CURRENT MISSION

To find out about the positive aspects of the Internet. I am a photographer, based in Prague, also partly in NY. I work on a new project - photographing members of the CS community (both hosts and guest); see my work at www.hanajakrlova.com

ABOUT ME

I am a photographer, graduated as an architect, 15 years ago. I grew up in Brno, Czech Republic, and have been more or less based in Prague and New York for the past years. I am interested in people - my photography style is subjective documentary - it means I photograph reality, but with a personal / conceptual twist. One picture is worth 1000 words, so please look at my www.hanajakrlova.com if interested. I travelled a lot, and I love meeting people... For me, the people I photograph are not just objects - even if it is a fleeting moment, I am interested in getting to know them. I also love traveling, of course, and reading good books, watching good films, and listening to almost any kind of music. I like people who are more or less normal, not too self-centered, generous, hard working, and genouine. Hopefully, I have the same to offer, in myself.

PHILOSOPHY

People are basically good. If one is being sensitive, tolerant, modest and a bit humble, people are generally lovely. Gentle sense of humor is always a good thing...

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

My friend Suresh, who lived in NY and now is based in France, Lyon, introduced me to Couchsurfing. Suresh is a great friend of mine, I trusted his judgement and I thought it was a great idea. I have worked on photography project about the Internet, before, I am starting to work on my project: I want to photograph the couch-surfers, on their hosts' couches - just that. Portraits of people - both couch surfers and couch owners;

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I stayed on many peoples couches, while I travelled, before I got introduced to the CS. Mostly, it was a great experience. The couches were usually pretty comfortable, and always I was made welcome. I think staying in peoples' homes is the best way to learn about other cultures, and about people in general.

Interests

Photography, traveling, skiing, listening to music, hiking, diving, and some more... the usual suspects.

• books
• architecture
• photography
• documentaries
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• hiking
• scuba diving
• skiing

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Beethoven; James Brown; Dvorak's Stabat Mater; Janacek; Ween; TV on the Radio; Max Raabe & The Palast Orchestra; Beatles; Doors;
Movies: Ricky Gervais, Robert Altman; some Forman; Woody Allen; Jim Jarmush; Spike Lee; some Spike Jonez
Books: Joseph Brodski: Watermark; Thomas Mann: Death in Venice; Alice Munro; Alan Hollinghurst: Falling Star, Armistead Maupin: Night Listerner; Jeffrey Eugenides: Middlesex. Kundera and Kafka in small doses.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Looking and floating bit of a glacier in a lake in Eastern Iceland. Hiking in Laddakh. Diving in Sardinia. Isle of Sky in Scotland. Charles Bridge in Prague in winter night. NY in the late summer afternoon. Varanasi. Among others.

Teach, Learn, Share

Less is more; Be kind at heart, and also on the surface.... good karma works...; Skeptical otpimist;

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