Simply Templar

‘Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death’

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16

Rehearsing ‘Hamlet’ with Lawrence Olivier

More exactly: offering Lawrence Olivier some tips on how to better play ‘Hamlet’ 🙂

Make-up artist and Photo credit: Alina. Photo concept: Andrei.

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One room, two views. Our room.

Come to visit us. Come to Vyšehrad! 🙂 November 2017

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My macro world

Sometimes I feel I really need a macro lens. But even so, without one, I believe I got some remarkable results using my 70-300 mm lens. Tell me what you think. Photos taken in Prague between 7 and 16 august 2016. Lightroom and GIMP. [Double click on each photo to enlarge it!]

300mm, f8, 1/40, ISO 100

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300mm, f8, 1/100, ISO 100

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300mm, f9, 1/80, ISO 100

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300mm, f9, 1/20, ISO 100

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300mm, f9, 1/60, ISO 100

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300mm, f5.6, 1/40, ISO 100

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300mm, f10, 1/125, ISO 100

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300mm, f8, 1/160, ISO 100

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300mm, f9, 1/160, ISO 100

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300mm, f9, 1/30, ISO 100

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300mm, f8, 1/250, ISO 100

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Craving for a yodel

Luzern, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2017.

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Love

‘Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?’ (Ecclesiastes 4:11)
‘And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love’ (1 Corinthians 13:13)

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My Prague (10): Snow in Prague

The first ‘real’ snow in the last three years. Photos taken yesterday (2nd February 2017). It was not only freezing, but also (believe it or not)… kind of raining! [See my other episodes on Prague; click on each photo to see camera settings, to comment, or to see each photo full size!]

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Winter is coming

Some flowers in our garden clearly remind us: winter is coming! First, a photo with Sedum sieboldii (for some reasons I was told as a child that these are ‘ice flowers’). Then we have a Chrysanthemum, and finally a nice bouquet of everlasting flowers (which took some physical pain to be assembled!)

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Lisbon (1): A bird’s-eye view

The trip to Lisbon in the second half of September this year offered some good opportunities for shooting. The first post will show some bird’s-eye views. Now the first three photos are shot from the viewpoint of St. Peter of Alcantara (Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara), which is situated on the São Roque hill (one of the seven – or eight, according to some opinions – hills of Lisbon). The first photo shows the Tagus River (Rio Tajo), together with the 18th-century baroque-style Catholic Church of Santo António and parts of the Mouraria and Alfama  city districts on the hill of São Jorge.

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In the next photo you have the same hill named São Jorge, but this time you can see more of the Mouraria neighborhood and, of course, the São Jorge Castle.

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Below, once again Mouraria, and on the top of the hill you can see the Church and Convent0 da Graça on the left and the São Jorge Castle on the right hand side.

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The following photos are taken from the the São Jorge Castle, taking the East-North-West-South direction. This is what you can see if looking towards East:

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And here is another view. I really though the guy who owns the colored house is a Romanian, since the colors are those of the Romanian flag 🙂

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Going slightly to the North on the Castle’s walls, you can see the Church of Santa Engrácia, a 17-th century monument, originally a church, but converted in the 20th century into the National Pantheon (important Portuguese personalities are buried here). Twice a week you can also visit Portugal’s biggest flea-market around this location.

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Lisbon, the view to the West:

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Below you have the same view to the West, but now you can see the 25th of April Bridge (inaugurated in 1966) and the statue of Christ the King, inaugurated in 1959 (inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

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Below, other two photos showing the Western part of Lisbon (sunset time):

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The last two photos are shot in Alfama. In the first one, you can spot the Church of Santa Engrácia (see above); in the second one, Church of Santo António (again, see above).

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My Prague (15): Crazy Goddess and Divet Show

So the Prague Pride’s week is finished, but I still have some photos to show you. On 11 August I saw in the Prague Village two wonderful performances, starring Crazy Goddess – Travesti Show (more on their website) and Divet Show (Finnish impersonator Marko Vainio – more on his website – brought to us different stars such as Madonna, Liza Minelli, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Beyonce, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Alla Pugacheva, etc.).

Let’s start with Crazy Goddess:

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And here’s what you can do with a pair of boobs  🙂

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Below, ‘Freddie Mercury’:

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And here’s the Divet Show (the amazing Marko Vainio!). I confess I identified only Tina Turner (best impersonation, in my view), Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Conchita Wurst and Alla Pugacheva (well, I am old, I know!). If you identify others, just let me know!

Below: Alla Pugacheva

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Below: Celine Dion (her heart still goes on)

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Madonna, maybe? (below)

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Bellow: Conchita Wurst

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Below: Tina Turner

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