Whats Good to photograph in Munich?

[Aurum]

I have the opportunity to be let loose at a trade show there next week. With the flight times for Lufhansa, it means I get there early afternoon before the show starts the next day, and well whats a guy to do?

I've heard of a place called the "Englischer Garten", which I'm presuming is a big park.

Is there anything else of note that really demands I point a lens at it in this part of Germany?

Suggestions please

 

[Mike Richards]

Try the Marienplatz and general area (Glockenspeil runs at 1200 and 1700 as I recall). Oktoberfest will not be running, but you can soak up the atmosphere at the Hofbrau Haus. The Residenz museum is worth a look and non-flash photography was OK the last time I was there. If you're a car buff, check out the BMW museum, next to the 1972 Olympic site. The Dachau concentration camp is interesting and has some very good historical displays. It's about 30 minutes by train from the Main Munich train station (Hauptbanhof) to Dachau, plus a 5 minute taxi or bus ride to the camp. Some of my images:
Dead Link Removed

 

[Muihlinn]

Quite a few things in the sourroundings if you have time to spend, I've found it as a very pleasant city. Anyhoo, all around the Marienplazt, Frauenkirche, the palaces, the market and the museums ( glyptotheque ) was quite enjoyable and photogenic, and at a reasonable walk distance.

 

[David Brown]

I've heard of a place called the "Englischer Garten", which I'm presuming is a big park.

Yes. Very big park. If you're lucky, there might be some nude sunbathers. Alas, we were not lucky ...

Anything inside the Ringstrasse, or the old part of the city that is mostly pedestrian traffic only. The middle of this is the Marienplatz, as others have said, so if you get there (on the U-bahn), you're good! And by all means, get some weisswurst!

 

[lyonheart]

How about going to see William Eggleston's Democratic Camera exhibition at the Haus der Kunst - only chance this side of the pond. And it's next to the garden. I was there a few weeks ago and it was wonderful.

Colin

 

[Anscojohn]

Those are all the tourist spots and photogenic. And the Hofbrauhaus is a great place to photograph tourists from Ohio. Did anyone mention the Victualenmarkt? Good shooting, but you can see the same stuff anywhere.

I felt I could never take a camera to Dachau. Others may not be so sensitive.

The best beer in Munich is not in Munich and it is certainly not Loewenbraue, which is sold in low dives and expensive tourist traps. Go to the Augustiner-Keller on the main drag down towards the Isartor from Karlstor (aka Stachus--don't ask why, no one knows). The Augustiner is on your right. Small place. There are two eateries--the one with the table cloths is more expensive; the food comes from the same kitchen. The Bratwurst is good and is cheap; and the Gulaschsuppe is very tasty.The ceiling, iirc, is skylights and if the light is good the color is great.
BTW, I did a scientific study when I was a student living in Muenchen in the early 1970s about which is the best beer. Everyone's second choice was Augustinerbraue. The best, all said, is made by the monks at Kloster Andechs, but you won't have time to travel way down there, so you shall have to make due with Augustiner. I know I did. Burp.

Continue on for great street shooting in Schwabing, the student district. After you leave the Augustinerkeller, continue right towards the river after you pass the Feldherrnhalle which is now kind of seedy, mercifully. Turn left at Schellingstrasse.
Coming back to the main drag (is it Leopold-Ludwigstrasse?--I forget), stop and reflect at the Geschwister-Scholl Platz and the Prof. Huber Platz in the University district. You may have to ask who they were. I found the fountain there at night worthy of a reverent study.

Down near the Isar is a monument to the unknown Bavarian soldier. It's partially underground, if I remember correctly; sort of like a huge sarcophagus with a soldier in a helmet and makes a strong image.
If you need more info, take me along.

 

[Anscojohn]

Yes. Very big park. If you're lucky, there might be some nude sunbathers. Alas, we were not lucky ...

Anything inside the Ringstrasse, or the old part of the city that is mostly pedestrian traffic only. The middle of this is the Marienplatz, as others have said, so if you get there (on the U-bahn), you're good! And by all means, get some weisswurst!

*****
I thought the Ringstrasse was in Wien?

 

[ntenny]

In addition to the other (good) suggestions, the Deutsches Museum is quite photogenic if you like the midcentury-industrial aesthetic---lots of opportunities to do up-close-and-personal studies of things like giant transformers and rooms full of heavy machinery. The adjacent park strip along the Isar also has its charms; the contrast of old stone architecture and riparian vegetation should be quite nice in spring.

Munich is a really likable city. Enjoy it!

-NT

 

[Terence]

I'll second the Deutsches Museum, but I'm an engineer . . . their collection of early stationary steam engines is one of the finest I've seen.

Dachau is very sobering, and well worth the trip.

The area around Marienplazt is also beautiful at night. Nobody hassled me about my tripod, but I stayed well off the high traffic area.

I'd also agree with Augustiner-Keller for beer.

And even if you don't have the money to buy one, the Lamborghini dealership is always worth a peak.

 

[David Brown]

*****
I thought the Ringstrasse was in Wien?

Sorry. Yeah, technically the street is not officially called that in Munich. It's the street (or streets) that surrounds the "old city". In guide books you find quotes like: "Hotel Erzgiesserei Europe Munich is centrally located with easy access to city's central Ringstrasse".

Didn't intend to confuse the OP.

I mean, afterall, we're all just bragging about having been there ...

 

[Aurum]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I'm not sure I could start taking photographs at Dachau, I would feel the same discomfort at taking photographs in a graveyard, Some powerful images for sure, but thats just my POV.

Deutsches Museum sounds good, I like all that heavy industrial stuff.

I think my main decisions are: Do I go for the full kit, or do I cheat and carry a compact instead. (or prehaps two, one with B&W, the other with Colour)

The other thought is do I take my MF folder and lots of roll film

Decisions Decisions.....

 

[Mick Fagan]

If you are thinking of going to the Deutches Museum, then you may be lucky, I was there in January and they had a complete special exhibition on the history of photography, and I mean pretty complete.

Absolutely fascinating, allow 1 hour for a tour of just that exhibit, if it is still running.

If you did go to the BMW museum, it isn't cheap, 12 Euros, allow 1 hour. It is a new exhibition and was re-opened very late last year after a complete make-over by the factory. Unless you are a BMW person, (which I am) the technical stuff is interesting, but not really that fascinating unless you are either a motorcycle or BMW car buff.

There is supposed to be a fabulous photographic book store in Munich, I don't know as I have never had the time every time I'm in Munich to look for it, but some of the local people from Munich may help you there.

Mick.

 

[Aurum]

Well I certainly got quite a few of the town centre. The Rathaus is worth a few hundred feet of film in itself.
The Hofbrau Haus was interesting.

Cheesy but interesting.

Also too late to do anything about, but there is a little photographic store in Marienplatz. Unfortunately shut when I was looking in the window, but it had a brick of Scala in there. They were pricing it at about 5Euro a roll, or 47 Euro a brick of 10. If anyone is local might be worth a look see

 

[Mike Richards]

I'm not sure I could start taking photographs at Dachau, I would feel the same discomfort at taking photographs in a graveyard, Some powerful images for sure, but thats just my POV.

One of the statues there says "DEN TOTEN ZUR EHR DEN LEBENDEN ZUR MAHNUNG." Which with my poor translation skills says something like "To honor the dead and warn the living." It's very apparent that the warning has not been heeded -- Cambodia, Rwanda, Kosovo, Darfur just to name a few. I encourage you and anyone visiting Dachau or any other holocaust camp to photograph and give the images and story the widest possible dissemination. Perhaps it will do some good, perhaps not. But we need to keep trying.