Poland in Film

The impressive mixed architecture of Krakow Cathedral. This image shows off well the detail this old and simple camera can produce with a detailed, low speed film like Ilford Pan F Plus. 1s (B) 111mm F45 Focus set at 8m Ilford Pan F Plus 50.

It was supposed to be sixteen photos, two whole rolls of Ilford Pan F Plus. Unfortunately I had gotten a bit carried away in Berlin and had already broken into the next roll. Still, fourteen images (twelve of which made it into this blog) was still plenty to showcase what I saw in Poland over the weekend I was there. In fact, fewer was probably better as I struggled to come up with ideas and was quite conscious of the fact that I was also with other people.

St Mary’s Basilica towers over the rest of Krakow Old Town. Listen out for the trumpeter that sounds every hour from the top of the tower. 1/2s (B) 111mm F45 Focus set at 5m Ilford Pan F Plus 50.

The view out across the city of Krakow from the castle on the hill. Unfortunately this image came out poorly due to the light leak in the bottom left hand corner and everything in the distance is soft and out of focus. 1/8s (B) 111mm F22 Focus set at 30m Ilford Pan F Plus 50.

If you’ve seen my blog from last week (click here if you haven’t already), you’ll know I visited the historic cities of Wroclaw and Krakow. Much like Berlin they also have a great deal of old and grand buildings which were well suited to be captured on my also rather ancient No.1 Pocket Kodak camera which hails from the late 1920s. Coupled with the slow but detailed Ilford Pan F Plus (ISO 50), I still managed to get great looking images out of such an old and simple setup.

The Town Hall Tower that sits in Krakow Old Town. It is the only remaining part of the old town hall that was demolished in 1820. 1s (B) 111mm F45 Focus set at 8m Ilford Pan F Plus 50.

Krakow Cloth Hall which I struggled to fit into the viewfinder of my pocket camera. There was only so far I could step back due to the Town Hall Tower. 1/2s (B) 111mm F32 Focus set at 8m Ilford Pan F Plus 50.

I’m not sure I have a great deal to add in this blog which I haven’t already said in the previous one, my knowledge of Poland is not exactly extensive and there’s only so much you can take in in a couple of days. However much like in Berlin there was a bit of interest in me shooting with the pocket camera, and once or twice someone came up to ask me about it. Unfortunately, not speaking any Polish meant we had to make do with simple conversation in English.

Krakow Castle sits atop a hill on the banks of the River Vistula. I’d hoped to capture the good evening light but I’m not sure how much impact it had. Unfortunately the castle is also a little soft. 1s (B) 111mm F32 Focus set at 30m Ilford Pan F Plus 50.

Like many old and big cities, Wroclaw too is built on a major river. In this case the Oder. 1/4s (B) 111mm F32 Focus set at 30m Ilford Pan F Plus 50.

Reflecting upon my time shooting with this camera abroad, it wasn’t exactly easy, some of the results were quite frustrating and above all it was rather time consuming. Ultimately, I could have perhaps seen more if I wasn’t spending copious amounts of time setting up my tripod, making sure the camera was level and then carefully composing my shot. However the flipside of that is perhaps I wouldn’t have appreciated what I was photographing as much as I did if I hadn’t slowed right down. I certainly feel a stronger connection to my film images than the ones I shot on digital.

Wroclaw surprised me with a large and impressive Japanese garden which seemed popular with tourists and locals alike. 1/2s (B) 111mm F32 Focus set at 8m Ilford Pan F Plus 50.

The rear of the current Museum of Bourgeois Art which once served as the town hall for Wroclaw, and sits in the town square. 1/2s (B) 111mm F45 Focus set at 8m Ilford Pan F Plus 50.

The architecture of the town square is evocative no matter where you look or what shop or business it houses. 1s (B) 111mm F32 Focus set at 8m Ilford Pan F Plus 50.

It was overall a fun challenge and a good experience but one I probably won’t replicate again, especially if I am not on my own. I’m still keen on taking a film camera with me, even though it probably makes more sense just to take a digital camera like my Nikon Z6 (which I did bring as my primary camera on this trip). However perhaps in this respect I just can’t help it. My Bronica SQ-A would be too bulky I feel so that leaves either my Nikon F100 or my Kodak Retina iiiS. I suppose I’ll have to leave the agonising decision to closer to the time of my next adventure. Yes you can’t capture everything on film, but you can never capture everything well on digital either. It’s better to have fewer, better, more considered images.

The frontal view of the impressive Museum of Bourgeois Art. This image worked well in black and white and there is a great sense of age with the blurred motion of the people in the foreground. This is by far the best film image I took whilst in Poland. 3s (B) 111mm F45 Focus set at 8m Ilford Pan F Plus 50.

Until that time I hope you have enjoyed this series of blogs about my travels though Berlin & Poland and if you have any great memories of visiting these places (or perhaps about where you will be going soon) then do let me know in the comments down below.

My final image was of Kaylah & Rafal, my friends who hosted me over the weekend I was in Poland. I had to get them to stand very still to take this photo. 1/2s (B) 111mm F32 Focus set at 3m Ilford Pan F Plus 50.

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