©Bjørn Joachimsen.
Orłowo. Gdynia. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
Pomorze!
After a series of trips to Gdańsk since autumn 2017, I began to develop a growing interest in the region where this beautiful and exciting city is located: Pomerania. Over the past few months, I have embarked on several journeys to the areas west, south, and east of Gdańsk. Here, I have discovered fascinating coastal towns with vibrant fishing cultures, beautiful forests, and stunning sandy beaches. I have approached the region with my diverse interest in photography and have endeavoured to depict human interaction and the landscapes in which these people live.
The photographs were taken in Krynica Morska, Kąty Rybackie, Stogi, Łapalice, Hel, Orłowo, Łeba, and numerous other locations in Pomerania.
Read More
Pałac w Bożkowie. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
The Palace in Bożków: A Historical Treasure in Decline
The Palace in Bożków, also known as Bożków Castle, is a striking historical edifice located in the Lower Silesia Province of Poland. Built in the 16th century by Count von Magnis, this magnificent structure holds a rich history intertwined with nobility, architectural grandeur, and a series of unfortunate declines. Today, it stands as a fragile relic of its former glory, beckoning for attention and restoration.
Read More
Szpital Zakonu Kawalerów Maltańskich w Mokrzeszowie. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
The Historic Hospital in Mokrzeszów: Echoes of a Troubling Past
In the heart of Lower Silesia lies the former Maltese hospital in Mokrzeszów (Szpital Zakonu Kawalerów Maltańskich w Mokrzeszowie), an architectural gem that tells a tale of elegance and darkness. Constructed in the late 19th century, this neo-Gothic clinker brick building has served numerous roles throughout its tumultuous history. As discussions surrounding its potential sale grow, the historical significance of this site—along with the haunting stories it is said to contain—continues to captivate both locals and visitors alike.
Read More
Słowiński National Park (Słowiński Park Narodowy) in Poland. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
Breathtaking Dunes in Słowiński National Park
Słowiński National Park (Słowiński Park Narodowy) in Poland is famous for its breathtaking landscapes, which include dynamic sand dunes, coastal lakes, marshes, and forests. The moving dunes stand out as one of the largest shifting sand areas in Europe.
Read More
Opactwo Benedyktynów w Tyńcu. Polska. The Benedictine abbey in Tyniec. Poland. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
The Benedictine abbey in Tyniec
The exact founding date of the Benedictine abbey in Tyniec remains unknown. There is speculation that King Casimir the Restorer may have re-established the Abbey in 1040 as part of his efforts to reconstruct the Kingdom of Poland following a Pagan rebellion and a disastrous raid by Duke Bretislaus I in 1039.
Read More
Storwartz at Røros. Norway. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
Røros & Helvete Analogue Photography Workshop 2025
UNESCO World Heritage Site Røros, cloaked in its finest winter splendour, is a photographer’s dream. The old mining town, the landscape, and old industrial facilities offer exciting and varied photographic opportunities. At the river gorge Helvete, in Espedalen, you will encounter the largest glacial potholes (giant's kettles) in Northern Europe, adorned with icicles and other fascinating ice formations. During a seven-day photo workshop, you will have the opportunity to soak up what Røros and Helvete have to offer – and to develop your skills in analogue photography with a group of like-minded people. [Røros and Espedalen January 27 – February 2, 2025]
Read More
Nes medieval church ruin at Ullershov (Norway) revisited
Nes church ruins, dating back to around 1100, were destroyed in a fire in 1854. Situated at the headland where Glomma and Vorma converge, the church was not reconstructed due to the risk of landslides. Instead, a new Nes church was constructed a few kilometers away.
Read More
Nyksund. Vesterålen. Norway. @Bjørn Joachimsen
Nyksund in Vesterålen - a decayed and abandoned ghost town that got new life
Few of the coastal fishing villages are as surrounded by myths as Nyksund. The proximity to the fishing grounds and good harbor conditions made the place an attractive fishing village for traveling fishermen from the Norwegian coast. Later, Nyksund was completely abandoned.
Read More
Pentax 645N was the world's first medium format camera with an autofocus system. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
Pentax cameras – a long history of innovations that changed and still change the camera industry
Even though many today perceive Pentax as a niche player in the camera industry, many of the most important innovations in camera history have carried this brand name - Pentax. And the innovation continues – with an upcoming analog camera for new generations of photographers who like to shoot with film instead of memory cards!
