Luxembourg {part 2}

finally getting myself to edit and post more pictures from Luxembourg. time flies by and this was back in November. but I miss my crazy Drabek so I decided to finally stop procrastinating even on the things I enjoy. also, being done with exams allows me to do so.

Luxembourg {part 1}

until I get to editing all of the pictures from my trip, I decided to share it in parts. here's the start of our crazy&wonderful adventure - sitting/drawing/talking in a coffee shop, making a waitress in Charles burgers upset, walking around Luxembourg at night - because we're lazy and we spent the days in the house. 

home, fall, gratitude.

I live in a breathtakingly beautiful place, and I have the most beautiful women in my life, inside&out. and so this day was overflowing with beauty. me, my sister, and my mum were left alone at home that day and we made the most of it by taking pictures outside, going for a walk and having great conversations. I'm posting this late, but who cares.

Janka

this could easily be another story post, if I asked my dear sister a couple questions. but I decided to write a short story post of how I see her not just through my lens instead. something about us. this absolutely breathtaking and warm sunny saturday morning in our backyard was more than I could ask for. the fall in all its beauty. I really hoped to get my sister infront of the camera. as soon as I found out she was coming I was preparing myself for the hours of trying to convince her to let me photograph her, because she rarely ever lets me. but as I laid down on our couch that morning, uninterested to do anything at all, she comes down asking me to go out and take pictures with her. I honestly thought I heard that wrong. but I didn't. and I got to spend the morning doing my favorite thing, photographing this gorgeous girl. and it's funny that I say a girl, because she's a woman now, and even I will soon leave my teenage years behind, but she's my sister, and I still haven't gotten used to the fact that we've outgrown our home and we don't share a room anymore, and she doesn't even have the same last name anymore. I'm still not used to that. 

stories: Olča&Martin {engagement}

(posting the original in czech, until I find time to translate it...)

trochu se zpožděním, ale to snad nevadí. poslední dny trávím úpravou svatebních fotek těhle dvou super lidí. a zároveň jsme konečně všichni tři našli čas na dodělání tohohle příspěvku, který se chystá už od června. to jsem totiž s radostí vyjela do Prahy, abych zachytila předsvatební příběh Olči a Martina. o pár měsíců později jsem zachytila ten svatební. na otázky mi každý odpověděl zvlášť, aniž by věděl, co řekl ten druhý. takže je tenhle příspěvek tak trochu překvapení i pro ně :)

our imperfectly perfect fall hike.

it's been way too long since I last blogged, it's been way too long since I got up early on a saturday and went on a hike, or made new good friends, or took pictures for myself and actually edited them, or overflowed with love for where I live. but here I go, finally.

this sweet girl, whom I've known for a while now but never really had a chance to get to know better, came to visit me yesterday. me and Maru planned to go on a hike and enjoy the beautiful colors of fall, a day that was supossed to be filled with sunshine. but as the day went by we had every reason to be disappointed. the sun never even came and we walked through this thick fog all day, I got us lost the very first five minutes of the hike, it was freezing and we underestimated our outfits a little (I did for sure), I carried a blanket to have a picnic on which was impossible in the mud that we walked through the whole time. I could probably go on. but not even for a second did we let that ruin our day. we had the most perfect hike, appreciated the mysterious beauty around us, laughed and shared our joys as well as struggles as if we've been friends forever.

but I find it hard to write this blogpost now, because we got to talk about how social media, including blogs, only shows the "perfection" of everyone's lives, causing jealousy, impossible expectations, giving us the wrong impression. we all try to make it all look so pretty. ever since I started taking pictures or blogging a little it's always been about honesty for me. I've always tried not to make my life look perfect, but even in trying not to I've made it look like it. and I've had people come up to me and say that they wanted my life, and I didn't know how else to show them that my life is so much more than what they see on there, than what I show, than these pictures. there are so many days inbetween, there are so many dull moments, there's always something more to it. but I guess that even as I try to include the imperfections of everything in my posts, others will still see it differently. I guess the imperfections in lives of others can never seem as real as ours. because as you scroll through the pictures and read this post you'll see the good parts in the comfort of your warm home. you won't get your shoes dirty from the mud, your fingers won't be freezing, you won't be trying to find your way through the woods, and you won't wonder if the fog is going to fade a little. you also won't share your heart with someone and laugh with us, you won't see the deer I didn't manage to capture. and it's okay, because you should have your own imperfectly perfect moments in life. and I know you do. some of us just like to share them, capture them, write about them. but that doesn't make our lives any better from yours. and I need to realize that as much as you do when I scroll through other blogs that seem perfect to me as well. because there's a real life behind them too. 

