Golden Steps, a photo from Prague, Bohemia

Photographer's Note

Almost since the very day I joined Trekearth, my girlfriend has been urging me to post this shot. I don't really know why I've resisted for so long, I like it as well. Maybe it's because I've always had shots that I thought were more deserving of being posted, or maybe I was just taking a contrary viewpoint for the sake of it.
This is the view as you descend the steps from Hradcany down the hill towards the Charles Bridge. It was a cold winter's evening, and we were hurrying to a nice warm pub further down the street.
I had to use an ISO setting of 1600 as light levels were low; hence the noise. I don't really think the noise is a problem here though, if anything it adds to the atmosphere. Maybe I should have added some more!

lilimih33, sabyasachi1212, miuky, ribeiroantonio, marknunnerley, Wanda1, cobbydale, tigra, ryno, riclopes, evanrizo, ktanska, john_c has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

anducina (8407) 2007-01-19 12:58

Very nice compo, excellent POV, beautiful colours and light.

TFS,

Andreea

vedra (0) 2007-01-19 13:00

Hi Ben,
I like your point of view here with intersection of two streets with different elevation. There is also interesting contrast between the cold blue sky and warm orange lights. This feeling of coldness is additionally enhanced by remaining snow and reflection of street lamps on the wet street surface.
Vedrana

Malko40000 (1328) 2007-01-19 13:12

Hi Ben,
Very good comp. I like the way you captured the curving street. The walking figures are very well scatterd and also the mixture of artificial and daylight has a strong contrast
Well done,
Morris

lilimih33 (9918) 2007-01-19 13:42

Hello Ben!
Beautiful night shot with a wonderful colours, light and sharpness! Good perspective!
Excellent shot!
Lili

sabyasachi1212 (19779) 2007-01-19 14:05

Hi Ben,
I agree with your friend, this is really worthy of a post. Wonderful low light shot, the street lights, the snow on the ground really adds to the atmosphere. Since you have been to India, have you ever been to Shimla. If I was shown thic picture without the location marker, I would have been sure this is Shimla, it looks so similar with steps, the sloping roads, the snow and the street lights.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

miuky (3335) 2007-01-19 14:18

Hy
When i opened the picture, I knit my brow...didn't understand, You come from england...this is not a picture from england, I've never been in Prague but i had to scroll the picture up again to check where was this from!!:)
I can't answere why, but I knew that this was from south europe...

Exellent tones anyway, very good dof and POV, and I wish to visit this city:)
gGreat job
Have a nice WE:))

TravelerNL (3011) 2007-01-19 15:09

Hi Ben,
Beautiful evening photo. The natural line of view would be down the street to the other houses ... this line of view however is broken by the wall on the right side of the upgoing road which forces one to look that way as well. The soft but warm lights and the rests of snow give this photo a wonderfull warm atmosphere. Well done.
Harko

nursez (1903) 2007-01-19 15:37

Hi Ben,
ı like your photo,it looks beautiful with the colors and the light.thankyou.

bantonbuju (51815) 2007-01-20 3:00

it happens to me quite often...i postpone posting a photo which i know is worth posting - for "better moment", because the series is not the one it fits to, or..or...
good for you, and for us that you have finally decided to post it...
i think that snow did a great job, delicately neutralizing intense orange/red/yellow tones pulsing from the lanterns...
best wishes, j.

pastadog (13111) 2007-01-20 3:08

Hi Ben, I like the lights here and the areas illuminated by them (cobblestones, wall, steps,etc.), so you chose a suitable title (but not only the steps). Great exposure. Regarding the noise, I don't think I would have really noticed it if it wasn't for your note, nor do I think that it adds something actually, maybe I'd clean up that sky and do something to eliminate those thin white lines where the walls meet the sky on both sides (too sharp). Congrats for this shot and regards, Daniel

Graal (103040) 2007-01-20 4:30

Hi Ben,
interesting evening view from Prague, nicely gold colours, good POV and sharpness. I like it. Well done photo.
Gr., Aleksander

