night | noc
curious | zvědavý
children are, admittedly, hard to photograph. they are either too fast to really capture or do not do anything interesting at all. i have my fair share of photographs of children on my blog, but it did not come at an easy cost. i have definitely ran into problems with angry parents, and so i started to steer away from trying to take any photos of kids. but tonight was one of those special nights, where no one seemed to mind that i was taking photos of their kid.
I think i stayed in the same position for minutes, waiting for the little girl to look up at me, but she was just so interested in those rocks. nevertheless, i attempted to capture her curiosity in this photo. I will say, though, the interesting part of it all is how late this little girl was up. It was almost ten o’clock at night, and she was still hustling and bustling around, dancing to the live music that was playing and screaming at her parents in joy.
Maybe i’m so used to babies and toddlers falling asleep at six or seven in the evening, or maybe it is a cultural difference. At night, i have seen plenty of young kids awake, eating a late dinner or ice cream with their parents. It’s interesting to me because usually parents are all about having their kids falling asleep early to have their own alone time, but these parents looked so happy to be awake with them.
silence | umlčet
back at it again at the Vyšehrad Cemetery, but on my own this time at eight in the morning. i was one of the first people to arrive, and it was definitely extremely nice when the places was not crowded with tourists. i wanted to have a nice morning exercise, so i knew this was the place to go to because i remember the burning in my legs after climbing up those awful stairs. even after finding out that there was an easier way to get up there, i still went up those stairs to get some sort of a work out.
being slightly disappointed in the last photo that i took and posted from this place, i took the opportunity to try it again. i was actually surprised to see someone in the graveyard, just sitting there, but all i could do was thank god for this picture-esque opportunity.
as much as i tried getting a good shot of his face, it was kind of awkward, considering that we were the only two in that spot. i did not have the confidence that i usually have when it is a crowded space, but i did attempt to be sneaky and try to take photos from my hip. of course, they ended up coming out terribly, so i went the simple route and planted myself on a bench across from him and waited for him to look at me. unfortunately, my time was running out and he never even glanced over at me, so i took what i could, and hoped to make the best image possible.
local | místní
i woke up extremely early and forced myself out of bed to go and take photos. not only was it a struggle to actually get out of bed, but it was a struggle to choose a spot that was not old town square or the charles bridge. i wanted to try something new, so i got on the metro and did not look at where any of the stops were and plugged in my headphones so i also did not hear where i was. i got off at a random stop far from the usual locations and planted myself on a bench and waited.
it was around seven in the morning when i made it, so people were barely hustling and bustling to their destinations. i took some shots of people’s feet, their handbags, hands holding coffee and breakfast and so on. nothing compares to people’s morning faces, though, so i focused my attention more on that and tried to capture everything i could.
with people moving about, it was a little hard to focus on their faces as they got closer to me. it was good practice for me, though, since i have not had to work with quick motions since the roma festival. but as i sat there snapshotting people, i got to realizing that czech people are quick and snappy when they have places to be, and extremely leisure and slow when they don’t.
gothic | gotický
following a person around waiting for the right moment to take a photo of them because they are so intriguing is such a complicated thing. it is a fight between patience and missing other moments around you, but sometimes it is totally worth it.
i think i followed this girl around for a good ten minutes, like a total creep. but the way she looked was so interesting that every time i moved somewhere else to take photos, my eyes kept going back to her anyway. as stated in my title, she looked super gothic and stood out like a sore thumb, but a good one.
when she stood next to her boyfriend, i just could not help but be shocked that i did not find another goth. he seemed like the outdoorsy type, but he was happy following her around and taking photos of her whenever he got the chance. i have a few photos of them together, but i just liked the way she looked and wanted to single her out. you can see the curiosity and interest in her eyes, even from a side profile, and that is what had me choosing this photo over any of the other ones.
bones | kosti
the infamous bone church, also officially known as the sedlec ossuary, is a small roman catholic chapel that contains the bones of 40,000 to 70,000 people. that’s right: people, not bones. it started out as a monastery in 1273, and in the 1700s, the bones were dug out from their graves and constructed into an artistic masterpiece inside of the church.
