Previously from the Czech Republic: A Stroll through Moravian Countryside, Sunset Stroll through Southern Moravian Countryside, Rolling Hills and Poppy Fields, There are as many pubs as there are poppy seeds ..., More Travel Treasures, Drying Garlic, Treasures of Travels, The Power of Simplicity (of the iPhone), Take Me Home, Country Road ..., Sound of Music Induced Moment of Nostalgia, Travel in Space & Time.

1.0 km Railroad MarkerSouthern Moravia, Czech Republic After missing a beat or two with the blog I'm going to completely change the pace today and share a special moment from the past with you. It was summer almost two years ago and I was enjoying a photo walk around the village of Nemotice in Southern Moravia, Czech Republic in Central Europe. Everything was perfect. With the help of the photographs, I can still remember it almost like it happened yesterday. Not too hot for summer, with clouds adding drama in the sky, fresh air in unlimited doses, all playing into a nice walk full of contemplation and some photography.

If you have been following my blog and photography for a while you know I like trains and railroad tracks and including them in my landscape photographs. The tracks I followed for a while this particular afternoon are barely used any more. Over the last 15 years, it went from two trains a day to one or two trains a year on special occasions.

When I came upon this beautiful marker (I was going to say mile marker but I guess it can't be a mile marker if it is in kilometers, can it?) I knew it was a photo stop. I liked just about everything about it. The clean bright white color was definitely stealing attention, the tilt was great, and once I found this perspective I liked how everything lined up. A railroad passing through rural landscape, with the typical terra-cotta red roofs hinting at the village presence in the background, and a nice cloudy sky to complement the mood. Quiet, contemplative.

Village ChurchSouthern Moravia, Czech Republic A few moments later a view opened up that I could not resist. Kind of a back stage view of the village, not from the main road where most passer-bys drive but from behind, showing so many clues about a village life. Just let your eyes wander about the photo and see what you can spot and what your interpretation would be. Yet at the same time, it is a very simple photo.

At first, I was not sure about my framing. Where should my sides start and end? How much should I include? I did my usual dance moving a bit forward and back and sideways and trying to compare an eye level view with a lower perspective. I also worked the zoom. It's always important to do both in my opinion. Zoom can help with framing and deciding what to leave in and what to leave out, however, it does not change the perspective. For that, old fashioned moving around is necessary. Then, it all came together in this simple scene that felt just right, the edges clean, and when I look at it now with a lot of time in between I can still remember the moment so well. No breeze and smell coming out of the photo though, for that, past experience and imagination have to be engaged.

All things have to come to an end, and for me, the ending could not have been much better. To complete the walk and today's post I came upon this beautiful traditional village house from just the right angle. Unlike the dance above, here, I knew I did not want to move anywhere. I wanted to capture the scene exactly as I first saw it.

A Rural HouseSouthern Moravia, Czech Republic

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you (#etbtsy)!

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to get more special content from me reserved for the subscribers to my quarterly newsletter? Please, register by creating an account on my website - just follow the Login link at the top of the page. Would you like to see more travel photographs? Visit my Travel Photography gallery and enjoy! Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help!

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything not mentioned here. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!