Travel & Humanitarian Photos
My photographer’s guide to Budapest hits the shops this week in the current edition of the ever-popular Digital Photographer magazine.
The article includes tips on photographing Budapest from Castle Hill and also from the Citadella, which is surely one of the most photogenic spots in any European capital.
One of the interesting things I’ve noticed about writing these location guides is how it’s like an extended memory exercise. Although I’m currently working in Thailand, I’m thinking back and trying to remember things about Budapest: place names, the name of a bridge or a church, the route a tram took. It’s funny how much comes back when prompted and I guess a lot of that information would gradually fade away if I wasn’t forced to recall it.
One of the best locations for photography in Budapest is the Citadella, a hill perched right beside the Danube that affords views up and down the river. As well as the great views, the Citadella is home to a series of very powerful statues. They were originally made to celebrate the might of the Soviet empire so it’s not surprising that they are powerful and imposing works of art. The inscriptions praising the Soviet Union have long since been replaced with something a little less awkward but the statues remain, dramatic examples of an irresisistible force.
The statue in the first picture is especially compelling. The figure’s powerful stance and the long ‘S’-shape formed by his raised arm and extended leg is, I think, unlike any other statue I’ve seen. The fact that it stands a good 20-25 feet above the ground so that visitors are forced to look up into its terrifying face only increase the sense of power. However, as you can see, if you climb onto the plinth of a nearby statue and stand on tip-toe it is possible to get almost level with the figure to include a few of the city’s rooftops in the bottom of the frame.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the small lookout point another statue is heading off in the direction of the rising sun, providing a good opportunity for a striking silhouette. Can anyone tell me which mythical figures these statues represent? Is the first one Hercules and the second one Apollo?
There is a Statue Park outside Budapest which, sadly, I’ve not had the opportunity to visit. It contains acres of old Soviet statues, removed by the Hungarians and turned, somewhat enterprisingly, into a theme park. It’s definitely on my list for next time.
Gavin,
Congrats on the Budapest piece. We’ve been reading a lot about BKK lately on the BBC and CNN websites. I hope you’re staying safe and still able to move around freely. Maybe an entry on what BKK is like these days?
thanks,
jack