Germany Photo Enthusiast Sites of Interest?

[maigo]

I’m in Germany (Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg) next month, traveling solo, and have some free time for photography related sites.
By sites I mean, major shops and markets (new, used, film-focused), museums, galleries, current and historic factories, maybe sites of famous photographs, photographer’s homes/studios.
How about some DIY photo walks or guided tours?
Anything except shops that only sell the latest electronic cameras and gadgets. (We all have those at home.)
Of course Leica-Welt is the Disneyland of German photography but I don’t own one, can’t afford one, and don’t have the time (it’s out of my way).
Any site in Germany is OK to add to the thread.
So far I’ve only looked at Berlin and found: Fotoimpex store, Museum of Photography, C/O Museum.
Your suggestions?

 

[maigo]

Found a good summary here:
The Berlin Photography Guide: The Best Photo Spots in Berlin

 

[Photar]

There is a well-known photo dealer (Foto Lambertin) with a large 2nd hand offering directly next to the famous Cologne cathedral. You can't miss it. I used to go there whenever I visited the Photokina trade show. Those were the days.

In Berlin, I like the Oberbaum bridge. I posted a picture of it on this forum. But there is so much more to see in Berlin, of course. The guide you found is great! In terms of culture (concerts, museums) Berlin is unbeatable.

Since you mentioned factories, there is an Airbus factory at the Elbe in Hamburg. You can see it on your left if you take a ferry to Blankenese (which is very pretty). The former warehouse district of the port of Hamburg ("Speicherstadt") has been beautifully restored. Definitely worth a visit, including the famous Elbphilharmonie concert building. For me, the port is the main attraction of Hamburg. But I like to take pictures of ports anyway.

 

[1936ContaxII]

As for Berlin: The photography exposition in German Technology Museum might also be interesting, as this museum as a whole. I had a stage in there in late 90s, it's a beautiful museum.

Any site in Germany is OK to add to the thread.

You mean sites apart from those three towns also?

• South from Berlin, about 2 hours by train, you'll find the beautiful town Dresden. 120 years ago, Dresden was a world centre of photo industry: Ernemann (where Dr. Erich Salomon's Ermanox camera has been created), Goertz, Zeiss Ikon, Ihagee, Balda and many others. You will also find a photography exhibition in there: Technical Collections. Dresden has a lot of beautiful architecture also and is surrounded by a pleasant landscape!
• South from Berlin also, about 1 hour by train, there is the town Leipzig: You'll find TONS of beautiful historical architecture in there because in the past, Leipzig was one of Germany's richest towns. It's a pleasure to take pictures of those buildings. Leipzig also has got an extraordinary beautiful and juvenile atmosphere, it's a wonderful place to live.
• if you should travel from Hamburg to Berlin by train, be sure to take one of the Czech "Eurocity" trains (instead of German ICE trains) - for you will get much better food on the Czech trains. Sometimes you might even be lucky enough to find one of the 30 year old Czech dining cars which are about to disappear, sadly, during this summer: They are absolutely marvellous. The new "bistro cars" are nice, yes, but the older ones are real quality restaurants on rails, Czech atmosphere, charming waiters etc. Between Berlin and Dresden you'll also find those trains - and: one time per day a Hungarian "Eurocity" train which definitely still has his historical dining car - also 100% recommendable! (German dining cars of 21th century: you can't compare them with those Czech and Hungarian ones. Sorry for the Germans.)
• If you still like to taste German local food, be sure to check out Currywurst and Doener Kebap in Berlin and in Ruhr Area also (this is real German everyday food of today 😎😋 ), Halven Hahn in Cologne. You should also visit a brewery in Cologne - Paeffgen in Friesenstrasse for example or Frueh at Chlodwigplatz is recommendable: the real thing. In Hamburg, you will find tons of pleasant fish restaurants!
• North from Cologne, you will find the Ruhr area where there are some nice historical places to take photos of: Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord, Zeche Zollverein Essen, maybe Schiffshebewerk Henrichenburg and many other elements of this historical industrial area. Unfortunately, towns like Essen, Duisburg, Dortmund, Bochum, like Cologne itself and many others in the West, have been destroyed during WW II and also afterwards during the 50s and 60s - so there are only very very few nice historical buildings left.

 

[maigo]

I found a street photography exhibition of Friedlander/Winogrand/Rodriguez at Museum Ludwig in Cologne.
Ends on Oct 12, which is after my visit. 🙂
Street Photography. Lee Friedlander, Joseph Rodríguez, Garry Winogrand

 

[Perkeo Vaskar]

There's a nice camera shop full of film cameras in Baden-Baden. That's a bit of a hike from Frankfurt, though.

The massive church next to the central train station in Cologne is very impressive. Bring a wide angle lens!