Sunrise at the Swan Lake

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As promised in the previous post, my next destination is Zemun quay or "Zemunski Kej" as it is referred to here in Serbia. It's a charming riverside promenade located in the Zemun municipality of Belgrade. I referred to it as swan lake in the title because it's a home to large flock of swans, seagulls, ducks and other birds all year round. It is certainly one of the most beautiful walking areas along the Danube river and offers a unique blend of natural environment and beautiful old architecture.

I was lucky once again and arrived 3 minutes before the sunrise. I like how the horizon is warm, orange, the rising sun reflected in water and the foreground close to me is cool blue. Nice natural contrast of classic complimentary colors. I try to compose the birds in an interesting pattern and also try using different foreground elements like the cobblestone wall, logs or sunflowers.

I only had few minutes to shoot, soon the sun was high enough and its blinding light meant no more shooting in that direction. Along the quay there are countless restaurants, cafes and bars where you can order food and enjoy the panoramic view. The nightlife is crazy here. I was more interested in the old town by the river, charming with its cobblestone streets, rustic cafes, flowers on windows that give it the look as if it was from a different century.

After photographing the small streets (it was Sunday morning which means not many people to try and capture street photography moments), I headed towards the Gardoš, a late 19th century tower at the high point of the town. It's a unique architectural monument that you can climb with the spiral stairs and get to the panoramic platform at the top. This early it was closed, but from previous experiences it's worth going to the top and enjoying the panorama of the entire city.

I took few photographs of the city from the ground which still offers a beautiful view, although at the moment I wished I got there for the sunrise. :) Maybe next time. I also made friends with some cats wandering around the area who were kind enough to pose for me. Photos taken with Fuji X-Pro2 and 35mm F/2 lens.

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