i remember talking about this bone church in the beginning of the program, and i had no idea if was a church made of bones or if it was a church that contained a lot of bones. i never researched it because i wanted to contain the element of surprise, and boy was i surprised.
now, it’s not a church made of bones, but with all the bones it has around, they could make one with them. there’s a chandelier that is just made of bones, which was probably the best part of the whole thing. i think what was shocking to me and could not get it through my thick (living) skull was that all of the bones and skulls were real and totally human. i still can’t decided whether it’s super disgusting or totally metal
paint | malovat
another worker photo, but this time, in action. i remember everyone in the group pulling out their cameras to take a photo of this man painting the building, but i think the most interesting part of it is the colors of the building and the green plants that he is surrounded by. maybe that is what caught everyone’s eye. something so simple looking so gorgeous.
prague is so pleasing and refreshing to the eye because the buildings are so old timey, but colorful and kept up with. it amazes me that a city so old still stands so beautifully, especially after years of suffering. but i also remember my mom telling me how preserved prague is; people find it so beautiful, they can not find it in their hearts to ever damage it, even during the second world war and the communism reign.
and of course, i have to give credit to those who keep the city beautiful. they’re unseen, not worried about and ignored by the tourists, but their hard work is appreciated by those who enjoy the architecture of these buildings. and i think that’s what i was trying to capture in these last two photos of mine. i want the workers to know that they are seen and appreciated
work | práce
it’s not unusual to see a worker taking a break here in prague, especially the typical smoke break. there is always men in overalls or yellow vests crowded together or spread out, leaning against a building and staring out at the people as they enjoy whatever time they have to themselves.
i’ll have to say, the smoking culture here is interesting compared to what it is like in america. over there, you always see anti-smoking ads on cigarette boxes, posters, commercials, etc.. in fact, the number of smokers have gone significantly down these past few years (sans the rise of juuls, of course). but here, almost everyone smokes. it’s almost overwhelming. but it’s such a casual thing that even strangers approach others to ask for a cigarette and are given one without a fight.
this is definitely not me praising smoking because i’m totally against it, but it’s just a different site than what i’m used to back at home. with workers, it seems as if having their cigarette is more important than eating a snack or having a coffee break. sometimes i have to look away just to catch some whiff of fresh air, if i’m lucky enough anyway.
tragic | tragický
Terezin is a former military fortress that was created in 1780 and became a concentration camp during the second world war. the town was named after the empress Maria Theresa from the Habsburg family. before the second world war, it served as a prison, housing one of the most famous killers: Gavrilo Princip, who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie and practically initiated the start of the first world war.
when approaching Terezin, it seemed like just a small town; buildings lined up in a row, a decent sized park in the middle, and small stores and restaurants at each corner. but right in front of the park, there is a Jewish Museum. it has the history of the concentration camp, what the people had to suffer through, how many were shipped off to other concentration camps, how many died from malnutrition and poor conditions. it was a good forty five minute walk around the whole museum, if not an emotional one.
we also saw the fortress that was turned into a prison then into a concentration camp, and being there showed the conditions that people lived in more vividly than it did just reading about it. some of the rooms were cold, and i tried to imagine what it was like to be cramped into such a tiny space with more than thirty people, as our tour guide described. it was definitely an experience, but it wouldn’t ever compare to those who actually lived through it.
modern | moderní
the National Gallery Prague is an art gallery that is state-owned and has the largest collection of art in the whole country. it was established in 1796, but the location that the art is currently at opened back in 1995. the different kinds of art exhibitions that it contains is 19th century art, modern and contemporary art, and a 400ASA photographic exhibit, and oriental art.
i’ll admit, i’m not really the biggest museum fanatic, especially when it comes to modern and contemporary art. i tend to not understand the abstractness of it, and i’ve fully accepted the fact that i never will. it’s not that i’m not “intelligent” enough to get it; i just don’t have any interest.