so please, as you go through this post, enjoy it, but don't get the feeling I so often get of wishing to be that person, doing that exact thing, living that exact life. because that person has probably wished the same thing. and it's not worth it. go and live your life in your own imperfectly perfect way.

Anička {stories}

a while ago I visited my dear, dear Anicka in the beautiful Ceske Budejovice. it was a goodbye before she left to spend a semester in Dublin. she took me to her favorite cafe, which I fell in love with instantly, so we could share our thoughts on anything and everything. she's my soul-mate, we figured that out soon after we became friends, we just get each other, and always respond to the other one's sentences with "I know, me too!". she's such a beautiful soul and I'm thankful that she finally let me photograph her and even answered a couple questions for me, so you can get a glimpse of what an amazing human being she is.

I miss you already, little bird.

the Hasik family

today I'm about to share something really special with you. I'm sharing so much joy. I am just so moved and honored that I could capture this wonderful family and their simple yet such special moments. that I could capture something that I know is dear and special to them. and yes I say special a lot because it simply is.

I met Jane almost three years ago when she walked me through the process of becoming an exchange student. little did we know the day we met that her life would be turned upside down a couple weeks later. and little did we know that we would become dear friends along the way, that Jane would be such a blessing and encouragement in my life, and that her family would grow to be so dear to me. God has taught me so much through this family, through Martin and Jane. their honest journey through the valley has been such an inspiration to me. a reminder of how to keep our eyes on God even when we don't understand. to be honest with our struggles. to be real. to enjoy the little joys of life to the fullest. to appreciate the moments. to give everything up to the One who blessed us with it in the first place even when it's so hard... you can read about their journey here.
I treasure every time I get to see them, when I get to hear about their little joys, see the girls overflow with energy and laughter, see Martin play with them all the time, ask Jane for advice and talk about life, and stick around for hours because they don't ask me to leave and I love hanging out with them too much. I don't really have good words the explain how dear they are to me, the pictures will have to do! I just thank God for what a blessing it is to know these guys!

the farewell to summer. and Drábek !

the summer came to an end.. you never know the last good day filled with warmth and sun is actually it until it's over and with this day the summer slowly shifted into grey and cloudy days, welcoming fall. I'm glad my last days of summer were spent with this awesome human being. I'm not going to write another touching post today, because this time she did, hah. anyway, I'm so happy we didn't give up on this crazy "long-distance / see you in a few months (hopefully) / hey I will live in Belgium now / write one letter a year" friendship. go check out her (freaking awesome) pictures too because she makes me look good in them haha.

N&A {9.8.2014}

being asked to photograph a photographer's wedding is a little scary. as if capturing someone's special day didn't feel as a huge responsibility already, this just adds up to it. at same time I was honored to be the one they wanted their wedding to be captured by and it was so much fun. it was such a joy to be a part of this beautiful event! this wedding was so beautifully prepared, with so many little details, with so much joy, and love, and wonderful music. it was such a pleasure, not to meantion that I had an awesome second photographer (that I haven't even met prior to the wedding) to work with, and the couple was so sweet to just hang out with all day, and when I was leaving it felt weird that I hadn't known anyone there before, because everyone was so easy to connect with. I hope these pictures capture the beauty of that day well.

