Photography Trip Ideas in Eastern Europe
 

We have free airline tickets and are planning a 2 week trip in October in Eastern Europe with photography as the primary goal and cultural experiences not far behind. Would love any suggestions!! We had originally thought of somehow combining Croatia and Slovenia, but now think Prague would be important. The Asia, Central America, and Africa forums have been so helpful to us in the past.

Are these shots for sale and exhibition? For personal memories?

Why shoot what many others have shot unless you want to do stock work. Shoot what you find.

I'd recommend September over October, as the weather is warmer and it is harvest time in many places, which can make for interesting photographs (I was in Croatia for 6 weeks last September/October, with short side trips to Hungary, Slovenia, and Bosnia). I think you are more likely to encounter festivals in September, although you can find them in October as well.

I don't think you could go wrong with any of the countries you have listed. Be sure to go off the beaten tourist path. For example, I was mostly in Eastern Croatia. I did visit Zagreb a coupe of times, but I didn't get down to the Adriatic at all.

Thanks IMDonehere and Cranachin! We will likely rent a car and drive out to villages and around. The photos are for several things--enlarge for wall decor, an occasional contest, some for sale, greeting cards, ….

Plitvice.

My husband is a photographer and we live in Budapest. If you want cityscapes, this is fantastic. But my favorite pictures are from the countryside. In Hungary every town is reachable by train.

He does have great people shots from in the cities, too as there is an interesting mix of locals here.

I would go anywhere, and not worry too much... You will bring great shots home wherever you go.

Ah thursdaysd--thanks. Your input on the other countries has always been good. And thanks JulieC! I need to read up more on Budapest. Does your husband have his photos online anywhere?

Here is one of my favorites he has done. It was taken one evening at a dance competition in Szent Istvan Park in Budapest. This is more of a locals neighborhood so it was not a staged event. I love that this region has kept their traditions alive.

http://patcallahanphotography.com/20...e-aspirations/

Throw a dart and go. I might consider Romania.

Oh my! JulieC, I love that photo! Now it's one of my favorites too! Great capture. So I think I'll look at Budapest more and Romania. THis weekend I should have the time!!

Good deal Patty... let me know if I can help you. My husband and I have lived in Central Europe for 3 years now. First Slovakia, and now Hungary.

Good luck!

If you want pure Eastern Europe, Croatia and Slovenia are not the best choices. They are two very beautiful countries, but they are much closer to the Italian Culture than the Slavic in matters of Architecture and History.

The real Eastern Europe jewels, are Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. I've made a trip like that some years ago and it was really interesting, and I am a Photography Maniac also. Here is my Itinerary:

Budapest-Krakow-Görlitz-Prague.

These are the places I spent most of my days, but there are some great day trips around these cities also. In Krakow there is the Auschwitz, the Nazi Concentration Camp which is a must for historical reasons. On my way to Görlitz from Krakow, I visited the beautiful city of Wroclaw for a couple of hours. From Görlitz to Prague, I've visited the city of Dresden for a couple of hours also.

But the cities itself are amazing and unique. There is this Communist air of decay, the old Imperial Austrian glamour, the Jewish Heritage, the WWII monuments. Its a really interesting trip, and 2 weeks are enough.

Budapest is great if you like Art Nouveau: http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...u-in-budapest/

And I can recommend a great apartment (see the post before that one).

Northern Romania is fascinating, though. I was there in 2006, but I have friends who just visited and it doesn't sound like it has changed much: wilhelmswords.com/eur2006 - Roaming Romania

90% of tourists to the Czech Republic never leave Prague which is a shame as there are so many other beautiful places to visit - both cultural and natural. Both September and October are great months to photograph - and if you're lucky, November might get a few sunny days and autumnal colours.
http://www.jeremytaylor.eu/category/...public-photos/

Thanks Jeremy, Petros, thursdaysd, Julie,! This is all so helpful and I will rethink our itinerary w which isn't very well outlined anyway. Hungary sounds enticing. I'm off to work now, but will look through all of the links later. I love color, ordinary life, differentness, and it seems several of the countries offer that.

Three great reasons to visit Budapest the third weekend in September:


European Heritage Days www.oroksegnapok.hu (in Hungarian; I can't find a link in English)

I just happened to be in Budapest that weekend last year and enjoyed tours of some buildings that are not normally open to the public or that were free rather than charging admission. For example, the Parliament building—-which is jaw-droppingly beautiful inside--had free tours (they usually charge), and we got to visit some parts that are not usually included in the public tours.


The National Gallop http://vagta.hu/menu/10/-english--


Sweet Days chocolate festival

I'm a photographer and have been to many of those places. You really can't go wrong. Here are my galleries - take a look and see if any of the places look more intriguing to you than others.

Prague - www.pbase.com/annforcier/prague

Budapest - www.pbase.com/annforcier/budapest

Slovenia - www.pbase.com/annforcier/slovenia

Croatia - www.pbase.com/annforcier/croatia

Oh Isabel! I just glanced, but your photo galleries are going to be SO helpful. Thank you so much for sharing!! I plan to look at them in length this weekend. Right now I'm out the door to take my granddaughter to the play Heidi. I'm impressed with your galleries. I have photos on phase also but I don't have my last two trips up yet.

