Mr. Bojangles
Budapest, Hungary
2011

I didn’t see this guy dance a lick but he and his dog brought the song Mr. Bojangles to mind. Jerry Jeff Walker wrote the song and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had the most popular recording of it, but my favorite version is by David Bromberg. Most of the song versions don’t mention the name of the dog but I believe it is Teddy. Here’s to Josie, Buddha and all the other Teddys out there.

Legs #2
Budapest, Hungary
2o11

Another rest stop from walking (this time on the steps of the Museum of Fine Arts) and another photo of legs–some tired and some not.

Legs #1
Budapest, Hungary
2011

A couple of young ladies taking a break on a park bench. I was doing the same thing on another bench on the opposite side of the tree. I’d been walking for some time and my feet were sore, which may explain the subject choice.

The Girl Next Door
Budapest, Hungary
2011

A young woman at the door to our apartment building on the right, and another at the door to the beauty shop on the left.

See No Evil
Budapest, Hungary
2011

These three guys were very quick to cover their faces when they saw me raise my camera towards them. I found that interesting because most street people don’t seem to care whether you photograph them or not–especially if you put a coin or two in their cup. While these guys didn’t like my attention they seem fine with having the nice lady in the poster looking down on them from above.

Lizbeth
Budapest, Hungary
2011

Living out in the hinterlands like I do, I’m not up on all the current urban fashion trends. I’ve seen a lot of piercings, chains, etc. on women and men but I believe this is the first woman (excluding those in cop uniforms) I’ve seen carrying handcuffs as a fashion accessory. Interestingly, this young woman didn’t seem to be otherwise unusually adorned. They give her kind of a dangerous, bad girl look–which was the inspiration for the title (which will test how up you are on current literature and cinema).

Fat Mo’s
Budapest, Hungary
2011

Four young men headed for an evening of fun at Fat Mo’s Music Club and Speakeasy.

Things I Wouldn’t Want on My Tombstone #2
Budapest, Hungary
2011

I don’t know what message the artist intended with this statue, but the symbolic possibilities (none of them pleasant as far as I could come up with) are mind-boggling.

Things I Wouldn’t Want on My Tombstone
Budapest, Hungary
2011

I like touring old cemeteries to view the statuary and reflect on the history they represent. The Kerepesi Cemetery in Budapest was one of the most unusual cemeteries I’ve been to in the sense that it contains some really unusual tombstones. The title of this image is really theoretical in my case since I’m headed to the crematorium when I go. But really, I don’t see how statues like this could be comforting to anyone at a time of mourning. Of course I suppose comfort probably wasn’t the point.

Don’t Look at Me
Budapest, Hungary
2011

Candid street shots are only truly candid if the subject doesn’t notice you. This guy happened to turn and look at me sitting on the next bench just as I was taking the photo of him (and his wife window shopping in the background). When this happens I’m always afraid someone is going to take offense, but this he seemed more bemused than anything. In fact, although not truly candid since he noticed me, I think his curious look makes the photo more interesting than if he had not looked over at me.