Prague as in a mirror. After the rain, the city is beautiful, shows the photographer
There are cities that are especially beautiful when it rains. Prague, like Paris, belongs to them. However, it is necessary to be able to perceive this beauty – and one of the people who can do it perfectly is the photographer Radoslav Vnenčák. His pictures, usually taken just after the rain, capture beautiful reflections and show Prague with a completely new perspective. In an interview, how his pictures are created.
The theme of mirroring is typical for your photographs of Prague. Do you still remember the first photo of Prague with mirroring, which you took?
I had to think and search for a while, but yes, I think I visited her. It was Malostranské Square with a reflection of the Church of St. Nicholas and trams, photographed from Malostranská beseda. Over time, better photos were taken from that place, but this was probably the first. It was not until March 2018.
How often during the year are there the conditions for such pictures to be taken?
It is a difficult question. Of course, if we are talking about “puddles” (ie reflections in puddles), then it is quite clear. There is the weather. But “reflectors” (simple reflections in any glossy surface) can be photographed even when it is dry, and there are no limits to the imagination.
Are you planning such a photo shoot, or are you reacting quickly to the weather?
Like many other photographers, I follow predictions, and when others say “it’s going to rain again,” I’m researching when it might stop, because it’s the perfect time to go hunting. I know all sorts of puddles in Prague, but they won’t last everywhere.
How much time a week do you actually spend taking photos?
It used to be much more, I couldn’t plan so much yet and I ran to take pictures almost every other day. Today, I plan more and often use applications – both for the weather and for sunrises and sunsets. I only leave when there seems to be good conditions, and especially when I have time.
You are a carpenter by profession, you make custom designer furniture and interiors. Do your work have anything to do with photography? What do they meet?
Yes, I have a small carpentry and it’s a matter of my heart. I try to use my photographic experience to photograph our realizations and thus promote the work. We have already succeeded in a few orders, where we go to the interior as a supplement to my photo. This is a direction I would like to focus on.
Your main topic is Prague, why did you choose it?
It’s quite simple. I live here and I fell in love with Prague. I can wander the alleys for hours or walk around the prospects and look for new perspectives. Prague is amazing in that it is still different and thanks to the time of year there is still something to discover in it.
Do you remember the first time you had a camera in your hand and when you started taking photos so intensely that it became your main hobby?
My uncle took a lot of pictures and I admired it. Sometime around 1989, I bought my first very simple camera for 12 black-and-white images. Unfortunately, at that time I used photo services to take photos. Then there were a few years when the photo shoot went aside, but after coming to Prague I returned to it. I had a friend here, Petr Matějčík, who introduced me to the world of SLR cameras, and then it could not be stopped.
Have you ever been tempted to leave carpentry and take pictures professionally?
Sometimes I ask myself how much I want and can take time to take photos. Even though I already make up a part of my income today, I would like to stay with the carpenter and have a photo shoot as the most significant hobby. I have a lot of respect for photographers who live with photography, because I know how difficult it is sometimes.
Do you have any photographic patterns, or photographers, are you looking for a job?
This question puts me in a slightly complicated situation. In the few years that I have been photographing, I have been influenced by many photographers. I don’t know if I can mention them so that I don’t forget anyone. I would therefore cite for an example several recent names, which are of course related to the topic of Prague: Richard Horák, Jiří Štarha, Peter Čech, Kamil Procházka. There are, of course, many more photographers who have influenced me.
Do you have any photographic plans for the future?
There are always enough plans, only that time is kind of short. One of the directions I want to focus on in the near future is shooting with ND filters (it reduces the amount of light coming through the lens and uses a very long exposure). Thanks to them, very familiar views can be captured in a different way. But I remain true to the reflections.
About the author of the images:
Radoslav Vnenčák is a photographer whose main theme is Prague. He started photographing as a child, still on film. Photography is his hobby, in addition to the city and events, in which he also photographs concerts and cultural events. You can follow his work on social networks, for example:
Instagram: instagram.com/radoslavvnencak
Facebook: facebook.com/radoslav.vnencak