still, i allowed myself today to keep an open mind and actually look through the exhibits that we were allowed to go through. i was super into the photographic exhibit, seeing all the projects that photographers poured their heart and souls into for years. seeing their different styles and techniques gave me a little confidence too; i don’t have to photograph like everyone else. i was pretty sad by how short the exhibit was, so when it was time to move on and look at the rest of the modern and contemporary art, i had lost interest. i still walked around and absorbed what i saw, but i still couldn’t find the desire in me to actually enjoy the rest of it.
communism | komunismu
before the Czech Republic was known as such, it was known as Czechoslovakia, ruled by the Communist Party. the reign lasted from 1948, soon after the second world war, up until 1989. during that time, thousands of citizens were persecuted for various offenses, mostly political, and hundreds died.
as a group, we toured around the city with our wonderful tour guide and learned about certain events that happened in certain locations. our tour guide showed us where two college students set themselves on fire to protest against the communism party, showed us pictures of the huge statue they had of Stalin before it was destroyed, and took us to the John Lennon Wall, where she spoke about The Beatles ban and how they represented freedom and peace.
a lot of weird emotions went through me as we hiked around Prague and was told the history of how the Communism Party came into power. i started thinking about the people i know who have spoken positively about communism, and then i started listening to the tour guide, who lived through the era and what her and her family had gone through. even by the end of the tour i still didn’t know what to feel besides sadness because, in the end, this beautiful country had to go through 50 straight years of suffering to be at the peace that they are at now.
tourist | turista
another day, another walk through the Charles Bridge. i may have mentioned this before, but it is just so easy to walk across this bridge with my camera in my hand and nobody batting an eye. the tourists who go are just so interestingly looking, and sometimes i wonder if some of them look at me and think the same.
today was one of those days where i spent it lazing around and catching up on some reading and barely had a sliver of inspiration to go out and photograph. i felt like i already have explored and photographed the majority this city, i didn’t know where to go and what to do next. i guess my instinctual reaction is to go Charles Bridge because i found myself there yet again without really paying attention to where i was going.
i thought this would be a good opportunity to do some souvenir shopping along the bridge, but instead i leaned against it and stayed in the same spot for almost forty five minutes people watching. i took pictures of people taking selfies, of vendors and buyers, and of those who just simply existed, which ended up being my favorite kind of photos.
springs | prameny
Karlovy Vary is what people consider a “spa town” in the western Bohemian region of the Czech Republic. the town was founded in 1370, and is also known as Carlsbad. besides it being popular for its spas, it is also popular for its thermal springs. locals sell special kinds of cups in different sizes and designs – animals, beer cans, antique tea cups – and they are used so tourists can drink from the thermal springs without burning their hands and mouth.
i bought two of the special cups, both designed to look like cats, and was excited to try the water from these famous thermal springs that i’ve heard people gushing over for days. i’m not going to say that i was disappointed in the results because i was also warned that the springs didn’t taste the best because they were extremely hot – going up to 149 degrees fahrenheit- but i just wasn’t expecting the water to almost taste like… blood.
kids and adults were happily drinking out from the springs, though, even filling up their water bottles. there are around fifteen different springs, and even though i only managed to drink out of six or seven of them, i concluded that they all tasted the same and i would not be able to enjoy anymore. i’m glad that others were enjoying the water, though – somebody has to!
child | dítě
third day in český krumlov and i felt myself starting to lose inspiration for what to photograph. the town is so small, i felt like i walked around the entire thing five times in the three days i was there. one starts to think, “what can i do? is there any way to be original after photographing the same things over and over again?”
then i started thinking about my past photography lessons that i’ve learned while i was here and decided to try a new method: shooting at the hip. i’m a fairly small person, so i didn’t think it would work too well with trying to photograph adults, but it would be the perfect opportunity to photograph kids. it’s a hard method, though – i can’t look at my camera, so i can’t tell if my subjects are in focus or not.
