When our son came to visit us in Prague for his spring break, we took his second week as an opportunity to explore Madeira, a destination we’d always been curious about. Over five days, we immersed ourselves in the island’s beauty, from its majestic mountains to its stunning beaches.
But beyond the scenery, it was the simple joy of being together that made our trip just the best.
(Cameras: Rolleiflex 3.5f & Leica M6, Film: Kodak Portra 400, Lab: Richard Photo Lab)
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Croatia, following the advice of so many new Czech friends. In August, my family and I spent a delightful week on the island of Hvar. The weather was perfect, the ocean was stunning, and the seafood was delicious. I hope we can return and explore other islands next year.
This was my first trip with the Rolleiflex 3.5f. I’ve really fallen for this system. So compact and I love the quality of the fixed focal length 75mm lens. It’s just a tad wider than a standard lens on my Hassy but it makes a difference.
This past July, my family and I went on our first trip to Corfu, Greece.
We all crave the ocean in the summertime and Corfu’s beaches were a real treat.
The island itself is beautiful and the locals were all so kind. We spent our days exploring charming little towns and just finding and enjoying the calm.
As the kids grow older, I’m so grateful for these family vacations.
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All photos made with a Mamiya 7ii and Kodak Portra 400 film. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as we enjoyed our time on this Mediterranean island.
Back in April, Lauren and I went to Istanbul for a few nights. It’s an easy flight from Prague. It was much too short, especially for our first trip to Türkiye. I am looking forward to spending more time on our next visit.
Today is July 4th, our Independence Day. It’s not hard to feel patriotic today. And especially less hard these days in my current role.
Lauren and I find ourselves at the six-month mark since we left our Boston home for Prague. Transitioning to the heart of Europe has been a big change, but it’s gradually turning into a new kind of normal.
What’s stayed consistent throughout this shift? My daily interactions with people here. It’s these interactions, the morning visit to the local bakery, meeting new friends and sharing a beer or traveling to various villages & cities in country, that I find an increased sense of this place we’re beginning to call home.
I’m starting to make more photographs here. A few portraits, some landscapes but mostly just little moments along my walks. For fellow film camera lovers out there, I finding renewed love for 35mm after mostly shooting medium format back in the States.
But really, my role and experience here extends beyond personal experiences. Working closely with the Czech government, civil society, and numerous NGOs has opened my eyes to our shared challenges and the potential we have to address them, together. And I am so beyond grateful for my team at embassy Prague. Their expertise, support and dedication is incredible. Our work here feels diverse, important and extremely meaningful.
Lauren’s support during this transition and the work here has been beyond essential. Her strength has helped me more than I can say in words. I wouldn’t be here without her. That’s for sure.
I wake up each morning with gratitude. It is such a privilege to be the US Ambassador to the Czech Republic.
I’m looking forward to see what the next six months will bring.
At last, I have been able to make some film photographs during my evening walks here.
(Camera: Contax T3 / Film: Kodak Portra 800 / Lab: Carmencita Film Lab in Barcelona, Spain)
It’s been just over 4 weeks since Lauren, Sam and I arrived in Prague. It’s been an absolute whirlwind and only in the last few days have I started to feel a bit settled in.
The Credentialing ceremony took place a few weeks after my arrival — and something I will never forget. At the ceremony, I presented my credentials from President Biden to the Czech President Zeman. As I paid my respects to their military commander, their band played the Star Spangled Banner in the courtyard at the Castle. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.
Prague Castle, February 15, 2023 / photographer: Hana Brožková
The history of this country and the success of democracy is remarkable and inspiring. For those not familiar, I highly suggest A Prague Winter by Madeline Albright. The residence we are living in is owned by the US Government and has its own compelling story. For a history on this residence, the iconic book is The Last Palace written by Norm Eisen, former US Ambassador to the Czech Republic.
I’ve been so touched by the warm welcome since our arrival. We have been met with so much kindness by Czech people, members of the government and other diplomatic families. And they deeply love dogs here — so Sam is loving it too. The city of Prague is gorgeous. It’s been wonderful to explore the country on weekends. But I’ll save those explorations for a future post.
It’s an honor of a lifetime to represent the United States here in the Czech Republic. I’m so proud to work with my colleagues at US embassy Prague. They are extraordinary people doing such extraordinary work.