 

N&M {pregnancy}

quickly blogging some precious series of these two. I met Niki and Michal more than two years ago when I shot their couples pictures and loved working with them. it makes my heart so happy when my clients return because they like what I do. it's even weird to call people clients when you get to capture special moments of their lives and get to know them in the process. I'm blogging this late as usual, and they're already rejoicing over their baby by now. I'm so happy for them! and so honored to follow their journey as someone they trust with photographing them, I can't wait for another special occasion in their life that they ask me capture.

M&O {14.6.2014}

it took me a while to finally get this wedding up on my blog in the midst of traveling, and I need to catch up on a lot more posts. but I think this one wass worth waiting for.

the wedding took place in an enchanting backyard of an old house in the beginning of June. I was so excited to capture special moments in such a wonderful spot and with so many lovely people. here's a little window into the perfect day of two beautiful people.

M&M {31.5.2014}

first wedding I got to photograph this year took place in a beautiful church in the heart of Prague with a reception in a little castle area at the outskirts of the city. it was filled with so much love of the newly married couple and their dear ones as any wedding should, lots of joy and laughter with friends who shared the couples special day, and dancing until the late night hours. I enjoyed capturing this special day, making the sweet moments last forever.

Drábek .

wow, I can't believe that my friendship with this amazing person started in 2011 already, when she messaged me on flickr and we finally decided to meet up. I'm so thankful we did and that the distance, the months in between our adventures, and sometimes the months of not being in touch didn't make the friendship weaker in any way. though she lives in france, I lived in states for a year, she spends her summers an ocean away, we both suck at messaging each other regularly, I suck at getting back to her when she plans to see me... we still manage to make it work and it's always such an awesome time filled with laughter and weirdness with her. I think it's actually our craziness that makes it so cool, we get each other, we freak out over the same things, and we just don't need to pretend anything when we go on adventures. I can't believe she puts up with my emotional mess and weirdness. so yep, here's my cheesy post and here's to some more years of the friendship that started through photography. Drábek is the coolest! like I don't even know why someone so cool hangs out with me and Tim Burton haha. (miss you!)

 yep, she's so cool she draws me while we talk over a cup of coffee.

99% of our time together. and when I just won't stop taking pictures of her.

Richard & Ainy .

I finally finished this post from a while ago when I went for a walk with this good friend of mine that I'm thankful for. God taught me a lot through this person throughout the last couple of years and I hope you can be enriched a little bit just by this post as well.

proč jsi vybral tohle místo na focení? jaký pro tebe má význam?

Jsou to místa mého dětství. V létě jsme tu lezli po stromech, po skalách, vyráběli praky, stavěli bunkry, snažili jsme se kouřit různé rostliny, v zimě jsme tu bobovali a na čarodky jsme je tu pálili a dnes jsem chodím venčit psa. Je to pro mě místo, které je součástí mého života. A který je prostě "moje".

why did you choose this place for the photoshoot? does it have a special meaning to you?

these are the places of my childhood. in summer we climbed the trees and rocks here, made sligshots, built shelters, tried to smoke some plants, in winter we went sledging, and in the end of april (for the "witches" festives) we had a fire, now I come here with my dog. it's a place that's a part of my life. it's simply "mine".

Co se ti první vybaví jako vzpomínka na dětství?

To je ještě z Jeslí. Pamatuju si jak mě vyzvedl táta, bylo to někdy před velikonoci, a tak měl sebou pomlázku. Je to jen takový malý záblesk, ale mám to v hlavě.

what's your first childhood memory?

it's from the nursery. I  remember my dad picking me up, it was sometime before Easter and so he had the whip with him (czech easter tradition). it's just a small flashback, but it's there in the back of my mind.

co máš nejradši na Ainy?

Vím co od ní můžu čekat, ať už to dobrý, nebo i to špatný. Někdy je pro mě lehčí rozumět psovi než lidem kolem.

what do you love most about Ainy?

I know what I can expect from her, the good and the bad. sometimes it's easier for me to understand a dog than people around.

proč sis ji pořídil?

