to the National Theatre , there is a small island where i can get a good view of the castle all lit up.

 There is Still snow on the island below the lights , the sky is crystal clear tonight and the castle looks stunning!

                In the distance , the Petrin Tower is very clear tonight  , shot with 100-400 mm lens .

                              A five frame vertical panorama shot with the 100 -400 mm lens

                                                         And a close up  , stunning!

Reflections in the river also , its getting very cold now, and i cant take my gloves off for very long.
Jan wants to head back now , i think its about minus 7 !!!!!   Brrrrrrrr.

                                           Looking downstream as we cross the bridge.

 As there are not too many people on the bridge, i stop to take a few long exposure shots , hoping to ghost out any moving people that get in the way , it has only partly worked , just too many standing still taking photos unfortunately.     But a great image despite a few "Ghosts"

 My final image for the day , and a cracker looking down the bridge through the arch to the church on the hill behind.

The end of a fantastic day .......................... 

Prague in the Snow 2nd January 2017

Its forecast to snow sometime today , hopefully .  We are going to visit Letna Hill and the Metronome this morning since we changed plans yesterday.  There are a few snow flakes fluttering down as we leave the hotel and we walk to our favorite cafe "Arcadia"  Fabulous hot chocolate in twelve varietys.

 After hot chocolate and a caramel waffle we are on our way, and its started snowing properly now.
We have walked along the river to the bottom of Letna Hill, and its really comind down now!

                                                                            Selfie time #1

                                                                     The "Metronome"

            What a fabulous view up the river with all the bridges.  you can see the heavy now!
                            shot with 100 - 400mm lens , and hard to keep snow off the lens  .

                                      It has eased off a bit now giving clearer conditions.

                                                                           Selfi #2  :)

                                                               Jan found a swing  lol

                         Good viewpoint from up here , must come back at dusk one evening.

                                                             Close up of the rooftops.

 We have walked around to the back of the castle , past the valley gardens below the bridge into the castle rear entrance.

 Having gone through the metal detector at security gate we are inside below the Church,  there is a christmas market here and Jan has mulled wine and we have curled chips.

                                                                  In The Castle square.

         In front of the main square looking over the city , our hotel is just below us somewhere .

        After a rest i have run down to Charles bridge for a quick shoot, leaving Jan back at the hotel.

 The sun is setting , with lovely light across the castle district.     a long exposure of 30 seconds  taken on the bridge looks wonderful :)

The rest of today will be in the next blog as have too many images  ............................