Pražký hrad (Prague Castle) by Chipka
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Description
Spring is a dramatic season in the city of Prague; fungi that have endured dormancy during the winter sprout into wild and exuberant growth, tourists who have avoided the city arrive in droves, scaring the pigeons and annoying locals (natives and expatriates alike.) Most spectacularly, however, one becomes aware of Prague’s status as a valley city when the spring skies contort and boil with every manner of cloud known on Earth—nearly every manner: cyclonic funnel clouds and hurricane tori are not common to that part of the world.
When the rains come, it is with stunning regularity; during one stretch of spring or another, you may set your watch by the rains. This occurs after Easter and continues through summer. Storms are short and vigorous and it would seem that they exist under meticulous human control.
I took this picture during my first year in Prague. I had yet to experience life in Dortmund, Germany, and though I knew Pavl, I wasn’t yet in the habit of wandering around with him and discovering new drinking holes, abandoned buildings, or mysterious doorways in need of new coats of paint. More often than not, I wandered alone, finding such places as Franz Kafka’s “Native House” and a number of cemeteries. I took this picture in the year that I discovered David Černy’s faceless, black babies crawling up and down the Communist-Modern monstrosity that is the Prague TV tower. I was impressed with the clouds I saw from the Charles Bridge, and while tourists were busy snapping pictures of themselves in front of everything, I aimed my camera upward and caught the first of many spectacular sunsets that mark that particular year in Prague.
I’d emailed this picture to Victor in Moscow, and he approved of it, declaring that it was “enough good.” Needless to say, I was immensely pleased…when Victor says that something is enough good, it’s high praise indeed! And so, knowing that this picture is “enough good” I’ve decided to post it now. I am not prone to overt displays of sentimentality, but as I post this, it’s blustery and wet in Chicago; the sky isn’t as impressive, however, and so in honor of impressive skies, here is sunset over one of the largest castle complexes in the world: Pražký hrad—Prague Castle. It isn’t Russia’s famed Kremlin, but like the Kremlin, it is more a town than a single structure; like Russia’s Kremlin, it dominates the city from atop its prominent hill. I knew this castle intimately, once…and I am quite sure that in the future, I will visit her again. She, like Prague has not yet let go of me, and for that, I am infinitely happy.
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As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you're all having a drier night than Chicago is experiencing as this post comes to light.
Comments (28)
jocko500
super looking sky and shot into the sun
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend.
MrsRatbag
Wonderful shot of this brooding entity!
davidabailey
Yep.I've been there,have seen those skies you describe and this is just great.
KatesFriend
I have to admit, I am a sucker for sunsets. Once (well twice really though most of us are still asleep for its morning counter part) a day, nature imposes a little primary colour into our lives. In the clouds, on the walls, in the water. No mater how neutral your decor, sunset makes it hip if only for 30 minutes. The addition of mist on the river makes this scene particularly striking. The air seems to breath the light.
Sepiasiren
the lighting here is very mystical--love the colors and outlines
doriano
Very fine photo, great atmosphere!
Meisiekind
Oh, this is beyond 'enough good' Chip! I don't know why, but it speaks deeply to me! The lens flare adds to the beauty in this case and the atmosphere is that of expectancy! I love it!
zulaan
Mysterious atmosphere... Beautiful !
minos_6
Great light and colour - the sky is amazing, and I think it's great that you've given this a public airing after so much time... Beautiful capture.
Crabbycabby
Love the lens flares, makes you feel as if you are really stood there and squinting at the scene yourself.
durleybeachbum
Although I find sunsets melancholic, there is something so dramatic about this that overcomes the sadness. and thankyou for reminding me about Gogol Bordello on Tara's post...one of my most favourite groups ever, I have so many of their CDs and had almost forgotten!
auntietk
I was all set to comment on the image, and got distracted by Andrea's comment. Who knew she was a Gogol Bordello fan??? I was starting to think you and I were the only ones. What a fun tidbit of information. :) Now ... what was I going to say? Oh yes ... I love this image, with that dramatic sky over that dramatic castle! Up here, as beautiful as it is, we don't really get sunsets. It just gets dark without much fanfare ... sunsets are rare. So I'm enjoying this one very much. It really IS "enough good."
prutzworks
cool sureal vision
jmb007
magnifique photo!!
flavia49
fantastic capture!! a glorious sunset, indeed!
helanker
This is a fabulous capture and the story behind is enough good. :-)
romanceworks
Your photo and words are like a love song to Prague. I hope you two will be reunited someday. CC
SIGMAWORLD
Excellent photo.
sandra46
the charm of Prague is almost infinite, and I stayed there only a few days! this shot captures the mystery of the skyline and the sunset, what one sees about the present and what one believes he has seen about the past. The fact that Prague is a threshold in more than one sense is carved in every stone and shines in every beam of light.
MagikUnicorn
W O W W W W Really like this ! Prague la ville de l'Amour ;-)
watapki66
Wow, really great! Mysterious and bright at the same time!
beachzz
Oh yes, this is enough good!!!!
faroutsider
UFO ALERT! Oh, OK... it's just the majestic lighting... Fantastic shot, Chip.
BertDes
Fantastic capture.
zoren
interesting and dramatic effect....!
danapommet
Awesome lens flares caught in the sunset. Love the silhouette of the Prague Castle. This would make a great postcard. Dana
Djavad
Tout à la fois la splendeur et le mystère