Prague Libraries

[Luvwine]

Two gorgeous libraries in Prague.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Wow, these are beautiful and I think you really have captured them well. It looks like you were using a TSR lens for this.

 

[Luvwine]

Wow, these are beautiful and I think you really have captured them well. It looks like you were using a TSR lens for this.

Thanks Ben. Actually, they have restrictions on photography. For the first picture, the guide had to pretend to look away while we all snapped pics. The second place (the latter two pictures) I had to buy a special pass to take pictures. In both circumstances, tripods were not allowed. These were hand held with my Loxia 21/2.8 lens (all three). I did also use the Voigtlander 12mm/5.6 lens as in the image below, but I found the Loxia's faster aperture and better overall quality usually made it the preferred lens I had with me on that trip. I do try to keep the camera level when shooting architecture especially using ultrawide angle lenses, and I find the Sony A7rii's built in level quite a convenience especially at such times.

 

[JimFox]

Hey Stephen,

Those are libraries? They almost look like they were old chapels if it wasn't for the book shelves! Such wonderful detail.

Are the books available to be read?

Jim

 

[Luvwine]

Hey Stephen,

Those are libraries? They almost look like they were old chapels if it wasn't for the book shelves! Such wonderful detail.

Are the books available to be read?

Jim

The first one is the Klementinum Library. The second two are at the Strahov Monastery--the baroque hall and the library. My understanding is that yes, you can access the books with special permission but I don't think they are allowed to leave the premises. I suspect 99.999% of folks visiting are tourists.