this photograph was probably the only one i was truly proud of while experimenting with this method. i understood that it’s very simple, but i liked that the mom wasn’t completely in the picture, and it was just a girl going about her day. the more i think about it, the more i enjoy the photograph: it’s the simplicity of life.
live | živost
český krumlov has been around since it was first mentioned back in 1253, where it was deemed a fortress by the Vitkovci family. the ownership of the city and the castle that resides there has gone through a few families, most popularly the Rosenbergs. the castle is the second largest castle in the Czech Republic, right behind the Prague Castle.
this surprisingly small town is a very touristy one, where it seems that the amount of tourists outnumber the locals that actually live there. i was also told, though, that the locals tend to live on the outskirts of the town, away from the hustle and bustle that the tourists bring in. it’s almost fun, in a way, seeing all these tourists with their chunky cameras and selfie sticks out, trying to get the perfect background while also including everyone in the photo. it reminded me that i am also a tourist myself, as much as i try not to be.
i’m not sure why i was particularly interested in this group of older folks – maybe it was because of their energy and smile-y faces, or maybe it was because i couldn’t stop thinking about my dad telling me that the only time people really get to travel is during retirement. but i was just so intrigued by them anyway as they posed for their photo, laughing at each other and poking fun. i just kept thinking that no matter your age, you’ll always be excited to see new places.
music | hudba
the didgeridoo was invented by Indigenous Australians and has been around for over 1,500 years. it’s still a common instrument in Australia and is also played popularly around the world. it can measure up from three to ten feet long.
after settling into český krumlov, the whole group walked toward the town square, and we waited for a tour guide to show up. as we waited, this guy shows up and starts setting up his chair and a box, where tourists can drop their coins or money into. i wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but when he pulled out the didgeridoo, i knew that it was going to be a totally new and great musical experience for me.
now, i had no idea that that instrument was called a didgeridoo, but it seemed like everyone around me knew what it was. i was told that it originated in Australia and was super common there. it was so low pitch and loud, it almost sounded like the man was beat boxing. toward the end, when we all were getting ready to start our tour, a man asked the musician where he was from. as i prepared to hear the word “Australia” come out of his mouth, one could guess the surprised look on my face when he said “oh, i’m from the Czech Republic” instead.
remains | zbytky
the history of the village of Lidice is nothing but a sad one. it was first mentioned in 1318 as a small village, mostly the people mostly working in neighboring cities in mines and factories. it seemed to be a lively little place, where people lived happily and comfortably. in 1942, after the assassination of nazi Reinhard Heydrich, Hitler ordered that the entire town of Lidice be destroyed after suspecting that the residents were harboring the assassins. 340 people died, including women and children, and the village was burned to the ground.
the village today is just pastures of green hills with a museum, memorials and a rose garden. it was difficult to get through the museum without crying, which i did a lot of. after the museum, i went down to the life-sized statues that represented the 88 children who died, and broke down in front it. it was hard to take pictures there because it almost felt wrong, and also because the place was so empty.
i found this family there, eating their lunch under a tree, and, for some reason, it just seemed odd to me. Lidice was completely destroyed, with no remains, built again to remember the people who died – and here this family was, eating their lunch peacefully. i felt disconnected from everything for a second because i was so immersed in the history of Lidice that it wasn’t clicking in my brain that it was just that – history.
early | brzy
early in the morning, around six, six thirty, i felt like i had no choice but to wake up and walk around before class started. the sun sets so late here, around nine in the night, and rises so early, like at four thirty, so the nights here aren’t that long. the mornings, though, feel like forever, the sun hitting my face through the window and making me feel like i woke up later than i should have.
i decided to roam around the Charles Bridge and found it almost strangely empty, a few stragglers here and there sitting next to the statues, and a few tourists leisurely strolling, like i was. it was extremely peaceful, something that i wasn’t used to since i love the hustle and bustle of the bridge when it gets packed, but i also enjoyed this – Prague was barely waking up.
i encountered this couple, and without thinking, took a few pictures of them. i was a little nervous because i thought they would notice me, but they kept talking to each other and looking down at their phone, as if there were more important things than a small girl holding a chunky camera in front of their face.
