I’ve been a Canon shooter since around 2008 — from the 40D to the 5D Mark IV and plenty of lenses in between. But in early 2023, I stepped into the Fujifilm world. I tested a few bodies and lenses, bought a couple, and recently picked up a 13-year-old Fujifilm X-Pro1 from mpb.com. I wanted to share a few images taken with this classic camera.
These shots are edited a bit differently than my usual style. I bought a bunch of Lightroom presets from FUTC and added my own finishing touches on this one which is Analog Summer FREE (I’ll test other ones soon).
I’ll be posting more photos taken with my “new old” camera soon, in the following posts.
All images here were captured on November 15th, 2025, while walking through the streets of Zagreb.
On Monday, November 17, around 11 p.m., a fire broke out in the Vjesnik skyscraper. It quickly spread toward the top of the building, affecting several floors and the roof. Many firefighters and vehicles were involved in the operation, and the cause of the fire is still unknown.
The Vjesnik skyscraper, also known as the Chocolate Tower because of its reflective orange-brown glass, was built in 1972 and is now one of Zagreb’s best-known landmarks. It stands at one of the city’s busiest intersections, and its design was inspired by New York’s Lever House.
These images were taken with the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 and edited with FUTC Lightroom presets. If you want to check much more photos with my usual “normal” edit, you can find those on fotografijezagreba.hr.
On a crisp February morning, I walked through Zagreb’s Upper Town and stopped at one of its most recognizable landmarks – Lotrščak Tower. The clear blue sky made the tower’s pale stone walls stand out even more, and the angled view from below highlighted its imposing presence.
This photo shows the medieval fortification that once guarded the southern gate of Gradec. Built in the 13th century, the tower is best known today for its cannon, which still fires every day at noon. Standing there with my camera, I thought about how this ritual has become a part of the city’s identity – a daily sound that locals expect and visitors remember.
If you are exploring Zagreb, make sure to include a stop at Lotrščak Tower. Beyond the photo opportunities, it offers a glimpse into the city’s layered past and one of the best viewpoints over the rooftops of the Lower Town.
Back in 2022, I started a project with the goal of photographing every street, square, and park in Zagreb. I’ve been photographing Zagreb for over 15 years, and I needed a new challenge. At that time, I had several ongoing projects – some still active – but Mapping Zagreb was in a different league. I knew this project would last for years, but it was exciting knowing I was gradually gathering photos of the entire city.
Status of the project in October 2025
In the same post from 2024, I wrote: “When I was younger (much younger), I used to play computer games, and one of my favorite genres were strategy games – specifically, I LOVED Age of Empires. You might be wondering, what does that have to do with this project? Well, in Age of Empires, you’d develop your skills, care for your village/town/kingdom, and slowly expand across the map. When I open my Google Maps, where I mark the parts of the city I’ve photographed, it feels like I’m conquering the map just as I once did in Age of Empires. The biggest difference is my weapon – I use only my camera.” If you check the screenshot above, you’ll know why does this feels the same as conquering the map in AOE.
Zagreb is divided into city quarters (gradska četvrt), which are further divided into local committees (mjesni odbor). Below is a list of the top 10 most photographed city quarters:
Well, now there are two ways to explore the photos from the Mapping of Zagreb project. The first one is through the Arhivio system, which you can see by clicking here. Arhivio is a content management tool that I created by myself. The idea is to search photos using keywords you enter or suggested keywords in the menu. But that’s kind of old news because I built it over a year ago – still useful, though.
The new feature is built on the OpenStreetMap foundation. I’ve always wanted to build something like that — where you can scroll around the map and explore Zagreb in a more interactive way.
The problem was that it would took too long to enter a large amount of data (name of the street, geo location of the street, image of the street and the link to the archive – all of that for every street on the map), but with the help of some scripts and AI tools, I managed to build an app that does that for me after every photoshoot for this project. To make a long story short, I’ve built an app that helps me organize photos after each photoshoot, as well as update both Arhivio Mapping of Zagreb and OpenStreetMap Mapping of Zagreb. Mapping of Zagreb x OpenStreetMap is still work in progress, but it is already cool feature.
Explore the new feature – Mapping of Zagreb with OpenStreetMap – here.
I’m mentioning this because the project will be taking a short break. My plan is to continue photographing this project once spring returns— when the city’s colors and atmosphere start to have some life in itself after the winter. Over the next few weeks, Zagreb will be covered in Christmas decorations, and most trees will lose their leaves, which isn’t ideal for this kind of work. Because of that, the project will stay on pause until spring. There’s still a slight chance I’ll photograph one or two more local committees by the end of 2025, but that’s uncertain for now.
As always, feel free to check out fotografijezagreba.hr, where you’ll find all these photos and over 110,000 other photos of Zagreb.
Strolling through the vibrant streets of Zagreb, I constantly find stories hidden in every corner. On a cloudy Saturday, March 15th, 2025, I set out to capture the unique rhythm of Ilica Street—a place where modern life meets history in a compelling dance of contrasts.
The photograph showcases a busy street alive with movement: a classic tram emerges from the urban hustle, while a formidable military skyscraper on Selska Street looms in the background. The interplay between the historic architecture and the dynamic flow of city life creates a captivating visual narrative. The muted, overcast sky adds depth and mood, emphasizing the timeless charm and gritty realism that define this urban landscape.
