Got Prague?

[tlc]

hi,

i am thinking of going to prague in october for a portfolio shoot - wondered if anyone here is from or familiar with the city ?

have some questions about some of the LESS touristy sites in the city -

etc.

thanks

[Pete]

Yes, I've been there, but only for work. Don't know much about the less touristy places, but the Charles bridge and St Wencelas square) very early in the morning should be awesome. There's also usually entertainers (jazz bands etc) on the bridge during the day times, so you can get some pretty good urban shots without it being too touristy.

Very good beer there, I can say that much.

[rhys]

Quite honestly I'd stick to the touristy areas and shoot very shortly after dawn.

[tlc]

are you just saying to get there early to avoid the tourist 'rush' or is there a specific reason for this?

[GSH]

And don't go on a weekend..

Does it have to be Prague?

There's plenty of nice places in Czech other than the capital.

[dewmuw]

And don't change any money with guys on the street! :(

[rhys]

Early morning means you get the morning light and you're there before the tourists hit the place. Plus... you'll probably want sites that are familiar to people - hence the tourist hotspots are generally best. If I did a model shoot in downtown Clemson for the Michelin calender then people would be looking and wondering where on earth it was. It's out of their experience. Now if I did a photo in the middle of New York with the flatiron or a shot in London at Picadilly Circus or in Cardiff outside Cardiff castle then the odds are people will be able to recognise the background.

If you're going to shoot in Prague then you want the place to look like Prague and people's perceptions of what Prague looks like are based on what they have already seen. QED you need the tourist hotspots or at least places most people have already seen.

Incidentally, my contact in Prague says it's safe enough as long as you know what you're doing but does suggest getting some bodyguards to look after your equipment and models.

[mpilar]

I currently live in Prague after 25 years in the States, knowing exactly what you're looking for specifically would help, protfollio regarding landscape, portrait, architecture? Take your pick, there's a tremendous amount of beautiful places to shoot here. PM or email me if you have anything specific.

-Mike
mike_pilar@hotmail.com

edit: rhys....bodyguards?? wow, what part of Prague did you go to? There are some 'bad' spots here just like any major city, but they're pretty easy to recognize before you get deep into them. - sorry, just noticed the 'my contact' part, I'd be curious to know if he/she is Czech or other, I've never considered needing a bodyguard here and I usually have some pretty expensive gear (camera/computers, etc) with me.

[rhys]

Ah. My university pal in Prague (he's from Britain and we went to the same university) is an English teacher. He's always regaling me with the tales of the sordid side of life in Prague. He lives there with his wife and tells me all about taxi drivers carrying revolvers and rival language schools being blown up with hand grenades - presumably the local Mafia. He tells of gypsies, pickpockets and so on. It sounds from the accounts I hear to be pretty much as dicy as my observations in the rest of Eastern Europe (where I lived and worked for years).

[mpilar]

Ah. My university pal in Prague (he's from Britain and we went to the same university) is an English teacher. He's always regaling me with the tales of the sordid side of life in Prague. He lives there with his wife and tells me all about taxi drivers carrying revolvers and rival language schools being blown up with hand grenades - presumably the local Mafia. He tells of gypsies, pickpockets and so on. It sounds from the accounts I hear to be pretty much as dicy as my observations in the rest of Eastern Europe (where I lived and worked for years).

Taxi drivers carrying revolvers...possible, it's pretty easy to get a concealed weapons' permit here, but the most anybody has to worry about from the local taxi drivers is, speaking English tends to make the numbers on the meter a tad faster. :rolleyes: Gypsies, pickpockets, etc, yeah real situations...it's a major city with it's scum just like any other major city, so some care has to be taken when walking in questionable places after dark...I feel safer here than I did in Los Angeles for example.

As for the rival language schools being blown up by hand grenades...wow, it never occurred to me to start my own language school mafia, I don't work in the field, but if they have mafia's for it, there must be obscene amounts of money in it! :lol: Nah, I think the Russian and Israeili mafia have more than enough to do running their high-tech casinos and brothels here to really worry much about language schools. IMHO. ;)

Just my own thoughts and experiences of course, YMMV.
-Mike

[tlc]

I currently live in Prague after 25 years in the States, knowing exactly what you're looking for specifically would help, protfollio regarding landscape, portrait, architecture? Take your pick, there's a tremendous amount of beautiful places to shoot here. PM or email me if you have anything specific.