No, nikdy jsem neměl psi rád a zvlášť ty s tim divnym nosem, až si ségra pořídila první bulterérku... mám rád povahu i vzhled bulteriérů. Jsem introvert a pes mi pomáhá být sám a zároveň s někým. Nabíjí mě to energií a pak je mi i mezi lidmi o něco lépe.

why did you decide to get a dog?

well, I never really liked dogs and especially the ones with a weird nose, and then my sister got her first bull terrier... I like the character and looks of bull terriers. I'm introvert and having a dog helps me be alone but with someone at the same time. it gives me energy and then I can feel a bit better even when I'm around people.

jak jsi uvěřil?

Jsem z nekřesťanské rodiny, a tak jsem byl i vychováván. V osmnácti jsem se ale dostal do situace, kdy jsem Kristu nemohl už řici ne.

how did you come to know Christ?

I'm from a non-christian family, and that's how I was raised. when I was eighteen I got into a situation where I could not tell Christ "no" anymore.

na co by ses Boha zeptal, kdybys věděl, že dostaneš odpověď?

Proč Bůh dopouští utrpení? Proč se některým lidem daří lépe než mě? Proč jsem takový jaký jsem? Proč nemohu být aspoň o trošku lepší? Proč se stále na něco ptáme a stěžujeme? Proč hledáme odpovědi na otázky na které nejsou lehké odpovědi a otázky s jednodušší ospovědí nás nezajímají? Proč řešíme cenu brambor, ale cena vlastního života nás nezajímá? Co vlastně znamenná trojjediný Bůh? Jak se mohlo stát že syn Boží se narodil z panny? Proč když se mi začíná dařit, spadnu zase na hubu? Jak mohl být Kristus zárove Bůh i člověk? Jak mám milovat hříšníka a nenávidět hřích? Mají lidé svobodnou vůli? A proč se země točí? ...

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"Některé otázky jsou tak dobré, že je škoda kazit je odpověďmi." (Tomáš Halík)

what would you ask God if you knew you would get the answer?

why does Godd allow suffering? why are some people doing better than myself? why am I the way I am? why can't I be a little bit better? why do we keep asking and complaining? why are we looking for answers to questions to which there are no easy answers but we don't care about the questions with easier answers? why do we care about the price of the potatoes but the price of our own life isn't important to us? what does Trinity even mean? how did it happen that the Son of God was born to a virgin? why, when I start doing well, do I fall back flat on my face again? how could Christ be God and a human at the same time? how do I love the sinner but hate the sin? do people have free will? why does the Earth spin?...

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"Some questions are so good, that it'd be a pity to ruin them with answers." (Tomáš Halík)  

kdo na tebe měl v životě největší vliv a kdo tě inspiruje?

Pár jednotlivců by se asi našlo. Dva lidé měli v mém životě opravdu velké místo, díky nim jsem se naučil spousty dobrých věcí. Ale my lidé nejsme dokonalí... mrzí mě, že ti lidé už v mém životě nemají místo v podstatě žádné...

Jinak mě inspiruje spousty lidí kolem mě, myslím že si zaslouží, když tu pár z nich uvedu.

Jan 1, Jan 2, Jan 3, Andrea, Michael, Zuzana, Ivana, Matěj, Pavel 1, Pavel 2, Pavel 3, Kateřina, Martina, Hedvika, Petr, Daniel, Věra, Jana, Kristýna, Jakub, Taylor, Marek, Dana, Anna, Luboš, Dagmar, Eliška, Martin, Vladimír, Daniel, Neli, Marie, Petra, Daniela, Tomáš a spousty dalších...

Nejvíc inspirující je pro mě celý můj sbor.

who had the biggest impact on you in life and who inspires you?

there's a few people. two people particularly had a very huge impact on me in life, I learnt a lot of good things from them. but we, as humans, are not perfect... it makes me sad that those people basically aren't in my life anymore...

besides that, there are many people around me that inspire me, I think some of them deserve to be listed here. Jan 1, Jan 2, Jan 3, Andrea, Michael, Zuzana, Ivana, Matěj, Pavel 1, Pavel 2, Pavel 3, Kateřina, Martina, Hedvika, Petr, Daniel, Věra, Jana, Kristýna, Jakub, Taylor, Marek, Dana, Anna, Luboš, Dagmar, Eliška, Martin, Vladimír, Daniel, Neli, Marie, Petra, Daniela, Tomáš and many more...

the most inspiring for me is my whole church.

oblíbený roční období a proč?

