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Gifts for Everyone
Budapest, Hungary
2011

A woman surveying the fare at the local gift shop on Váci utca, the pedestrianized main tourist street in Budapest. She was either over-dressed for the weather in her trench-length down coat (it was chilly, but not that chilly), or running around the streets in her housecoat, I couldn’t quite tell. I had no interest in shopping at the tourist traps but appreciated them nonetheless because they posted all their signage in English, so I actually felt literate for a change.

Just Not Into It
Szetendre, Hungary
2011

The world’s most bored accordion player performing at a restaurant where we were eating. He may not have been into playing that day, but was doing a pretty good job nonetheless.

Look at Yourself
Budapest, Hungary
2011

This guy had a more than passing resemblance to the guy in the advertisement he was looking at. I wonder if he noticed the resemblance as well (or maybe it is him).

Pears #2
Eger, Hungary
2011

A different collection of pears, this time from a market in Eger, Hungary where we went by train on a day trip.

Pears #1
Budapest, Hungary
2011

There are five old-fashioned market halls in Budapest with stall after stall of fresh fruits and vegetables that are very photogenic (if the number of tourist photographers like myself is any indication). For some reason the pears attracted me more than anything else.

The Loner #5
Budapest, Hungary
2011

Out for an evening stroll.

The Loner #4
Budapest, Hungary
2011

A walker on a sidewalk leading from the castle in Buda down into an adjacent residential area.

The Loner #3
Budapest, Hungary
2011

When I first saw this guy, he was standing under a tree in the deep shadows. He stood still for so long that I thought he was a statue. Just as I was starting to walk over and take a look at the “statue,” he shuffled off down the street.

The Loner #2
Budapest, Hungary
2011

A lone pedestrian on the Erzsébet híd (Elizabeth bridge) across the Danube. The bridge is a bit of a loner in itself–a very modern design in a decidedly Baroque neighborhood.

The Loner #1
Budapest, Hungary
2011

In reviewing my photos of people from Budapest, I was struck by how many shots show people who are or seem to be quite alone. Often the individuals are truly physically isolated from other people, but I’m equally struck by the images showing people in close proximity of others (sometimes quite close) yet convey the old idea of being alone in a crowd. Over the next few days I’ll most some more photos relating to this theme.