Wanda1 (15142) 2007-01-20 5:25

Hi Ben,
This shot has a nice cosy feeling to it with the use of the ambient light giving it that lovely warm orange glow. The stairs and the road lead us down and into the rest of the shot which I like. Well compsed and the people add a good life element to the shot.
Regards
Wanda

marknunnerley (2780) 2007-01-20 5:26

Well I like it Ben. Prague is a wonderful city. Plate of Goulash in the Old Square overlooking the astronomical clock. The light on here is very good, especially on the wall and the street cobbles. Can see why your girlfriend wanted you to post it. And the noise isn't all that bad considering the iso you used.
br,
mark

mhdesbois (0) 2007-01-20 5:28

Hi Ben,
Your girlfriend was right. You should have sent this photo for a long time. All is perfect there, framing, light… you retranscribed the atmosphere of the place perfectly. The noise is not a problem for me. Very good shot.
MH

Silvio1953 (220665) 2007-01-20 6:09

Hi Ben, wonderful urban view, great light and colors, very well done, ciao Silvio
:) tomorrow

vincz (19113) 2007-01-20 8:50

Excellent work with artificial light. i like very much the colours you got, the dark blue not only in the sky but also on the pavement, thrn all this orange street light.

cobbydale (1958) 2007-01-20 9:39

And she was right! I really like the POV on this and also the placement of the people and the pools of light from all the lamps. The noise does not distract at all to me, but I would have preferred it to be levelled in line with the steps in the foreground - that slight tilt is a little distracting.
cheers, Leon.

yannick (1471) 2007-01-20 12:26

Hi Ben,
I really like the atmosphere of this picture, with these blue and yellow tones, and the homogeneous light on the whole picture.
I also like these stairs, as they remind me of good times I spent in Prague.
Regards,
Yannick

tigra (2968) 2007-01-20 21:24

Hello Ben
Wonderful evening composition with amazing lightning and colors!
You prove once again that Prague is the prfect place for someone with camera.
Katia

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2007-01-21 4:08

Nothing is a problem here. In my opinion you have a superb picture with an excellent light at the right time. The colours are wonderful and the way the picture is framed by the walls is very nice. Well done.
Antonio

Budapestman (82620) 2007-01-21 10:06

Dear Ben!
Fascinating shot! Lights are spectacular and impressive. Details are picturesque and rich. Its an effective POV and fabled atmosphere. Very nice photo.
Thank you, nice days
George

ryno (6863) 2007-01-21 13:23

Hi Ben, well, it was a good decision to post this one then - it's great. The cold light, great POV and cosy streetlights make this one a very appealing shot. You've captured something of the central European atmosphere in this image. Cheers,
Ryno

riclopes (35577) 2007-01-22 5:18

I almost don't see any noise here and I love the atmosphere, Ben. The light is fantastic and the dynamism of the perspective remember me some old streets of Lisbon, even if this is quite diferent. The foreground gives impact and the two guys in there are very well included. A nice original one of this famous and beautiful city.
Ricardo
p.s.- your last post made me smile, even if I decided to come for this one. I've been with Luís there this weekend and we couldn't see nothing because of the thick fog!

evanrizo (462) 2007-01-22 7:58

Hi Ben
A very good perspective, nice lightness and colors.The depth is also very good.
Thansk very much.

ktanska (44492) 2007-01-22 8:23

Hi Ben,
It's the combination of yellowish artificial light and natural light that creates magic on city scenes. Beautiful reflections and some snow add to the atmosphere. Steep gradients make the composition dynamic. If there was some drama with those people this would be an absolute classic.
I also tend to keep some of my own favourites on my backpocket. But does it matter when I'm long term committed to TE? They'll be uploaded some day.
Kari

john_c (24666) 2007-01-24 10:52

Hi Ben,
There is a real sense of depth in this fine shot, as the viewer has the feeling of trailing behind this couple as they descend the steep steps. The lighting is superb, and the touches of snow almost make one shiver despite the fine glow of the lamp on the right. That lamp, by the way, really balances the frame as well as enhancing the photo. Then one's eyes follow the ramp like walkway up to the left, with figures clearly seen in the distance, with the entirely separate scene on the right then absorbing the attention. The exposure level seems just right. Maybe I have become lulled by the photo, like your girlfriend. but I feel compelled to place this in my favourites. Nice work.
John

sebcz (2345) 2007-01-26 7:15

Hi Ben!
Superb night cityscape. The perspective with so many 'levels' of stairs and roads is interesting. Nice golden glow and details.
Seb

gmg (4202) 2007-02-11 7:02

Hallo Ben!
This picture renders perfectly the mood of a winter evening in Prague: the warm lamplights contrast the cold color of the sky, and yes, the camera's noise adds a nice touch!
TFS

gmg