On a recent trip to Poland I spent several days in Krakow and Warsaw. They have completely different characters and offer different opportunities when it comes to street photography.
On one side, Krakow's old town has something utterly timeless about it — cobblestones, historic architecture, and a sharp, low morning light. Warsaw, on the other hand, is more layered (in a good way). You see the reconstructed Old Town standing right next to massive Soviet-era blocks, all of it under the shadow of modern glass towers. That combination creates remarkable architectural contrasts.
In this article I've gathered several spots that offer plenty of photographic opportunities. I've included the exact point on the map for each, plus what tends to work photographically there.
Krakow (The King of Shadows)
The secret here is the early rise. Get up at 6:00 AM. At that hour the streets, the light, and the lines are entirely yours. By 6:30, when the first locals start rushing to work, you'll already know exactly where to stand and how to frame. One theme worth exploring: the long, dramatic morning shadows.
Spot #1: The Light Play at the Main Market Square
Point your lens directly into the sun. Here the contrast builds powerful shapes and silhouettes (chiaroscuro). Close down your aperture (at least f/8), mount a 35mm or 50mm, find the bright "path" the sun carves between the building shadows, and simply wait for someone to walk through that beam of light. Compression also helps if you reach for a telephoto.
Spot #2: The Square (with Endless Pigeons) beside St. Mary's Basilica
Walk past the main façade of the Basilica and continue into a slightly more hidden square. Look for the red and green walls — the morning sun creates extraordinary colours. And yes, it's full of pigeons. Use them. Set your frame and wait patiently until someone walks through and turns the scene into a strong composition.
Spot #3: Reflections at the Cricoteka
Cross the Father Bernatek footbridge, turn left, and your eye will fall straight onto the futuristic/industrial Cricoteka building. Around it, several surfaces and overhangs give distorted reflections. You need to embrace the geometry here. Find the right angle and the building's unusual architecture will help you build a truly distinctive frame.
Warsaw (Soviet Contrasts)
Warsaw at first glance might not seem that photogenic, but that's exactly where the key lies: in the visual collision. The replica old town "clashes" with its heavy Soviet past, both of them squeezed between modern glass towers.
Spot #4: The Palace of Culture — From the Station
Walking out of Warsaw Central Station (Warszawa Centralna), you have the Palace of Culture and Science in front of you — the enormous building Stalin "gifted" the city. Crouch down and tilt the camera upward. Use f/8 or smaller for everything to stay sharp (depth of field). I used a single figure against the building as the subject, cutting out all the chaos happening around it.
Spot #5: Underground Passages and Geometries
The underground passages and tunnels of the newer metro stations are another spot full of photographic potential. They often produce strong, clean geometric shapes, frequently with bold colours. At one such location I sat — "locked in" on a frame — and waited for something to happen.
A Few Quick Technical Tips (Street)
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Make friends with Zone Focusing: In street photography, if you wait for autofocus, you've often already missed the moment. Switch to Manual Focus. Work with a good depth of field (f/8–f/11). Pre-focus at 2–3 metres.
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Don't chase scenes. Build them yourself: First find a "set" and compose your frame. Then simply wait for the "subject" (a person) to walk into the "set". One well-balanced shot always beats thirty rushed clicks.
