Helmut Newton Budapest
My favorite photographer, Helmut Newton. His work was unique, creative, original, as well as often erotic and termed “Porno Chic”. April 2013, I arrived in Budapest to be the special stills photographer on a motion picture.
As the studio car drove me from the airport through Heroes Square to my hotel, we passed the Museum Of Fine Arts. I said to myself, my first day off, I would go see this Helmut Newton Exhibit. Indeed I did! It was a huge exhibit including some of his more commercial fashion work in color. Huge prints in beautiful color it was. A great start for what was seven weeks for me in Budapest.
Train Station Budapest
A train station in Budapest I photographed on one of my days off from shooting on a motion picture for seven weeks.
A Favorite In Budapest
An all time favorite photo, accidentally had to be a selfie somewhat. I wanted to photograph and remember this photograph in the window of the then X6 Photo Gallery in Budapest. I love the original photo because of the scene, the car and the woman. My photo took in the photo, the reflection of the streets around the gallery and me. So many facets to this photo that just happened.
Me – Street Photographer?
Never Got In The Way
I was just watching “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” on Friday thinking how amazing it was that I was the still photographer on one of his movies not that long ago. His last movie as it turns out, “Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks”. Then yesterday I read the news of the passing of Vilmos Zsigmond, one of the greatest cinematographers of all time.
Vilmos won an Oscar for Close Encounters and was nominated for “The Deer Hunter”, “The River” and “The Black Dahlia”. However you have seen his work in so much more such as “Deliverance”, “Blow Out”, “The Long Goodbye” and “McCabe and Mrs. Miller”.
During the seven weeks on set with Vilmos, I was astounded by his unending energy and drive. He was there before I showed up and was there after I left. And I was on set pretty much longer than anyone. Vilmos had an ease of professionalism and confidence that was so very apparent.
Throughout, more people asked for his autograph than anyone else. At our wrap party, after what was another long day ending at maybe midnight, Vilmos paid me what I was told was about the best compliment ever from him. He said “You can work on my sets anytime, you never got in the way”. Made me laugh then, makes me laugh now. Thanks Vilmos!
Camera in place for shooting in the ballroom on “Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks”
That Feel Good, Do Good Season
A feel good, do good movie that especially makes me feel good because I worked on it for 7 weeks as the stills photographer. The movie is set in Florida but was almost entirely shot in Budapest. That was also especially fun. Combined with a heartwarming story, laughter filled time and great music. Topped off with my photographs being used behind the end credits, the publicity photographs in publications around the country and the movie poster. It’s all good! And available on iTunes and Amazon. Yup, Very Fun!
My Own Selfie
My own Selfie. Myself and the city of Budapest captured with the photograph displayed in the window of the X6 Photo Edition Gallery in Budapest.
SecondFocus Blog 