Jaro, zrovna probíhá.

your favorite season and why?

spring, it's happening right now.

co je podle tebe nejlépe strávený den, nejlíp investovaný čas?

Nejlépe s lidmi, s přáteli a abych na to měl energii tak jí musím o samotě načerpat. Nejlépe strávený den je tedy buď o samotě, a nebo s lidmi.

what is a well spent day for you and well invested time?

with people, friends and in order to have energy for that I need some alone time. so the best spent day would be either alone, or with people. 

co nejraději děláš během deštivého dne?

V současnosti nejčastěji sleduji předpověď počasí a odhaduji kdy budu moct vyjet na kolo. Rád spim ve stanu za deště, jak ten déšť krásně bubnuje, jak je všude kolem zima a já jsem zalezlý ve vyhřátém spacáku.

what do you like to do on a rainy day?

lately I usually watch the forecast and try to estimate when I'll be able to go biking. I like to sleep outside in  a tent while it rains, it makes such a nice sound, it's cold all around and I'm in my warm sleeping bag.

co je podle tebe hezkýho na Ústí a čeho by si tu lidi měli víc všímat?

Příroda... Bydlím ve čtvrt kilometru dlohém baráku a sto metrů za nim začíná nádherná příroda. Mám rád ústecká specifika... (ne)kultura, kamenolom a 2 chemičky uprostřed města

what do you find beautiful about Usti that other people should notice more?

nature... I live in about eight hundred feet long building and just a couple feet behind it wonderful nature starts. I love Usti's specifics... (non)culture, quarry and two chemical factories in the middle of the city

kdy ses v životě nejvíc bál?

Párkrát když jsem měl vyjít z domu...

when were you most scared?

a couple times when I was supossed to leave the house...

jaká Boží vlastnost tě nejvíc ohromuje?

Láska... Každy člověk může říci: "Bohu na mě obzvláště záleží."

what do you find most amazing about God's character?

love... every person can say: "God cares for me particularly."

nějaký moment, který ti přijde na mysl, kdy jsi pociťoval Boží velikost.

Měl jsem takový moment, bylo to při modlitbě, všechno bylo super, Bůh, já, lidi kolem, pak jsem ale spadl tvrdě zpět na zem...Od té doby si uvědomuju, že Boha nestačí jen cítit, ale je potřeba i Boha "vědět".

a moment that comes to your mind when you felt God's majesty.
I had a moment like that, it was during a prayer, everything was great, God, me, people around, then I fell back down on the ground again... since then I realize that it's not enough to just "feel" God, it's necessary to "know" God.

 

něco/někdo/událost, která obrátila tvůj svět vzhůru nohama

Kristus

something/someone that turned your life around

Christ

co ti dneska udělalo radost?

Když jsem nějaké pani pomohl spravit kolo.

what made you happy today?

when I helped some lady fix her bike.

co je tvým v životě tvým snem?

Žena, děti, vnoučata, rodina...

what is your dream?

wife, kids, grandkids, family...

za co jsi momentálně nejvíc vděčný?

V těžkých chvílích které jsem měl před pár týdny a měsíci jsem si uvědomil, jak jsou pro mě důležití přátelé a zároveň jak jsem důležitý pro ně.

what are you most thankful for at the moment?

in difficult times I experienced a couple weeks and months ago I realized how important friends are to me and at the same time how important I am to them. 

na co si myslíš, že lidi v životě často zapomínají, a neměli by?

Vděčnost... Spousty věcí, od přátelství, přes vzdělání, po vodu z kohoutku, bereme jeko samozřejmost.

what do you think people often forget in life and shouldn't?

gratefulness... lots of things, from friendship, education, to the water from the faucet, we take them for granted.

thank you, Richard and Ainy, for a great afternoon, and for an awesome friendship and inspiration.