Traveling Hungarian Press Photo Exhibition now on display in Szeged

News

Nov 15

A traveling exhibition of award-winning Hungarian press photographs officially opened Friday on Klauzál Square, where it has been on display since Nov. 5.

The outdoor exhibition presents selected works from the 43rd Hungarian Press Photo Contest, which received submissions from nearly 300 photographers and more than 7,000 images. Winners were announced in May, and the curated selection has since toured multiple cities, according to a report by the local news outlet szeged.hu.

Local organizers — the Szent-Györgyi Albert Rotary Club and the Szeged Events and Media Center — said the exhibition aims to give audiences an unfiltered view of current events and everyday life. Rotary president Sándor Körmendi and center director Erika Kolonics formally opened the display.

Kolonics noted that photographs often provide essential context or information that text alone cannot fully convey. Körmendi said the exhibition aligns with the Rotary Club’s emphasis on public service and dialogue.

During an informal walk-through, curator and contest judge András Bánkúti discussed the work behind several of the images. He noted that sports photographer Tibor Illyés began learning fencing to better understand and document the sport. The exhibition covers a broad array of subjects, from personal battles with illness and life inside a Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camp to scenes from marginalized communities, as well as sports, nature, and environmental themes.

Several press photos also capture prominent public figures. One widely noted image shows Prime Minister Viktor Orbán telling a joke to party colleagues in Parliament — a moment photographed by several journalists, resulting in multiple submissions. Another included work is a photograph of opposition figure Péter Magyar, created using a special technique and displayed as part of a series.

Along with the awarded photos, special mentions are also among the exhibited works, including the photo of Szeged-based press photographer Yvette Frank.

Bánkúti noted that press photography has become even more valuable over the past decade and a half, as the current media landscape has restricted many outlets and reduced coverage of life outside major cities. He said the exhibition offers viewers “reality,” without retouching or embellishment.

The exhibition will remain on display in Szeged’s city center until shortly before Christmas, organizers said.