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Budapest Times
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Budapest Times
Finding delight in the ordinary
It seems like an easy thing, to find beauty in everyday life. Yet for many of us, including myself, it requires a conscious effort, particularly when we're fighting the tide of madness and mayhem that is engulfing our world. Each new day is a new news day, bringing with it accounts of something that pushes the boundaries of morality and attempts to erode our sense of goodness. Finding delight in the ordinary is an effort worth making. Finding delight in the ordinary and in doing so making it extraordinary, that's quite something. Enter István Eiter. No matter how bad my humour, how despondent my mood, how hopeless I feel about our collective tomorrow, Eiter's work gives me pause. Each day he publishes a new photo is a good day. For me. Born in Pécs, Eiter first majored in ceramics, then studied woodcarving. Two years of military service prefaced several years working at the town's Bóbita Puppet Theater. As a puppeteer and set designer, he discovered how objects come to life, how they become characters, and heroes of a story. