Since last year I partly live in Zlín and because I consider myself as an amateur photographer, I’ve taken a lot of pictures here. From the beginning of this year I pretty much switched from digital to film and started to shoot more frequently in Zlín. After some time I started to realize that there are places where I come back from time to time and which I like more than the others. Now I have places in my head, where I come back so often, that I can call them the best at least in my opinion.
Underpass on Náměstí práce
My all time favorite place to take especially street photos is definitely Underpass on Náměstí práce. I’ve taken some of my best photos there. The underpass at night gives you an almost sci-fi feeling because of the light and geometry. Whole underpass is made of concrete which adds to the futuristic, but also a bit post-communist architecture feeling. Anyways, I like to shoot at this place in a day either. When the sun rises in a specific direction, it gives you beautiful shapes and strikes of light, which you can use either for composition as a shape, or for creating interesting shadows etc.
The place around regional library
This place is really unique, due to my appreciation of it as an amazing place for either street photography, portrait photography and architecture photography. The whole place is huge and full of interesting architectural elements. There are for example modern benches giving me almost sci-fi vibes set in regular shape, which can be used for any creative compositions. There are also a lot of stairs which are often made in a very unusual way. I’ve shot a lot of film there and I definitely will in the future.
Svit
Svit is a part of Zlín, where all of the factories, which were built by Baťa. Even though some of them are still used today, you can freely walk around them and enjoy some grateful pieces of true Zlín architecture. When you walk through the area today, it feels empty, because of the lack of people, so it isn’t a good place for street photography. Well I can not say that about the architecture there, It might be actually one of the best in the whole city! Even in this place I lost a few rolls of film. Look at it.
McDonalds on Náměstí míru
Okay hear me out! I know most of you did not expect McDonalds here, but this weekend I might shoot some of my best street pics ever. If you’re like me, not quite a social person aka you’re afraid to go closer to the person you’re shooting, this place is like a miracle for you. My secret trick is that I’ll always sit right next to the window directed to the bus stop. There are always loads of people walking just a few stops from the window. You can just sit, enjoy your Big mack and shoot some of your best images. My favorite condition to shoot is while it’s raining. You can just take some incredible details through the wet window or try something even more abstract with the drops.
Bus stops
I already mentioned the bus stop on Náměstí míru, but there are a bunch of others, where people are always gathering and which are really interesting to capture. My favorite might be bus stops at Náměstí práce, which are connected with the underpass I already talked about. I also recommend bus stop called Školní, where is especially during the school a lot of students. Bus stops are good when you’re shooting street and want some kind of warm up, because there is always someone waiting, so you have time to shoot.
Written by Ondřej Šíma