-Mike
mike_pilar@hotmail.com

edit: rhys....bodyguards?? wow, what part of Prague did you go to? There are some 'bad' spots here just like any major city, but they're pretty easy to recognize before you get deep into them. - sorry, just noticed the 'my contact' part, I'd be curious to know if he/she is Czech or other, I've never considered needing a bodyguard here and I usually have some pretty expensive gear (camera/computers, etc) with me.

can you tell me about this area, and if possible, is this an 'ok' hotel.... (i am trying to keep it as cheap as possible)

Residence Casa Italia
address KRIZIKOVA 73, PRAGUE 18600

Built in 2002, this hotel offers 7 double rooms, 2 singles and 7 apartments/ studios. Awaiting guests is a 24-hour reception and a safe. Guests are also offered a TV room as well as a laundry service and car park.

Type of Hotel: Aparthotel |


this is only £20, but i dont want to come home with bed bugs either.....
do you know anything about this area of town? i'm only going to be there arriving late at night so i will go directly to bed, then get up early next day and shoot all day and go home.

i mainly want to photograph some street areas, shops opening up in the morning, the city coming alive, etc. i am not going for the standard tourist photo op, i am going for the real life part of it.

[EllenC]

Ah. My university pal in Prague (he's from Britain and we went to the same university) is an English teacher. He's always regaling me with the tales of the sordid side of life in Prague. He lives there with his wife and tells me all about taxi drivers carrying revolvers and rival language schools being blown up with hand grenades - presumably the local Mafia. He tells of gypsies, pickpockets and so on. It sounds from the accounts I hear to be pretty much as dicy as my observations in the rest of Eastern Europe (where I lived and worked for years).
When I was researching Prague for an upcoming vacation, I heard numerous horror stories about the dangers. I'm not sure if they were all coming from folks who live in small towns where they can leave their doors unlocked or what but the city of Prague was nothing like all these horrible stories.

I am a very petite woman and I had no trouble at all walking around (alone at times) with all my camera gear and purse. Nothing was stolen, I never saw anyone pick pocket (they're pretty easy to spot if you're watching for them). The people were charming and the architecture was beautiful.

I was there during the winter so the crowds were not as bad but there were still amazing amounts of tourists.

I do admit that the train station was a bit sketchy and we had a hell of a time finding the exit. The cab drivers are like cab drivers in any city all over the world. They will scam you if you seem gullible. It's always best to know a bit about the cab culture before trying to take one.

I loved it there!

Put on some really comfortable walking shoes (cobblestone streets don't work with heels) and just wander the city. You will find amazing sites to photograph. There's a neighborhood on the way up to the castle that has cute houses with picture plaques for the addresses. I can't remember what the neighborhood is called but it's where a lot of the ebassies are.

What do you mean by portfolio shoot? Are you trying to build your own portfolio?

[tlc]

When I was researching Prague for an upcoming vacation, I heard numerous horror stories about the dangers. I'm not sure if they were all coming from folks who live in small towns where they can leave their doors unlocked or what but the city of Prague was nothing like all these horrible stories.

I am a very petite woman and I had no trouble at all walking around (alone at times) with all my camera gear and purse. Nothing was stolen, I never saw anyone pick pocket (they're pretty easy to spot if you're watching for them). The people were charming and the architecture was beautiful.

I was there during the winter so the crowds were not as bad but there were still amazing amounts of tourists.

I do admit that the train station was a bit sketchy and we had a hell of a time finding the exit. The cab drivers are like cab drivers in any city all over the world. They will scam you if you seem gullible. It's always best to know a bit about the cab culture before trying to take one.

I loved it there!

Put on some really comfortable walking shoes (cobblestone streets don't work with heels) and just wander the city. You will find amazing sites to photograph. There's a neighborhood on the way up to the castle that has cute houses with picture plaques for the addresses. I can't remember what the neighborhood is called but it's where a lot of the ebassies are.

What do you mean by portfolio shoot? Are you trying to build your own portfolio?

well t hanks for the info, i feel a little better now, i was beginning to think this was not a good decision!

yes, i am going there to build up my own portfolio.

i am hoping it wont be so bad with tourists, i am probably gonig to go in late november now.