Kraków / Krakau / Krakow

David Allen · Feb 3, 2019

Anyone here have suggestions where I could buy medium format B&W film?

I will be visiting the city for the first time from 4 - 8 February 2019.

Many thanks for any tips.

David.
www.dsallen.de

ced · Feb 3, 2019

You are in Berlin, why not buy all you need there & take it with you. Probably will be fresher, cheaper too...

David Allen · Feb 3, 2019

ced said:
You are in Berlin, why not buy all you need there & take it with you. Probably will be fresher, cheaper too...

I am flying at 6am so no time. I have adequate supplies but, should we be lucky with the weather, I would like the option to buy more film if possible.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

mooseontheloose · Feb 3, 2019

Following...I’ll be in Krakow in just over a months time, and may need to stock up on film while there as I will be near the end of a month-long trip to the region. Let us know if you find any.

ced · Feb 4, 2019

Try this link...

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=photographic+stores+in+krakow

David Allen · Feb 8, 2019

mooseontheloose said:
Following...I’ll be in Krakow in just over a months time, and may need to stock up on film while there as I will be near the end of a month-long trip to the region. Let us know if you find any.

Hi there ,

I have just returned from Krakow. In the end we only had one really sunny day (which is what I need for the type of images I like to make) so my supplies lasted.

My pre-trip research didn't uncover any shops selling film and, as you can see, there was not much response here.

On my final day I bumped into someone from Warsaw who was shooting with a Hasselblad. He told me that there was one shop still selling film:

Kodak Express Kraków
ul. Starowiślna 21, 31-038 Kraków

This is not too far South-East from of the old city centre and ul. Starowiślna runs towards the Vistula river and connects to the 'most Powstań śląskich' (Bridge of Slaski Uprisings).

As I had enough film, I didn't go to check out this shop.

You will have a lovely time in Krakow. The city centre is magical and virtually car free.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

mooseontheloose · Feb 8, 2019

David Allen said:
Hi there ,
I have just returned from Krakow. In the end we only had one really sunny day (which is what I need for the type of images I like to make) so my supplies lasted.
My pre-trip research didn't uncover any shops selling film and, as you can see, there was not much response here.
On my final day I bumped into someone from Warsaw who was shooting with a Hasselblad. He told me that there was one shop still selling film:

Kodak Express Kraków
ul. Starowiślna 21, 31-038 Kraków

This is not too far South-East from of the old city centre and ul. Starowiślna runs towards the Vistula river and connects to the 'most Powstań śląskich' (Bridge of Slaski Uprisings).
As I had enough film, I didn't go to check out this shop.
You will have a lovely time in Krakow. The city centre is magical and virtually car free.

Bests,
David.
www.dsallen.de

Thanks David, that's really useful! I'm finalising the details of my trip now, and one problem I did not foresee was the much more restrictive policies on cabin baggage that many of the cheaper airlines now have - 7kg is not a lot for cameras and enough film for almost a month's worth of shooting! Even with 10kg I'm often pushing the limits, so being able to stock up as I go will be essential.

Kodachromeguy · Feb 8, 2019

Did you have a chance to visit Nowa Huta, a community built in the 1940s and 1950s to house workers at the steel factory? It is very interesting as an example of urban planning in the Communist era. It had schools, community centers, nurseries, clinics, and shops. Here are a few snapshots in Tri-X: https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2016/12/nowa-huta-planned-communist-town-and-it.html

David Allen · Feb 9, 2019

No I didn't know about Nowa Huta but will definitely go there on our next visit,

To be honest doing the old city centre, Kazimierz and the river in a really thorough and intense manner was about all we could manage over 4 days. Seeking out local cafés, bars and restaurants to eat and drink like the poles and exploring the myriad of little alleyways that sometimes resulted in great finds and sometimes just loads of rubbish was very time consuming in a very pleasant way.