stroll | procházka
the Prague Zoological Garden has been opened since 1931 and has housed over 5,000 animals from 676 species, 132 of those being listed as threatened or endangered. it’s 140 acres, and let me tell you, it definitely feels like it.
it’s a cheap trip, but a bit of a long one. it takes two metro rides and a bus ride to get to the zoo, but it drops you off right in front of it. they offer student discounts for about 150 czk, but the normal adult price isn’t much more expensive – only 50 korunas more. it’s a huge zoo, with different things to do besides looking at their exotic animals, like chair lifts and seeing how fast you can run. it’s an ideal place for every person of every age, and i never felt too tired to explore more.
i think the best thing about my day, though, was looking at all the little babies and their outfits. they were all adorned with the cutest hats or bonnets covering their small heads, and wearing sunglasses that even i couldn’t pull off. i don’t know how many times i photographed stylish babies – almost to the point where i should have been photographing the animals behind them instead. but with their sticky smiles and tired eyes, i couldn’t help myself.
museum | muzeum
once a year, Prague has a Prague Museum Night, which means that selected, if not almost all, museums are open after hours for free. the night went from seven at night until one in the morning, and 70 locations took part of the 16th annual Prague Museum Night.
it was such a wonderful night, most lines wrapping around museums as people waited in anticipation to get in. i wish i had the patience they did – i only went to one museum, and it was the Museum of Communism at 12 in the morning. this was one of the museums that i was dying to go to before i even arrived to Prague, and i definitely took advantage of that during museum night.
i learned a lot about communism in Prague and Czechoslovakia and how it had a 40 year reign. most parts were extremely heartbreaking, how some people did not have enough supplies like toilet paper or food, and how many died during that time. and not only was it all an interesting read, the photos and visuals they used to show that era were phenomenal. they had screens of people being interviewed about what it was like living during that era – what they had hoped for, what they lived through and what they regretted. to see but not fully understand what they all went through – that was an experience.
beer | pivo
Plzeň – the town of beer, beer and more beer. it was first mentioned as a castle back in 976 before it became an actual town in the year 1295. it’s the oldest brewery to survive modern times – since 1375, and is home to the iconic beer that we know today: Pilsner Urquell.
during my time here, i’ve noticed how common it is to have a beer – specifically Pilsner – with every meal, including breakfast. i probably should have known this after learning that the Czech Republic is the largest consumer of beer, but it’s still a bit of a culture shock for me. not that i’m complaining! i forced myself to like beer before arriving so i could enjoy what the locals enjoy.
after the beer tour and learning how the process of making beer is like, i went to a courtyard in front of a church to sit down and absorb the place around me. i, unfortunately, have a cold, so that’s all i could really do. but it helped me take a look at all the different people who are here – from the different languages that they speak to their ages – and i realized that every single person had a Pilsner in front of them. even with different options presented, that’s the one that everyone chose. i guess i shouldn’t have been surprised – i was in the town of Plzeň after all!
break | přestávka
the Charles Bridge began construction in 1357 and finished at the beginning of the 15th century. it was originally called Prague Bridge, but was changed in 1870 because of the Czech legend that Charles IV put down the first stone himself. there are thirty statues across the whole bridge that are saints, but they are replicas of the original statues. the original ones are displayed at the National Museum.
i’m not sure how many times i’ve crossed the Charles Bridge – maybe three or four times – but to me, it is always different each time. i’ve heard people who have studied abroad in Prague years prior say that one will start getting tired of seeing the bridge and the people on it, but every time i get to walk across it, i fall in love with it more and more.
it is not the bridge that i fall in love with, though; it is mostly the people. i don’t ever see the same ones, not even the vendors who sell the same paintings every day. it’s a wonderful place to capture the personality and spirit of a person because you don’t have to worry about finding the one – there’s millions of people! and i found myself snapshotting every chance i could. i don’t think i ever took my eye away from the viewfinder! i took photos of so many interesting people, but the way that these two were positioned, how tired and in need of a break they looked, i just wanted to show people that not everyone is there for a perfect picturesque moment.
impatient | netrpělivý
this was taken in front of the Astronomical Clock, which is the third oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one that is actually still operating. it was built in 1410 and is mounted on the southern part of the Old Town Hall, which is located in Old Town Square.
my absolute favorite thing about about traveling to a different part of the world is the children that are forced to come vacation with their families. the tears, the screams, everything – i absolutely love it, even when it starts to grate on my nerves.
this kid in particular was acting all sorts of weird while his family members were attempting to take photographs in front of the clock, and as the minutes rolled by, he started to get more impatient. i have multiple photos of him looking tired and looking mad, but this one took the cake. he started wiggling his body and making weird noises, as if that would get his parents’ attention, but he didn’t succeed. my only regret was not getting closer to him to get a more vivid expression, but i was afraid that my eagerness to capture it would have put him off and seize his wiggling.
artifact | artefakt
the Museum of Decorative Arts was founded in 1885, but opened its first exhibition in 1900. it houses late antiquities to present day arts and crafts that were created in the Bohemian lands. it shows different kinds of materials that were used to make these crafts, such as glass, metal, wood and ceramics, and some of the objects that were shown were things like watches, clocks, fashion, toys, furniture and more.
i had passed by this museum a few times before and was always curious to enter it because of the sign, which said “museu(p)m”. i never could understand what the p stood for, and even after visiting, i still can’t. but the first thing one sees when they enter the building is a staircase, and at the end of the staircase, a large glass window that looked like it was made in the renaissance era. i was immediately in awe.
admittedly, i only went to the exhibits that were free, which were only two of them: the glass and metal exhibit and the jewel exhibit. there were still much more shown than that, though, and i got to see weird and different artifacts that i couldn’t make out, like the one in the picture. there weren’t many people in the museum in the morning, but the ones who were there were keenly interested as they tried to make sense of the artifacts in front of them.
tram | tramvaj
noticed | castle area | 6.03.19
the trams in Prague began operating electrically in 1891, running on horsecar trams before in 1875. since then, it has expanded, running through multiple parts of the city in good time. from what i’ve noticed in my first few days living here, everyone seems to prefer being “green”, so most of those who live here take the tram or underground metro. it does get extremely crowded from time to time, but it is better to keep to yourself than complain about it.
riding the trams in Prague is almost the same as riding the metro buses in Austin, except here, they are more efficient and actually arrive on time. they share the road with cars, but have their own track, making it easier so they are not fighting with traffic. in fact, it is almost faster to ride the tram to your destination instead of driving a car.
like all trams, there’s different numbers that lead to different locations, which i learned the hard way when i realized that i was going the opposite direction of where i was actually supposed to be going. but it all becomes easier after all of that, and one starts to feel like a local when you just hop on a tram and know exactly where you need to be.
resting | odpočívá
the Vyšehrad Castle is home to the infamous Vyšehrad Cemetery, which is the final resting place for musicians, writers, artists, composters, and others from the science and political world – over 600 people. it is next to the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul and has been around since 1869.
though it is a popular location for tourists, they spoke softly to each other or remained silent as the passed by the massive amount of tombstones, almost as if they were afraid to disturb the dead. the tombstones are either decorated lavishly or kept simple, with planted gardens or pictures of loved ones living on. it’s different than the graveyards i’m used to seeing in america – there is a personal touch to each tombstone, a reminder of who the person was or what they represented.
i felt this picture showed the extravagance of the graveyard while also showing the quietness that those who are visiting present. it’s honestly quite beautiful – all the stairs that were required to climb to reach the graveyard and church were definitely worth it. the church’s doors were lavished with mosaics and there were huge statues scattered around the graveyard. even if one doesn’t know any of the artists that rest there, one can still appreciate what they’ve left behind.