I like to shoot what other people haven't shot. We were to Poland and Czech Republic over 20 years ago, so I haven't scanned those pictures. But either by instinct or research you know what has been done, so why not put your own stamp on it?

Why shouldn't she shoot whatever she wants, even if others have shot the same scene. Every photo is different, even if it's the same subject -there is different light, different angles, etc. And even if someone shoots almost exactly the same shot as is in all the postcards, it's still THEIR shot of it, their memories attached to it.

Of course she can shoot whatever she wants. And I understand light, blah, blah, blah, differs but how many shots of the same thing are really different. The differences are often so slight as not be noticed.

I have two sets of photographs, those for reminders and those I find interesting. I just got back from The Netherlands and Belgium and have just started sorting through the pictures. Here are a few. I assume if someone wants the standard stuff there are hundreds of sources.

https://plus.google.com/u/1/photos/1...72452850268065

I love the discussions that usually get going on fodors. I would hope that no matter how much I research or look at others' photos, that I always bring my own eye and see something perhaps a little different. I have been delinquent in posting recent trip photos to phase.com (Guatemala and SE Asia not up yet) but here is a sampling of what I tend to take. http://www.pbase.com/pattyroth
BTW, IMDonehere, I do love your photos at this link!

Thank you Patty Roth, and I like your work and what you do is bring yourself to the photo.

I particularly liked the Orthodox Jew with the colorful paper in his pocket. Besides the contract in color and the inference of the contrast in his life, there is a sense of solitude, if not loneliness. You caught a lot in one shot. Brava.

We combined the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Croatia and Slovenia (ending in Venice) in 2008. Here is my report with photos…hopefully it will give you some ideas. One of our all-time favorite trips.

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/Tom_...nice_2008.html

((H))

Wow thanks maitaitom! What a trip you had! I'm beginning to realize two weeks will only give us a taste. Need to decide between Croatia-Slovenia and Prague- Budapest- Krakow or some weird combo. Lots to read about this weekend.

The problem is--we want to go to too many places. Right now I am thinking--and it all depends on the tickets we can get--Prague--Krakow--Budapest--Zagreb and the rest of Croatia--meaning of course a few places. We could rent a car and drive around for several days. That would mean an overnight train and buses or trains until we reached Croatia. I think we could stretch our 2 weeks to 17 days.

And should we stop briefly in Slovakia along the way?

I enjoyed hiking in the Tatras and staying in Levoce, but I really don't think you have time. Less is more, especially if you want to take lots of photos.

Thanks thursdaysd, After sleeping on my last post, I realized we were being a bit too optimistic about the amount of time it would take to do all of that. Must revise.

How about Austria too, since it lies between Czech and Croatia.
The scenery's beautiful, wherever you go, the higher Alps, the Lower alps are even prettier.
The Wachau valley near Vienna has great photo-ops.
So does Prague, you can have a look at my page : http://ashwinbahulkar.wordpress.com/...ia-and-prague/ for some ideas regarding destinations, especially in Austria.
PRague is ofcourse awesome. And worry about the weather, rainy weather can bring some dreamy light too.

Thanks ashwinb. We have loved Austria in the past and have seen a lot there. Absolutely LOVE your photos and will show them to my DH. Prague is still in the running.

Thanks. However, I have a feeling 2 weeks should keep you well occupied in Slovenia and Croatia, considering there are so many places to see.
I would combine PRague with Budapest and Krakow and Poland maybe.

And Jeremy, I forgot to say how much I liked seeing your photos also! Esp Telc and Tabor.

And Julie, I like your husband's street photography--esp the Zagreb train station and the train station conversation!

Ukraine. Get some good photos from the civil unrest going on there right now.

Oh my goodness, sparkchaser. :-) Seems like your name really fits! We'll probably let that one go. And we have been to the Ukraine. If only we could photograph without getting in trouble. My heart goes out to the Ukrainians.

<i>If only we could photograph without getting in trouble.</i>

Photojournalists get away with it. Try wearing a BBC News or Nat geo hat.

Thanks Patty... I'll let him know. Zagreb is one of the few stations in Central Europe that opens into a lovely part of town...

"The problem is--we want to go to too many places. Right now I am thinking--and it all depends on the tickets we can get--Prague--Krakow--Budapest--Zagreb and the rest of Croatia--meaning of course a few places. We could rent a car and drive around for several days. That would mean an overnight train and buses or trains until we reached Croatia. I think we could stretch our 2 weeks to 17 days."

For perspective, I spent an all-too-rushed 11 days or so in Prague, Krakow, and Budapest and, on a separate trip, 3 weeks in Croatia. If you can stretch your time to 17 days and cut your destinations in half, I think you'll have a great trip! :-)

Thanks kja. I think we will try to do that as I realize we can't get everywhere this trip. I think we'll let the tickets decide for us. We are hoping to get economy going over and business class returning and we are open to where we land and where we depart. It we land in Prague, then it's open for Budapest and Krakow. Or a separate idea is to see Prague and Cesky Krumlov and then go to Croatia and drive around. I'm waiting for a few more thousand miles to post to our award miles account. Or Slovenia and Croatia. We'll see.

"Or Slovenia and Croatia."

FWIW, I didn't count my all-too-few 3.5 days in Slovenia in my above mention of 3-weeks in Croatia.

Planning around your flights makes sense. Let us know when you have a bit better sense of your options.