Reflections on Prague

I spent approximately four days in this fascinating city in February, in consistently below-freezing temperatures. Yet, the light winds and the welcome winter sun made the chill more bearable. Prague, a city steeped in history, has transformed remarkably since the dark days of its communist past. Today, it brims with life, offering an abundance of shops, captivating tourist walks, and a diverse array of excellent restaurants. What enhances this vibrant atmosphere is the city's efficient and budget-friendly public transport system. It allows visitors to easily venture beyond the city limits, uncovering the very interesting Sídlištěs - large housing estates of the surrounding regions. More about these later.

This was a short city tour flying from London, so one camera, one lens, and a tripod were all I took: a Nikon Z7 II with the very capable 24-200mm lens. I feel this lens won't do the interiors of abbeys and churches justice, but it performed admirably otherwise. So many of the historical and famous landmarks have been photographed again and again in Prague, so for me, this was an opportunity to find a little creativity and hopefully combine the traditional with the more abstract, integrating color and black-and-white work.

The day before I was due to fly home, I took the metro, which incidentally was very inexpensive and clean, to visit one of the sídlištěs. Sídlištěs were built by the communist government to provide fast and affordable housing for all people. During the communist era, the construction of large housing complexes was an essential part of the country’s building plans, as the government aimed to provide large quantities of affordable housing while also slashing costs by employing uniform designs throughout the country. They also sought to foster a "collectivistic nature" among its people.

The estate I visited was indeed huge, and the outside of the buildings had been painted in primary colors. Many thousands of people live here. However, the thinking and planning of these estates far exceeded those built in the UK and other European cities. Each estate was planned so people could be self-sufficient; shops, schools, parks, vets, lakes, and other amenities were included. To my surprise, these had all been maintained, and the whole area was free from litter and well-maintained. The original apartments were built from prefabricated materials and were very small. Soundproofing was nonexistent! I did not have the opportunity to see inside an apartment, so I do wonder if this has changed or been improved. Children walked home to their flats from school, and couples walked in the wooded areas safely. I know that many of the large housing estates in the UK would not be safe places due to the dominance of gangs and a drug culture. The Prague apartments are usually occupied by various different people and social classes, from working class to upper middle class, creating a social mix. The apartments/flats are now privately owned, and all are close to public transport. I spent half a day on this estate photographing and just watching. This was an important part of the trip for me.

The Prague Metro contains some fascinating decor, and I managed to shoot some of the tunnels with their bright metallic adornments.

Metro colour

Metro metallics

Rush

Going gone

Metro train

Leaving the station

Metro 1

Visiting Prague proved to be invaluable in many respects. We are trying to navigate through challenging and often unstable times, where we are incessantly bombarded with information that is untrue and often fuels fear and hostility. This deluge of negativity can foster a fear of other places and narrow our perspectives about people and cultures beyond our own. It is my belief that by exploring, experiencing, and learning about various locations—whether they are nearby or far away—we cultivate a deeper understanding of our shared humanity. Ultimately, we discover that, despite our differences, the vast majority of people still fundamentally seek to live meaningful lives, both as individuals and as part of larger communities. This journey towards understanding is, in my view, essential in promoting empathy and connection in our increasingly polarized world.

At last some new work