Topic: Any suggestions for Berlin?

[02Pilot]

I'm going to be in Berlin next week. Given my interest in history, I'm already planning on getting to Tempelhof, some section(s) of the Wall, the Olympic stadium, and of course the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, and other stuff in the city center. Any suggestions on other things to see (and photograph) or to avoid (and thus not photograph)?

[Indofunk]

Berlin is amazing. I've only been there twice, and both times in pretty limited parts of the city (around the clubs I was playing at), but even that was plenty for me. The whole area around the East Side Gallery along the Spree is beautifully, decrepitly, colorfully engaging. Color film might be nice, but I'm sure you will do wonders with HP5 as well The neighborhood of Kreutzberg is a bit similar to the village in its Bohemian vibe, and do not ignore the former East German side of the city, it still carries a lot of the Russian Communist influence in its building construction and even its population. Although I'm afraid with the relatively cheaper rents it's more like Bushwick than the old East Berlin. Oh, and Gorlitzer Park is another beautifully run down landmark.

Have fun! What's the purpose of the trip? Is Leonore going too?

[imagesfrugales]

The iconic House of the Cultures (former name: Kongresshalle) could be a rewarding designation:
http://www.berlin.de/en/attractions-and-sights/3560514-3104052-house-of-the-cultures-of-the-world.en.html

The "Alex" is a must in East-Berlin:
http://www.berlin.de/en/attractions-and-sights/3560109-3104052-alexanderplatz.en.html

The most known attractions:
https://www.berlin.de/en/attractions-and-sights/

Legendary jazz club: Quasimodo
https://quasimodo.de/
Hazmat Modine is brilliant.

So much to discover. You will enjoy Berlin.

[cs1]

After Tempelhof, you may want to treat yourself to an authentic culinary experience, a "Currywurst ohne Darm" with some french fries at "Zur Bratpfanne" (https://goo.gl/maps/wQyjk6sjrew). Don't look for a restaurant, it's a little house that mostly sells takeaway. You won't regret it. Also, it's in Steglitz, a part of Berlin which by itself is an interesting place and should offer some opportunity to take photos.

After Stiglitz, you could go to the Potsdamer Platz ("Neue Mitte"). It offers a lot of sights with interesting architecture (Sony Center) and numerous iconic sights of Berlin are around there within walking distance (in a half circle of a ~1.5 km radius spanning from east to north to west). I'm sure you'll enjoy the trip.

[zapsnaps]

The Helmut Newton Foundation. As well as his own work, they have very interesting guest exhibitions there, too.

It's a great city - hope that you have fun

[Aksel]

Many good sugestions here!
I would take the s-bahn, cicular line. Watch out the window and jump off where you see some interesting stuff, it´s really a great way to se the city from a different point of view. Also check out Spreepark if your into abandoned amusementparks 
A nice source: http://www.slowtravelberlin.com

[Blaxton]

I would echo Quasimodo as a very good place to enjoy jazz.  I might add Schlot—with it's deserved reputation of treating musicians well—and A Trane—that features one of the best jam sessions in Berlin—as other good jazz venues.  The most moving and, in its way, beautiful church I visited in Berlin was the Zionskirche.  It's in a great formerly-East-Berlin neighborhood with many excellent coffee bars, including one right across the street from the church.  Finally, I'd recommend any of the numerous street markets all over Berlin.  Some of these are overwhelmingly large (Mauerpark) but all offer great photography possibilities, in gear, in photos and in photo ops.

I look forward to your photos...

[02Pilot]

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. I'm not sure exactly how much free time I'll have, but I'm going to try to squeeze in as much photography as I can in the short time I'm there. I'm planning on minimalist kit: ideally, one Leica with a 50 and HP5+, but I may cave and take a second body with a 28. I suppose I could just take a 35 and split the difference, but I'm more of a natural 50 shooter. Also considering shooting everything at 1600 and pushing for a more contrasty, grainier look. We'll see.

[lharby]

This would be RIGHT up my street:
http://www.stasimuseum.de/en/enindex.htm

Also the Schloss hotel was featured on Richard E Grants series about interesting/luxury Hotels
http://www.schlosshotelberlin.com/

When I went to Berlin as a student, we had an excursion to the Bauhaus in Dessau, but it was quite a trek by coach. Google Maps is saying nearly 2 hours.

[MaxR88]

It's a nice city, I went a few years ago and didn't really take all that many photos but enjoyed it as a place.

If these aren't already on your list, I found the DDR Museum interesting (although it's quite small inside and gets pretty busy even early in the morning) and the Topography of Terror museum is well worth a visit IMO ( http://www.topographie.de/en/ ).

[02Pilot]

Just a heads-up that I've started a photo essay of my Berlin photos. I didn't have a huge amount of time for photography, but I did the best with what I had. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=9277.0