More Than Photos: The Legacy of Imre Benkő

Imre Benkő (1943–2025) was one of the most important Hungarian documentary photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Through his lens, he captured the everyday life of a changing Hungary the streets, factories, people, and the quiet beauty hidden in ordinary moments.

In this video, I want to pay tribute to his life and work.
From his early days as a photojournalist in the 1960s to his award-winning long-term projects like Steel City, Grey Lights, and Sziget Festival/Faces, Benkő’s photographs are more than just images they are stories about humanity, humility, and the passage of time.

His calm, respectful way of seeing the world has deeply influenced how I think about photography. And even though he is no longer with us, his legacy remains in the photographs he left behind and in the way we look at the world today.

Photo Credits & Copyright Notice:

All photographs shown in this video are the work and intellectual property of the photographers listed below. They are used here solely for educational and documentary purposes to present an honour for work and legacy.
Imre Benkő – © All rights reserved
Zsófi Pályi – © All rights reserved
Tamás Urbán – © All rights reserved
Gyula Czimbal / MTI – © All rights reserved

Music: My Uncles Last Voyage by Maarten Schellekens