Every shot I take is a dialogue with the city—a conversation between light and shadow, past and present. This image, in particular, reflects my fascination with how historical landmarks continue to influence and define modern urban spaces. As I watched the tram glide past the towering structure, I felt a profound connection to Zagreb’s layered history and the ever-evolving story of its streets. This moment encapsulates the beauty of everyday life: a blend of organized chaos, architectural splendor, and the relentless pulse of a city that never sleeps.
Discover more of these captivating moments by visiting my full gallery. Let the stories of Zagreb’s streets inspire your own journey through history and modernity.
In late 2024, I began creating my own content management tool named Arhivio. The goal was to develop a system similar to Photoshelter, which I’ve been using for Fotografije Zagreba since 2018 and for Croatia Captured since September 2023, to store images. Arhivio is still in its early stages, but there are some versions available for review. For instance, all 12,000+ photos from the Croatia Captured project have been incorporated into Arhivio Croatia Captured. However, as Fotografije Zagreba’s archive contains over 100,000 images, there is more work to be done. When the photo count exceeds 10,000, the search function (keyword entry) becomes somewhat slow, so I’m in a process of searching for a solution. Furthermore, Photoshelter offers numerous features that surpass my current development skills and experience, so the intention is not to replace Photoshelter, but rather to explore what I can create for my photo collections.
Croatia Captured
This is how it looks like when you’re browsing photos:
You can also have your own list of keywords (locations, topics, whatever you want) to make searching more user friendly
Keywords list
In the Spring of 2025, I utilized AI tools to create Python scripts that automate the construction of new Arhivio subjects, leading to the establishment of Arhivio for multiple projects under Fotografije Zagreba.
The first one was for the largest project within Fotografije Zagreba – Mapping of Zagreb. The idea behind that project is to take photos of every street, square, and park in Zagreb. The project currently has more than 10,000 photos, and you can read more about it here. There’s also a link to the Arhivio Mapping of Zagreb there, so check it out.
Currently, I’m using Arhivio only for learning and development, but I hope that by the end of 2025, I’ll achieve a couple of goals I have for it, which are mostly based on useful tools that would be built within the Arhivio content management tool.
The Spring Oldtimer Show in Zagreb offered a rare opportunity to see some of the finest classic cars ever made up close. Walking through the carefully arranged displays, I found myself drawn to three exceptional vehicles: two Jaguar E-Types and an Aston Martin DB4. Both brands have a legendary status in the automotive world, and standing next to these pristine examples was like stepping into a different era.
Photographed on April 24th, 2025, these images capture the spirit of automotive craftsmanship at its finest. The polished black Jaguar E-Types showcased their timeless curves, signature oval grilles, and wire-spoke wheels that have become iconic design elements. The close-up shots of headlights, badges, and fine details highlight the precise, hand-built quality of these vehicles. Nearby, the Aston Martin DB4 stood proudly, its robust stance and distinctive grille reminding everyone why it’s one of Britain’s most admired grand tourers.
As a photographer, these cars offered an endless source of inspiration. Every reflection in the paintwork, every emblem, every shadow played a part in telling the story. I focused not only on full car shots but also on the finer details that often go unnoticed. Capturing the spirit of these machines meant paying attention to both the grand design and the subtle touches that reveal the craftsmanship behind them.
The Jaguar E-Type, famously called “the most beautiful car ever made” by Enzo Ferrari, made its debut in 1961. Its blend of sleek aerodynamics and pure performance changed the world of sports cars forever. Meanwhile, the Aston Martin DB4, introduced in the late 1950s, set the foundation for the even more famous DB5. These cars represent a time when style, innovation, and speed combined effortlessly — a time that continues to inspire both car lovers and creatives today.
Zagreb, Croatia, June 22nd, 2024: Evening scene on Ilica Street featuring blue trams, bustling pedestrians, and historic buildings under warm lighting in Zagreb.
Here’s another gallery of photos I took a while ago – more precisely, at the beginning of February 2025. It was just a random walk around the city center, with a few specific locations I wanted to photograph. These images are the result of all the in-between moments captured along the way.
Some of the featured locations include Radićeva Street – one of my go-to spots for great photos – the historic Upper Town, Marko Marulić Square (often considered one of the most beautiful squares in Zagreb), King Tomislav Square, and one of my favorite buildings in the city, the iconic Lotrščak Tower.
The arrival of spring in Zagreb was once again marked by the Festival of Lights, a unique event that blended art, design, architecture, and technology into an unforgettable visual spectacle. From March 19 to 23, the streets, squares, parks, and promenades of the Lower and Upper Town transformed into a grand stage filled with light installations, impressive projections, and interactive art pieces. This festival was not only an opportunity to enjoy the magic of light but also an invitation to celebrate the arrival of longer and warmer days together.
Visitors experienced innovative light projects created by local and international artists, who pushed the boundaries of visual experiences once again. The Festival of Lights Zagreb has become an essential part of the city’s cultural scene, attracting thousands of people eager to see the urban space in a completely new light. This year’s event delivered a fusion of visual and performing arts with modern technology, creating an emotional and inspiring experience that celebrated a new beginning—spring!