Read More
Zamek Bolków. ©Bjørn Joachimsen
Abandoned castles and palaces in Poland
Poland is an amazing country in many respects. The largest country in Central Europe has a proud history and a cultural heritage that most European countries would envy. Despite losing most of its cultural heritage during WW2 due to attacks from both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, Poland still has about 500 castles and 2500 palaces left. Many of these are abandoned and some are ruins. Today, some of this buildings are carefully restored to their former glory and beauty.
Read More
Stocznia Gdańska – the shipyard where the breakdown of communist Europe started
Stocznia Gdańska (also known as Stocznia Cesarska and the Lenin Yard) was the scene of one of the most important political movements and some of the most significant events of the 20th century. Under Lech Wałęsa's leadership, the Solidarność trade union became a powerful force that was, in many ways, the beginning to the end of communist Europe.
Read More
Nowa Huta. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
Nowa Huta – a communist Utopia
Nowa Huta (“The new steel mill”) was an attempt to build a city from the ground, based on communistic principles and industrialization. The city was built next to Kraków in the Małopolskie region in Poland from 1949. Nowa Huta is one of the largest planned socialist districts ever built and one of the most renowned examples of deliberate social engineering in the entire world.
Read More
Płaszów Concentration Camp
On the former Old Cemetery of the Podgórze Jewish Community SS of the Nazi Germany established one of its largest concentration camps in. They destroyed the cemetery completely in the Podgórze suburb in southern Kraków.
Read More
Láhko National Park. Norway. Photographed on Ilford HP5+ 8x10 sheet film with a Gibellini GP810 camera. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
New images from Láhko National Park (Norway)
After a full week of intensive work with my Gibellini GP810 8x10 inch camera in Nordland this summer, I have extended my collection of images from this beautiful area. Láhko NP is one of the larges areas of alpine karst in Europe and provides countless of photographic opportunities.
Click here to view the entire collection.
The equipent in use for my 2023 trip to Láhko was:
Gibellini GP810 8x10 camera
Nikkor SW 1:8/150mm
Rodenstock Apo Sironar N 1:5.6/240mm
Nikkor M 1:9/300mm
Nikkor M 1:9/450mm
Sekonic L758DR light meter
Sirui Sirui R-4214 tripod with a K40ii ball head
Láhko National Park. Norway. Gibellini GP810 8x10 camera. Nikkor SW 1:8/150mm. Ilford HP5+ 8x10. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
Kentmere Pan 400 – high quality black & white film at a low cost
As film prices are rising in all countries and from all manufacturers, both amateaur and professionals are trying to source cheaper products. However low priced products do not always yield satisfactory quality. In this article I give some views and show some examples on the use of Kentmere Pan 400.
Read More
Gran Canaria. Kodak Gold 200/120. Mamiya 6MF. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
Kodak Gold 200 – a high quality color film with a vintage look
Having used Kodak Gold 200 in my 35mm cameras for many years, it was a great pleasure for me that this film became available again in 120 format. This allowed me to use my medium format cameras to shoot with this beautiful classic from Kodak.
Read More
Ilford XP2 Super 400 – an attractive alternative in black/white film
How many different black and white films does the world really need? In reality, many of the products are very similar - or indeed identical (due to so-called "rebranding«). Ilford XP2 Super 400 is a film type that is the only one (remaining) in its class. This is because it is a black and white film that is actually based on color technology. A color film that is completely color blind - and therefore a black and white film. If this seems confusing, let me clarify a bit.
Read MoreA closer look at Vardø in Finnmark, Norway.
In 2019, 2021 and 2022 I had the opportunity to visit Vardø, which is a community at the extreme northeast of Norway.
I brought my Mamiya 6MF and Fuji GSW 680iii cameras and a bunch of Ilford black & white films for the trips.
From Bleik at Andøya. Norway. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
Andøya (Norway)
After more than 10 years and countless trips, I am pleased to present a collection of photos from Andøya in Vesterålen, Norway.
(All photographs are created with medium and large format cameras loaded with black and white film from Kodak and Ilford.)
Click to view the entire collection:
Bukkekjerka at Andøya. Norway. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.