Budapest has produced some of the best-known photographers in the world, famous for their stunning pictures of our magnificent city.
Krisztián Bódis began his career as a structural engineer, with photography as a hobby. After his evening and night pictures of Budapest became popular on Facebook, he was hired for more and different shootings, and over time his hobby became his profession. His primary focus is on the city (i.e., Budapest), plus event and architectural photography. In 2016 he founded Budapest Images, the largest photo database in town. His purpose is to show not only the city’s most well-known sights, but also Budapest’s hidden faces.
Tamás Rizsavi is a daredevil train-driver-turned-photographer. His passion for photography led him to start climbing buildings and monuments in 2008 to take pictures of the trains he worked on. After realising that the nose-bleeding heights would actually allow him to capture the ultimate shots of his home city, he completely changed his photographic concept. Tamás has told interviewers that the most hazardous structure he has climbed is the 1,030ft Lakihegyi tower. He loves taking photos in this manner, and thus is not afraid of climbing to such heights. Despite risking his life day by day, the 24-year-old claims the ‘worst he has suffered’ is being stung by a bee.
Veronika Mag’s all-consuming photography passion is taking after-hours pictures of Budapest’s streets. She creates her work with an artistic eye by absorbing the colors of the city when night falls. Veronika always tries to capture a given moment; for her, the perfect picture is when the image she spies reflects the appropriate mood and fosters the appropriate feelings in her viewers. Budapest’s most atmospheric representations of the city capture the vividness of colors, landscapes and the unique positions of human relationships.
Miklós Mayer’s interest in photography comes from his childhood fascination with astronomy. He progressed from optics to photography and then attended a portrait photography course taught by the famous Márton Szipál, which had a huge impact on him; it stills determines how he sees things and how he uses light. He has also become well-known for taking pictures of international salsa-dancing events, but still enjoys photographing local weddings. Miklós’s present-day focus has shifted to time-lapse photography of subjects in the natural world; in fact, his video “Budapest Under the Fog,” was featured in the Hungarian media during 2013.
Géza Talabér has earned his fame as an alternative underground photographer of Budapest’s inner-city lifestyle. He started taking pictures as a hobby, which soon turned into a full-time occupation. Géza prefers black-and-white photography representing what he calls the “tougher line,” which he believes has many advantages over color. He enjoys working with people and he absolutely loves the atmosphere in the city. In addition, he says he feels a strong inner urge to “do good” in his depictions of Budapest’s citizens and their city. Many of his photographs can be seen around Madách tér.
Photos: Ben Eekhof, Krisztián Bódis, Tamás Rizsavi, Veronika Mag, Miklós Mayer, Géza Talabér