Dear Mooseontheloose, one thing that you should bear in mind is that the houses in the old city centre are 5 floors high and the streets are typically narrow. At this time of the year the sun lies relatively low so you will be constantly confronted with scenes that are half in dark shadow and highlights that are fully in the sun. This is super for my kind of photography but can be a challenge is you usually shoot low ISO film.

Have a great visit.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

mooseontheloose · Feb 9, 2019

Thanks David - I find the tall buildings and narrow streets to be a common problem in many cities in Europe - which is why I usually hope for slightly overcast days to keep the contrast down. That said, I tend to bring a mix of low and high speeds (more of the higher speeds in winter) when I travel. It's always hard to know what the right mix should be - I always end up with too much of one, and not enough of the other.

David Allen · Feb 9, 2019

Hi Rachelle,

well your preferred weather was more of what we had when we were there.

First day was cold, grey and drizzly. Second and third days were bright but overcast (with it noticeably brighter when you get nearer to the Vistula river - southern part of the old town near to the castle and the areas of Kazimierz that are also near to the river).

Which other cities are you visiting? - there may be more options to buy film elsewhere.

Also, if you are staying more than a few days in a city you have the option of buying film from FotoImpex (https://www.fotoimpex.com/films/) here in Berlin and get them to post them to you. For example, 10 rolls of Ilford Delta 400 / 120 costs 49,50€ and the postage is 10,00€ with a delivery time of 2 - 5 days.

I have a friend who does a lot of trips in the eastern part of Europe and frequently stays longer than planned if the photo opportunities are flowing well. He advises the hotel well in advance that a package will be arriving for him and then orders the film from Fotoimpex allowing plenty of time for it to arrive ahead of him. He tells me that this always works well - but that some hotels have charged him a nominal storage fee.

"many of the cheaper airlines now have - 7kg is not a lot for cameras and enough film for almost a month's worth of shooting! Even with 10kg I'm often pushing the limits"

Even the strictest European budget airline - Ryanair - does not check your personal weight or control what you are wearing. Therefore, I always travel with a jacket, pocket jacket and overcoat with lots of pockets. I stuff them all full with film, light meter, shoulder brace, etc to free up room in my photo rucksack. Yes it can get somewhat hot but you can certainly carry a lot more than the bag size / weight restrictions allow.

Have a great trip.

David.
www.dsallen.de

mooseontheloose · Feb 9, 2019

I'll definitely be visiting Warsaw, Poznan (both for conferences), and Krakow, and hopefully Lodz and Lublin if time allows. In researching Poland I've discovered so many places that I would like to visit, but I just don't have the time on this trip. So I already know that I'd like to return for a longer trip, but at the same time, want to cover the places that interest me the most during my first visit there, as it may be years before I can go again. I'm a bit restricted by the conference dates in terms of where I can go (some places need more than a day). Warsaw will be at the beginning of my trip and Krakow at the end (well, really, Poznan, but I'll barely be there) before I head off to Ukraine for a week. I don't know what my film options will be in Kiev, so I'd like to stock up on film in Poland before I go.

As for the airline weight restrictions, I was already thinking along the lines of what you've suggested with pockets - I'll have to see what I have that'll work best.

David Allen · Feb 9, 2019

For Warsaw I have heard good reports about this shop: https://czarno-biale.pl/sklep/28-czarno-biale-negatywy

David.
www.dsallen.de

mooseontheloose · Feb 9, 2019

Thanks David - they look like a good source!

twelvetone12 · Jul 15, 2019

Hi Mooseontheloose! Did you find any nice places for analog photography in Krakow? I'm heading there right now for a conference and besides visiting the city I'm always interested in lurking some shops

mooseontheloose · Jul 15, 2019

twelvetone12 said:
Hi Mooseontheloose! Did you find any nice places for analog photography in Krakow? I'm heading there right now for a conference and besides visiting the city I'm always interested in lurking some shops

No, I didn't, but honestly I didn't have the need or the time to look as I had to shave some time off my trip there. It really is a lovely city, but I have to admit I kind of like the grit of Warsaw a bit better...

Kraków / Krakau / Krakow

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency