Jana Ašenbrennerová

This year I'm leading National Geographic Student Expedition in the Czech Republic. For the first time I’ll be leading group of students in a country I call my home. I’m excited as well as intimidated by this opportunity. Here is an evening view that concluded our first day of exhaustive explorations of Prague. #photoworkshop #asenbrennerova #natgeotravel #natgeoexpeditions #natgeostudentexpeditions #czechrepublic #czech #staromestskenamesti #landscape #architecture #pickoftheday #everydayeverywhere

Václav Lebeda is a great friend of mine. He is a musician, he writes songs and plays guitar, performs regularly with several bands. He owns a recording studio in his house, which often turns into creative cave full of music. Václav is also a passionate collector of tape recorders. He likes music of 50s, 60s and 70s and believes that the analogue sound of tape recorders goes with it. He is proud of his collection and asked me to photograph him with it. So here is the portrait we made. I know Václav since childhood, we have been good friends for about 20 years now and no matter how our lives changed since then, our friendship remained the same. I am very grateful for our friendship and the music filled time we often share. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #taperecorder #music #musician #Teslab116 # RevoxA77 #SonetDuo #Sonytc255 #portrait #friend #asenbrennerova

A lovely house in our town. Every time I pass by I pause and imagine what life is like living in such a beautiful space. I don’t know the people who live there and never seen the home behind the closed doors but I have my own romantic idea of it. I might be disappointed if I visit inside but as of now I imagine it as out of a Czech fairytale. #2013 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #family #fairytale #architecture #home #landscape #asenbrennerova

Afternoon hang out time with family, enjoying snacks of chocolate, home made cake, freshly picked carrots (which I am obsessed with and can live on) and tea and coffee. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #family #food #carrots #tea #coffee #chocolate #asenbrennerova

The usual afternoon scene at my brother’s garden. My mom bringing the goat Roza home while the pet ducks Pepa and Karel walk behind her, keeping safe distance. Johnaka jumps on a trampoline. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #family #ducks #goat #trampoline #beauty #asenbrennerova

Katka, my sister-in-law, is a painter. She spends lots of time in her studio in the attic of their house making her beautiful, heart-warming paintings full of colors and poetry. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #art #artworkshop #home #painter #asenbrennerova

While the kids are away for a second Katka shares kiss with Martin in her art workshop where she paints. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #art #artworkshop #home #love #kiss #asenbrennerova

Visiting my aunt Alena at her home, hanging out on the balcony, enjoying the gorgeous view from their house. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #family #balcony #landscape #nature #asenbrennerova

Taking a walk in the usual route in our town with my aunt Alena and one of her dogs. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #green #dog #landscape #nature #asenbrennerova

Barbora Bálková is an artist that uses mixed media art forms to create commentaries on political issues. One of her pieces, for example, is large installation called the “Carousel of Dictators.” Her latest project is a collection of about 50 Panda bears (perhaps more by now) all hand made by her out of an imitation of human skin, sewn together with human hair. A statement about organ trafficking industry in China in contrast to the attention given to preservation of Pandas. I see Barbora usually during summer when we both return to our town to visit our moms who live on the same block. Always inspiring to see her and chat with her. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #artist #portrait #friend #barborabalkova #asenbrennerova

Train trucks crossing our town. #2017 #czechrepublic #personal work #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #traintrucks #asenbrennerova

View from the balcony in my mom’s house. I enjoy watching and photographing sunset from here when the sky is clear. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #sunset #home #green #asenbrennerova

On her way home, Johanka waves to grandma who is greeting her from a window. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #grandma #kid #asenbrennerova

It’s a hot afternoon and the children play in the garden. The siblings Jonáš, Johanka, and Kryštof cool themselves off with a small water sprinkler that is usually used to cool the garden and bonsai trees. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #brother #bonsai #tree #asenbrennerova

Watering his bonsai trees right before the sunset. I love watching (and photographing) my brother taking care of his trees, there is something very therapeutic about that. (This image concludes a short series of photos introducing my brother Martin in his world of bonsai. When he was a teenager, Martin had a bad car accident, which turned his life and everything around him upside down. It took years for him to recover and he had to learn how to walk all over again. With this dramatic event in his life came inevitable change of profession. He learned pottery but also advanced his already then passion for bonsai. He went to Japan for a year and during that time learned from a local master about bonsai. That was about 15 years ago. Now he has a bonsai garden of his own, hundreds of trees and often leads workshops and lectures on the topic in the Czech Republic.) #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #brother #bonsai #tree #asenbrennerova

