Prague metro stations photo project

[Stuart_C]

Hi everyone!

I’d like to share with you a part-time photography project I’ve been working on intermittently over the past couple of years – my collection of photos of the subway stations here in Prague, Czech Republic, where I live.

I spend a lot of time on public transport and of course a fair portion of that time can be spent waiting for the train to arrive . . . so . . . why not take a photo or two!

Prague’s metro system dates back to the 1970s and the country’s communist regime. Its functionalist designs have always struck me, and while some stations are dull and stereotypically socialist, many are attractive, with fascinating colour schemes and space ship-like metal mosaic wall coverings. I love the lines and symmetry of a lot of the platforms as I approach them from escalators and stairs. They’ve always fascinated me.

In my early days in Prague I didn’t always carry a camera and never really considered taking pictures of underground stations (why? Too much great architecture above ground, I thought) but three or four years ago I found myself taking more and more photos of the stations I passed through each day.

With time, the number of photos of stations grew. And I also started adding the odd picture of people as they used the stations, for context. And then I thought why not put them together as a collection. And why not challenge myself to get good pictures from EVERY station (there are over fifty)? So that’s what I did.

The album is now sitting in Google photos and I’ve decided to share it. It’s still not finished: there’s no rush, but I add to it a few times a year, whenever I feel like it. One day it WILL be complete, and I might just print up a little book of my metro station moments!

Here’s a couple of samples:

Here’s the album in Google Photos - feel free to hit the ‘join’ button if you’re interested and want to keep up to date with the album as I add to it. It’ll be great to share my photos with my LG friends from around the world.

Keep guiding and having fun!!

Stuart

links:

Prague on Google Maps

Hradcanska station on Google Maps

Staromestska station on Google Maps

[ErmesT]

Thank you for this post, @Stuart_C

It is amazing how the subway can take life, and become place for culture, or fun.

The same is happening with the airports, where you can find sculptures, or exhibitions.

Unfortunately in the town where I live we don’t have a subway (we cross the city in 15 minutes by walk) but the next time that I am somewhere in a subway I will take some photo for you

[KarenVChin]

This is great @Stuart_C ! My suggestions for you would be to add a Google Maps link to Prague and also a couple of Google Maps links to these metro stations. Do you also by chance review each station too for Google Maps? Please add them.

If you haven’t already, you could create your List (just need a minimum of 5 reviews) for Google Maps as part of your Connect Live 2019 application requirements.

Moscow Local Guide @SergeySud has an ongoing series of Moscow Metro stations photos he posts here on Connect and on his social channels. Some of the stations he has photographed look like palaces or rooms in a museum. Nothing like what you find in America, especially BART. = )

Cheers,

Karen

[Stuart_C]

Thanks, @ErmesT

Hard to explain, but the stations themselves can be really interesting. Life comes and goes, the places stay. I often wonder what they’ve witnessed.

Will look forward to your pics!

Stuart

[Stuart_C]

Thanks for the suggestions, @KarenVChin . I’ll get some links in. And the list is on the way!!

Moscow’s stations are famous for their opulence. Never been, but will get there one day.

Hope you like the photos. I use the helpful ones on Maps - and add reviews too.

Stuart

[KarenVChin]

I love your photos @Stuart_C ! Opulence is a great word to describe some of the Moscow subway station photos that I have seen from @SergeySud . His city’s stations and now your city’s stations put what we have in America to shame.

I appreciate great or interesting looking architecture and design. I never thought just visiting subways for just their design is something to do. But after seeing both Sergey’s and your photos it is getting me thinking.

Riding public transportation is always a great way to see and “live like a Local.” I also visit local markets, grocery stores too while on vacation. It’s mostly free and always neat to look at food and get some ideas on what things actually cost.

Cheers,

Karen

[TheEagleEye]

Nice photos @Stuart_C . The photos on Google Photos Album look great also. I’ve also been taking photos of metro stations and surrounds. I’m very conscious of the public and try not to get them in photos but it is difficult. I know from speaking to people that some people don’t like being in photos from others.

I’m using Prague subway daily and Line C is my most common line. Střížkov station is just a few minutes walk from my home.

Keep up the good work and I look forward to album updates.

[YasumiKikuchi]

It is a very fashionable subway @Stuart_C

It is not unnecessarily decorated, it comes to know that it is underground🚇

I will link with my articles😉

Let’s talk about photography techniques by everyone!

[TsekoV]

Hi @Stuart_C ,

This is such a great idea that you have! Thank you for sharing it with us by writing this post.

Actually I have also never paid too much attention to metro stations, even though just as many other people I spend quite a time every day.

I liked your concept of photographing different places and people on the metro station. You can see there many faces, many different people, happy, energized and all those different feelings live can offer us.

[Stuart_C]

Thanks, @TheEagleEye ! Glad you like the shots

It’s a tricky balancing act with people in the photos, isn’t it? I respect that people might not want to be in others’ photos, so for the ones which I add to Google Maps I try to avoid shots with close-ups or individuals, but groups of people a bit further away are OK. With the photos I put in my album, I’m more flexible - these will only ever be seen by a limited number of people and I don’t consider it a breach of anyone’s privacy. And at the end of the day, these stations are public spaces, and I think having people in the photos is mostly necessary to give context and a focal point.

I’ll have to get up to Střížkov again - I think I still need a better shot of that place.

Stuart

[Stuart_C]

Yes, it’s very functional, @YasumiKikuchi but when they did decide to add colour and decoration they did it in style:-)

Thanks for the support - I hope your exams are going well.

Take care, Yasumi.

[Stuart_C]

Thanks for the encouragement, @TsekoV !

I like the diversity too, but the main thing that keeps me adding to the project is seeing that it’s greater than the sum of its parts. The theme appeals to me.

Stuart

[RichardMix]

프라하의 멋진 곳을 소개해 주셔서 감사합니다. 흥미있는 이야기와 사진들! 잘 봤습니다.

[TChavez75]

Thank you for sharing your pictures. I like the symmetry and colors of the stations. I’ll keep checking in on the album.

[sveta1977]

Прекрасные фотографии, сочетание графики и цвета. Не многие могут увидеть гармонию в обыденных вещах. Особенно понравились фото танцев в метро. Черно-белая гармония и застывшая динамика. Красота во всём)

[chagororo]

Excelentes fotografías y el poder disfrutaré de cerca experiencias únicas, gracias por compartir y acercarnos a tu hogar.

[martita1965]

Bellisimas fotos, y m,uy bello el metro de Praga, vivo en una ciudad pequeña del centro de Argentina, no tenemos metro, si hay en la Capital, cuando vuelva a ir, voy a fotografiar el metro

[AshleyHutchins]

Prague Metro like Kiev was built mainly in the 1970’s. They were built with a dual purpose, firstly as Metro and stations as you would expect and secondly as air-raid shelters. If in Kiev visit Arsenal station, the deepest anywhere with it’s never ending escalators.

[ljordan]

I like your photos. I remember when i was in Prague. Good project!

[Jwook]

영감을 주는 작업. 훌륭한!