After Bratislava, Prague is the second city I took most photos of. I go there at least two times a year, and each time I take so many photos and find so many new views. It’s really a very beautiful city. A lot of these are directly in the center of the city, but still you have to find the right spot, to get the best photo :)
To see all my photos from Prague, check out the Prague category http://blog.hdrshooter.net/category/czech-republic/prague/
So here goes:
Smetanovo nabrezi (Vltava waterfront)
You just can’t miss this place. So many tourist taking photos. I always laugh when I see them taking photo of the landscape here using a flash :). But the secret of this place, is to go here when there is not much wind, and finding the right spot. There is a small cascade in the Vltava river here, so part of the river is calm and part isn’t. So if you are standing correctly, you will have the most beautiful reflection of the Prague castle possible :)
Under the Charles Bridge
Yes that’s correct. Not on the Charles Bridge, but under it. When you are there you will immediately see why. First of all, you will be alone there :) As the way here is not so visible (you have to go down from the bridge and the return a little), tourists just ignore it. I never met another person there. Secondly, the view of the bridge is great. And not many people will have the same photo.
Old town hall tower
Ok, another classic. The view of the city is great here, but also the number of people is big. But right around sunset it gets better. Great thing here is that you can take your tripod here. Just be ready to protect it, as the moving people will bump into you constantly :) Also the elevator inside the tower is great for sci-fi looking photos.
Charles Bridge tower
Another tower. Not so frequented by tourists, as there is no elevator, and it doesn’t look that you can go up from outside. You can quite easily miss the entrance. You can also use your tripod here. There are more towers in Prague (like Petrin), but these don’t allow for tripods and are quite far away from the center.
Strelecky Ostrov (Shooters Island)
Great name to be placed on this blog, don’t you think? :) Great view of the historical center and with a great reflection. Also the Bridge of legions and the National theater reflect so nicely.
and a bonus one
Letenske Sady (Letna park)
This place has a great view of the city and all the bridges. If you have good luck for weather that is. I personally never had luck for that. Usually it’s either overcast, or completely covered with fog. But I will return to it, until I get the shot I wont.
Update: so last time on this place I had luck.. and got some nice photos :)
great photos !!
Hello,
First of all, really beautiful photographs, i hope i can get some good results this summer as well.
But i heard a weird story about a tourist being fined because he used his tripod to take a photo of the bridge. as you probably did the same, did you had any trouble, or did you had a permit, or is the story just plain wrong?
Regards,
Koen
Thank you. And I heard about that, but never had a problem. Probably because I usually shoot on the Charles bridge around midnight. But I still hope that Prague gets a lot less tourists this year.. so they learn not to do such stupid stuff.
My GF & I go to Prague in less than a month. Can’t wait!
Please contact me! I’d like to learn more about where these were taken. I’m going in 2 days!
Very nice pictures. Going with my son to Prague on Feb 19-20. What advice or instructions would you be able to offer?
Best regards
Thomas
Depends on what would you like to know :) But if you are there only for two days, I would suggest sticking to the city center, the waterfront and the old town. For a short visit these places give you the nicest photo opportunities, without having to walk a lot.
Thanks, your comment makes sence. There is also a hill (300 m) nearby. Do not remember the name right now. Any point in visiting for panoramic views?
You probably mean Petrin. The view from there is nice, you can see the the whole city, but I still prefer the view from the Old town hall. Petrin is on a hill above the city, and so it’s not close to anything, so you see only tiny buildings in the distance.
Thank you for sharing such beautiful photographs. I shall be visiting Prague towards the end of February and will certainly be heading to the spots you have suggested. Hope it doesn’t snow at this time of year!
Many thanks
Sometimes it does.. even in February. Wish you good luck with the weather and enjoy your stay.
Awesome pictures !
I’m going to Prague on early April.
I wondered : is it free to go at the top of the tower at Charles Bridge? :)
Thx and keep giving so much sense to HDR photography !
No.. you can’t go up for free in the towers in Prague .. but the entry prices are not that big..
Awesome pictures. Very inspiring indeed.
I am going there soon and I will try to find the spots you suggested and see if I can come anywhere near your photos.
Did you use filters to make them or were you able to shoot them without filters (as I still do not have any).
Thanks for the tips!
Hope you get some nice shots, I was in Prague just yesterday :) And no, no filters used, I use HDR or manual blending for my photos.
Hi there…. superb pictures….. Will be visiting Prague next weekend.
Are all your pictures in HDR? Do you think tripod is a must? Do we get some platform up these towers where we can set our camera or should be handheld? Why is tripod restricted?
Can you mention which camera and lens you used? What zoom range will be good?
Thanks for the tips!
Hi .. if you go through my Prague category http://blog.hdrshooter.net/category/czech-republic/prague/ you can view the camera settings and what lens I used by all my photos from there (just click read more under the photo you are interested in .. and the info is under the photo). Most of the towers have no real platforms to place the camera on, I really prefer a tripod. In Prague there are very few restrictions for tripods, I had no problems in any of the towers (they can ask you not to use a tripod if there are too many people there) only places where tripods are not allowed are churches.
Very good photos. I am sure I will never be in Prague so it is nice to have pictures like this to see what I am missing. Thank You
Never say never :)