wedding | svatba
it’s not uncommon for brides-to-be to take pre-wedding photos in Prague; in fact, it is extremely common. because of the beautiful architecture that Prague consists of, brides love to use it as their backdrop. it is almost as if it is their own castle of sorts – capturing the fairytale.
this bride-to-be was on top of an older model car, one that tourists can ride around in through old town square. that’s another common tourist-y thing here – riding around in old cars and carriages. it is charming, really, until you find yourself in the way of one of them. especially when it is extremely crowded; nothing is more embarrassing than having to say excuse me to a horse.
i commend this woman and her photographer for taking photos on a hot crowded day. it was during the Roma Khamoro Festival, too, so they probably faced some challenges once we all reached Old Town Square. but besides that, she was completely gorgeous, smiling and gleaming and having fun with her photos. i understood, then, why brides would want to take their photos in prague because there truly isn’t a more beautiful place for a beautiful woman. whoever her husband-to-be is, he should definitely consider himself lucky.
outcast | vyvrženec
the Romani people have been around for over a thousand years, seemingly originating from northern India. during world war ii, the Romanies were marked for extermination and the nazis almost managed to kill the entire population. in Czechoslovakia post wwii, they were considered a “socially degraded stratum”. today, 2.3% of the Czech Republic’s population are Romani.
this week, the Romani people put on a parade and festival in Prague to celebrate their history and culture. today, they had a parade that went from Wenceslas Square to Old Town Square with loud music, dancing and colorful dresses. they whistled and hollered as they danced their way down the road, the woman and children spinning around and twirling their skirts. the colors of their fabrics blended together, showing how joint the Romani people are.
capturing the perfect photo was a challenge for me considering how much they moved and walked, but i stopped trying to make the perfect photo and tried to capture the spirit of the people instead. the pride that they have for their culture is contagious, even through their history of discrimination. it felt magical, and i felt myself being swept away by the movements of their arms and hips. i hope that, even with her face not too in focus, i managed to capture who and what the Romani people are.
birds | ptáků
in the center of Old Town Square is a huge statue called the Jan Hus memorial. to the people of Bohemia, priest Jan Hus represents strength and dissidence against oppressive regimes, such as the Vatican and the Habsburgs and their control over Czech lands. it depicts victorious hussite warriors and protestants who were forced into exile 200 years after Jan Hus during the thirty years’ war. towards the bottom of the statue, there is a young mother who symbolizes national rebirth.
in front of the statue, there was a young woman and her mother sitting on the bench. while the young woman was taking selfies, her mother was feeding the pigeons small pieces of bread or crackers that she had in a tiny plastic bag. right as i was trying to capture the moment, a few people walked right by the birds, startling them and causing them to fly off.
though i am not the biggest fan of birds, i forced myself to stand still and photograph the reactions of the young woman and her mother as the birds flew around them. the young woman exclaimed something in a different language and laughed as she tried to duck for cover so she wouldn’t be attacked by them. the motion of the birds and the sharpness of their reaction is a moment that i am glad to have captured and turned out to be better than i had expected.
flowers | květiny
while walking around aimlessly looking for the Museum of Communism, i encountered a small street market that was selling items from food to intricate jewelry and string puppets. The area was bumbling with locals and tourists alike, even in the cold and lightly rainy weather. it was charming because of how small it was, sitting on the side of such a big square.
what stood out to me the most, though, was this man arranging flowers for a customer. at first i was more interested in the way he was tying them together, but then i realized how he was surrounded by the flowers, so colorful and extremely bright. i think what drew me in completely was how this gruff-looking man was delicately handling these flowers, almost as if they were glass.
i made this photograph vertical because i wanted to show the overwhelming amount of flowers that surround and encase him. making it horizontal would have exposed the scene around him, but i wanted it to almost just be him and his flowers. it was shot underexposed due to my instinctive nature of trying to get the moment as quickly as i can, but i feel that it helped me capture the color of the flowers, even if his face is a little soft. it was one of my first and favorite photos i took today.
cami toro 
Cami this is like one of my FAVorite pictures from today, you did so so good, seriously!
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thank you so much! that means a lot 🙂
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