New translations

I’m trying a bit of a experiment this year. For the most popular pages on the blog, which are currently the Top spots pages, I’m adding a Japanese translation (with a big help from my friends :)). I’m curious to see if this gets a good response, and more people will find the lists helpful. If it works out as I hope, I plan to add more languages, and expand the translations to other parts of the blog, like the HDR tutorial and similar.

For now, first 4 lists are available in Japanese, that is Paris, Dubai, Cesky Krumlov and Amsterdam. Others coming soon. All can be found here トップ写真スポット.

Night in Prague

This is another one of my older shots (I went through few recently :)), this one taken also around two years ago in Prague. This one is from the top of the Petrin tower.That evening I had luck. Usually, the tower is quite full, and using a tripod is not really allowed. But that evening, there was only me, a small group from Asia, and a very nice guide. And as I wanted photos, and they wanted photos, and there is only a small window open that points towards the city center, we changed places the whole time. I took a photo, they took a photo, I took a photo, they took a photo :) It worked out great.

This is a blend of two exposures, one for the base, second one to darken the bright areas.

Not really a surprise, but I still haven’t been able to catch up with my normal life. It’s quite funny, that while I was running around with the camera and taking photos at all the parties, I was feeling fine, but right after that, the cold I got before returned immediately. Photography must be a drug :)

So for today, just a look back at one of my older shots from Prague.

Aurora HDR

November is really the month of releases. So many great new games (Fallout 4 is so addictive :)) and of course also new software. And one of those is the new HDR program from Macphun and Trey Ratcliff, Aurora HDR. Right now I started playing around with it, and hopefully I put together a review with my thoughts on it soon.


For now, if you want to get more info on Aurora HDR, check out the official website under www.aurorahdr.com. Please note, Aurora HDR is available only for MacOS.

Classic view in blue

For some reason, I visit this spot everytime I’m in Prague. I just love this view. And from the number of photographers and tourists that are there all the time, I think I’m not the only one :)

This is a HDR from 3 exposures, created in Oloneo Photoengine, finished in Photoshop.

Technique: Oloneo Photoengine, Number of exposures: 3, Camera Model: Sony a7R + Metabones Adapter ver. IV, Lens: Canon 16-35mm F2.8, Focal length: 28mm, Aperture: 9, Middle exposure time: 10.0s, ISO: 100, Tripod used: yes, Location: 50.08441, 14.41323

I haven’t even notice, while I was taking this panorama, that half of the image is completely dark, while the second is quite bright. It’s actually a little strange, that the street right next to the water is not lit at all. But since you can see from the amount of lights on the Charles bridge, they probably decided not to bother with it.

This is a two tile panorama, each tile from 3 exposures. Panorama combined using PTgui, HDR created in Oloneo Photoengine, finished in Photoshop.

Technique: Oloneo Photoengine, Number of exposures: 3, Camera Model: Sony a7R + Metabones MkIII Adapter, Lens: Canon 24-70mm F2.8, Focal length: 64mm, Aperture: 9, Middle exposure time: 10s, ISO: 100, Tripod used: yes, Location: 50.084393, 14.413288

Continuing with number 3, here we have a photo taken in the center of Prague, Czech Republic.