Working on another bonsai tree, there is always one (or rather many!) that need a trim. This week I’m sharing photos of my brother Martin and his love and talent for bonsai. (When my brother was a teenager he had a bad car accident, which turned his life and everyone around him upside down. It took years for him to recover and he had to learn how to walk all over again. With this dramatic event in his life came inevitable change of profession. He learned pottery but also advanced his already then passion for bonsai. He went to Japan for a year and during that time learned from a local master about bonsai. That was about 15 years ago. Now he has a bonsai garden of his own, hundreds of trees and often leads workshops and lectures on the topic in the Czech Republic.) #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #brother #bonsai #tree #asenbrennerova

A bonsai tree in the making in my brother’s garden. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #brother #bonsai #tree #asenbrennerova

In the next few images I will introduce more closely my brother Martin. I’ll show him in his world of bonsai. When Martin was a teenager he had a bad car accident, which turned his life and everything around him upside down. It took years for him to recover and to learn how to walk all over again. With this dramatic event in his life came inevitable change of a lifestyle and a profession. He learned pottery but also advanced his already then passion for bonsai. He went to Japan for a year and during that time learned from a local master about bonsai. That was about 15 years ago. Now he has a bonsai garden of his own, hundreds of trees and often leads workshops and lectures on the topic in the Czech Republic.  #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #brother #bonsai #tree #asenbrennerova

Snack from dozen quail eggs. So delicious! My brother and his wife have quails at their little farm. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #snack #food #quail #quaileggs #asenbrennerova

The usual afternoon gathering of our family. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #kids #playing #home #siesta #asenbrennerova

While visiting friend Vaclav, one of his newphes, Ondra, comes by along with their newly adopted dog Angie. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #kids #playing #dog #home #asenbrennerova

Petr, our neighbor, is a potter, I shared his portrait yesterday. Here he makes a cup. Petr has run his business for over 27 years now, legacy after his grandfather who as well was a potter. His specific style of pottery has a long-standing tradition and is well recognized.#2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #kids #playing #landscape #green #asenbrennerova

Petr, our neighbor, is a potter. He has run his business for over 27 years now, legacy after his grandfather who as well was a potter. His specific style of pottery has a long-standing tradition and is well recognized. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #kids #playing #landscape #green #asenbrennerova

Twelve weddings in just one day! A fun assignment I shot for the SF Chronicle about weddings that take place at San Francisco City Hall. I photographed some beautiful moments and met variety of couples, some traveled great distance to exchange their vows in San Francisco. I worked with a reporter Louise Rafkin who wrote the stories of the newlyweds. Big thanks to all the couples who let us be part of their special day. #sfchronicle #wedding #cityhall #sfcityhall #newlyweds #onassignment #sanfrancisco #tearsheet #published #style

Katka sits on a chair in their kitchen, pretending to be at a hairdresser and worries about the hairstyle her daughter Johanka will create for her. Martin watches everything from a distance. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #kids #playing #family #asenbrennerova

Johanka and Jonáš play in their hair salon. They take turns fixing each others hair, either way every “style” starts of with heavy moist of the head, their favorite part of the game. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #kids #playing #h2o #green #asenbrennerova

While the dog poses for a photo, mom mows the lawn. Grandma rests away from the sun in her favorite spot in the pergola. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #mom #dog #work #green #asenbrennerova

Vendulka, the cat that came to my brother’s house one day and never left. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #cat #green #animal #pet #asenbrennerova

Right after sunset Jonáš, Kryštof and Johanka play together, chasing a small toy airplane. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #kids #playing #landscape #green #asenbrennerova

View of our town from the rooftop of my mom’s house. I occasionally climb up there during sunset to watch and photograph. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #home #landscape #rooftops #horizont #asenbrennerova

Martin fills jars with peppers and spices to make preserves. Kryštof watches his dad and assists when needed. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #work #preserves #fatherandson #food #pepper #green #asenbrennerova

My brother Martin washes peppers he harvested earlier in the day in their garden. #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #good #colorful #peppers #preserves #green #asenbrennerova

Jonáš sits in his room, surrounded by toys picking clothes to wear. He has been sitting there for about half an hour. I guess it’s not an easy decision to make! #2017 #czechrepublic #personalwork #everydayeverywhere #everydayeasterneurope #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #kid #playing #home #landscape #asenbrennerova