April 14: Update.
Posted by knut skjærven on April 14, 2008
Let me do an update on the most important issues.
Today is April 14, 2008 and there are 2 months and 7 days till some of us meet in Berlin. You should start preparing your camera now, if you have not already done that. Go for fresh batteries, and clean the lenses for dust:-).
Hotel Booking
Motel One at K-damm had 10 rooms reserved for us at a special price. In this very moment 9 of these rooms has been booked by participants. In other words, and as far as I know, there is 1 room left to go if you want to stay at this particular hotel. You need to take direct contact to the hotel by email or by phone. Online booking will not do since the hotel is already full.
If you can’t get a room there YOU need to book at another hotel in the area. Or where you want to stay.
Films and Film Processing
There is a nearby shop where you can buy films et cetera, and have your films processed. The shop is just around the corner from Motel One (10 minute walk). It is special up-scale dealer, and they have professional films in stock, but please remember that you will most likely arrive in Berlin June 21, and that is a Saturday. The shop closes at 06.00 p.m.
NB: You will not get professional films like Provia in normal film outlets. You will need to go to special shops like this one. The name of the shop is Wüstefeld. If you have special requirements, or simple want to make sure that they have the films that you need, you should call or email them in advance (Not me. The shop).
Should I bring Prints?
That is entirely up to you. If you want to show your prints, maybe have someone comment upon them, you should certainly bring prints. I am sure many will. If you bring enough prints, you may be in for a print exchange. A print exchange will not be formally arranged.
The Book
Will there be a book? If that is what we agree on there will be a book, but there will not be a book during the 4 days that we are in Berlin.
If we agree on a book there are plenty of ways to make one. Using a book template is one of them. For more information please go here for the present status.
We need to make the book after our session in Berlin.
Dinners
Question: You have planned 4 dinners. Are we really going to have 4 dinners all of us together? 
Answer: The 4 dinners are an option, and therefore not necessarily what it going to happen. I suggest we go for 2 dinners where we everybody should join, and then play the two other days by the ear. There will a final update on this on this page.
Dress Code
I have had a question about dress code. Will there be one for, for instance, the dinners. The answer is: If you want to bring your black tie, please do. However, everything, in The G Summit is intended CASUAL. So my advice is be casual :-). And wear casual.
When in Berlin
Who will arrange things for me when I come to Berlin? No one will. As most of us stay at the same hotel there will be plenty of opportunity to co-ordinate things during the stay.
Cheers
Knut
April 16, 2008 at 11:50 am
Film:
yes, Knut, you are very correct concerning arranging film ahead of arrivals in Berlin. My personal experience concerning finding just the “right” and “familiar” film when traveling through Germany has been–”be prepared to improvise.”
Most of the seasoned travelers know that marketing products by culture dictates selling goods under different names in particular places. For the professional photographers amongst us [not me
] the axiom likey always had been: “I want to shoot Film XXX so I had best bring Film XXx” in ample quanity.
Folk traveling from the U.S. of A or South America ought to bring plenty of their favorite film simply to avoid price sticker shock.
Sample of online prices in Germany: Quantity (1) Fujifilm Provia 100 F 135-36 Euro 5.70 - 7.70 . That is about USD 9.40 to 12.70. at today’s exchange rate of 1.65 dollars to one Euro dollar.
Buy the same product in advance at B & H Photo (example only, not a sponsor) and the cost is $4.89 cent on the low end of the price scale.
Jerome