Explore Kraków & Zakopane Through Your Camera 2026. Photo: Bjørn Joachimsen.

Kraków has been a cultural melting pot and a centre of science and trade in Central Europe for almost a thousand years. While many may have visited the city as tourists, this workshop will allow you to explore it with your camera in a more intimate and creative way. We will photograph in the districts of Kazimierz, Nowa Huta, Płaszów, Podgórze, and Stare Miasto (Old Town), as well as take a day trip to Zakopane, the renowned mountain town at the foot of the majestic Tatra Mountains.

Through this workshop, you will develop your ability to observe your surroundings and capture compelling compositions and moments. By the end, you will gain inspiration and skills to enhance your photography on future travels, whether back to Kraków, the Tatra Mountains, or other destinations.[Kraków, 7.–12. April 2026]

Key Information

Dates: Monday 7 April, 11 am • Finish: Sunday 12 April, 8 pm
Base: Hotel Kazimierz, ul. Miodowa 16, Kraków, Poland
Number of participants: Maximum 6
Registration deadline: 7 February 2026
Workshop fee: EUR 950 (early registration), EUR 1,050 (from 7 January 2026)

The purpose of this workshop is to create an environment where you can develop your photography skills, which will be valuable when photographing during your travels—whether capturing people, architecture, or landscapes. Bring your digital or analog camera and join me in exploring the rich photographic opportunities in Kraków and Zakopane, from historic streets and cultural landmarks to mountain landscapes and traditional highland life.

A workshop is more than just taking photographs—it is a community for learning, inspiration, and shared experiences. I work with a small group of a maximum of six participants, ensuring close guidance and personalised feedback throughout. I emphasise professional development, mutual inspiration, and a welcoming social environment.

During the workshop, we dedicate time to photographing in Kraków’s districts and in Zakopane, and I provide regular reviews and feedback to help you improve composition, storytelling, and observation. Each evening, we gather for dinner and conversation at local restaurants, offering a chance to reflect on the day, share experiences, and enjoy Polish cuisine.

The Districts We Photograph

Kazimierz

Kazimierz, Kraków’s historic Jewish quarter, is alive with culture, art, and history. Founded in the 14th century by King Kazimierz the Great, the district became part of Kraków in the 19th century. Its cobbled streets, synagogues, cemeteries, and atmospheric cafés offer perfect opportunities for street photography, architectural studies, and capturing the essence of the city.

Nowa Huta

Nowa Huta is a unique example of post-war socialist city planning, built in the 1950s as a model industrial town. We explore this district with a local guide to gain insight into its history and daily life. Photographic highlights include:

Residential areas with wide boulevards and socialist-style architecture
The old water tower for steam locomotives
Industrial architecture and impressive buildings
The entrance to Huta im. Sendzimira (Sendzimir Steelworks)
Kościół Arka Pana, a striking modern church with characteristic Zakpanestilen-style design

Nowa Huta presents striking contrasts between monumental architecture, industrial environments, and everyday life, offering opportunities for graphic, documentary, and artistic photography.

Płaszów Concentration Camp. Photo: Bjørn Joachimsen.

Płaszów

Płaszów is historically significant as the site of the Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp during World War II. We will also photograph outside Stara Lokomotywownia, where an old steam locomotive and abandoned train carriages create dramatic, atmospheric compositions for industrial and historical photography.

Podgórze

Podgórze lies across the Wisła River and combines old and modern architecture, parks, and historical landmarks. The district is excellent for capturing urban life, industrial heritage, and contrasts between past and present. Podgórze also provides compelling angles toward the Old Town, with bridges, streets, and architectural details offering dynamic photographic opportunities.

Stare Miasto (Old Town)

Stare Miasto, Kraków’s historic heart, is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns. Highlights include Rynek Główny (Main Market Square), St. Mary’s Church, the Town Hall Tower, and narrow historic streets. The Old Town offers rich opportunities for architecture, street photography, light and shadow studies, and capturing everyday life in centuries-old surroundings.

Zakopane

Situated at the foot of the majestic Tatra Mountains, Zakopane is Poland’s most famous mountain and winter sports town. It has evolved from a small village to a popular tourist destination while retaining its unique cultural heritage. Zakopane is renowned for the distinctive Zakpanestilen (styl zakopiański), a national romantic architectural style combining traditional timber structures with folk-inspired ornamentation, creating richly detailed, photogenic buildings.

Photographic highlights include:

The Old Church (Stary Kościół), an authentic example of local timber architecture and religious culture
The Old Cemetery (Stary Cmentarz), with gravestones reflecting the town’s history
Kaplica pw. Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa w Jaszczurówce, a beautifully crafted timber chapel exemplifying the Zakpanestilen
Encounters with Górale shepherds, who maintain a traditional mountain lifestyle, offering unique portrait and cultural photography opportunities

With the Tatra Mountains as a backdrop, Zakopane allows for a range of photography, from landscapes and architecture to street and cultural images, capturing the interplay between nature and human life.

Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp. Photo: Bjørn Joachimsen.

Photography & Feedback

During the workshop, I will regularly review your photographs, offering feedback, inspiration, and guidance to improve composition, use of light, and storytelling.

We will work on night photography, which always presents a particular challenge for photographers. Although darkness can be demanding, there is always exciting light to take advantage of. I will share all my knowledge on how to create successful photographs after dark and how to find light that can set fascinating moods.

Plac Nowy. Kazimierz. Photo: Bjørn Joachimsen.

We will also focus on street photography, which involves capturing images of people in the urban landscape. How do you observe, position yourself, and capture the decisive moment? How can you establish contact with strangers to gain acceptance for taking portraits? These are some of the challenges we will work on, giving you the skills to tell compelling visual stories in public spaces.

The workshop caters to both digital and film photographers. For film users, there will be the option to submit 35mm or 120 film (colour or black-and-white) each afternoon. Analog photographers can hand their film rolls to Foto Tempo in Kraków for development, with 24-hour delivery of developed negatives, proofs, and digital files.

What can you expect from me?

I will be present and available for you throughout the workshop.
I will provide professional guidance and assistance during the entire workshop experience.
I will share all of my photography knowledge and skills with you.

What do I expect from you?

You should dedicate all available hours to working on your photography.
You should follow the planned teaching programme during the workshop.
You should work independently and on your own initiative.
You should actively seek guidance when needed.
You should remember to charge your camera batteries before each workshop day.
You should contact me before, during, and after the workshop if you need help of any kind.

Synagoga Remu w Krakowie. © Bjørn Joachimsen.

Praktisk informasjon

Dates: Tuesday, 7 April – Sunday, 12 April 2026
Start: 7 April, 11 am
End: 12 April, 8 pm
Base: Hotel Kazimierz, ul. Miodowa 16, Kraków, Poland

Instructor:

Bjørn Joachimsen

Travel:

Participants book their own travel.
Shared transport will be organised from Kraków Airport to the hotel upon arrival.
If you wish to extend your stay before or after the workshop, you are free to do so. In that case, you must arrange your own transport to and from the airport.
Please wait to book flights until your workshop place has been confirmed.
You must have travel insurance that covers the trip.

Accommodation:
We will stay and have breakfast together at Hotel Kazimierz, centrally located in the Kazimierz district of Kraków, from Tuesday afternoon to Monday morning. (The workshop itself ends Sunday evening.)

Single room with breakfast: EUR 80 per night. This is a special price for workshop participants.

Booking is done directly with the hotel:

Email: rezerwacja@hk.com.pl
Reference to provide: 173/11/2025/HK, Miodowa 16

We have an agreement with the hotel, so booking should not be done via booking agents or the hotel’s general website.

Shared transport will be organised between Kraków Airport and the hotel on the day of arrival.
If you wish to extend your stay before and/or after the workshop, you are completely free to do so. In that case, you must arrange your own transport to and from the airport.
Please wait to book your flights until your workshop place has been confirmed.
You must have travel insurance that covers the trip.

Meals:

There will be organised group lunches and dinners at cafés/restaurants in Kraków and Zakopane every day. Costs are covered by the individual participant.

What to Bring:

Good shoes
Clothes for various weather conditions (check the weather forecast the day before departure)
Camera, along with any additional lenses and accessories you have. Contact us if you are unsure about your camera equipment.
Extra camera batteries and memory cards
Camera filters (if you have them)
Laptop PC/Mac or tablet if you wish to edit photos during the workshop (optional but highly recommended)
Please contact the course organiser well in advance if you plan to leave parts of your camera equipment at home.
Contact: bjorn.joachimsen@gmail.com if you are unsure whether your photography equipment is suitable.

Currency and payment means

Polish Zloty (PLN). Cards are widely accepted; ATMs are available throughout the city.

Number of participants:

Maximum 6
Workshop fee:
- EUR 950 (registration before 7 January 2026)
- EUR 1,050 (registration from 7 January 2026)
Registration deadline:
7 February 2026.
You will find the registration form below.

Synagoga Remu w Krakowie. Photo: Bjørn Joachimsen.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Bjørn Joachimsen is one of Norway’s most experienced photography instructors and tour leaders. He has made more than 50 trips to Poland in recent years, including over 15 to Kraków and other locations in Lesser Poland (Małopolska). He has organised several workshops in Kraków and more than 20 workshops across Poland in total.

Bjørn is an experienced street and documentary photographer and will teach you how to capture crucial moments in public spaces, as well as how to master composition, storytelling, and visual narrative as moments unfold. He specialises in street and documentary photography, people, nature, and architecture. He has over 20 years of professional experience and is an established photography educator, teaching Lightroom, Photoshop, and various photographic techniques.

Portfolio: www.joachimsenphotography.com

Photography & Courses: www.fotografjoachimsen.no

Instagram: @joachimsenphotography

Portfolio: www.joachimsenphotography.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/joachimsenphotograpy

Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/joachimsen/

Instagram: @joachimsenphotography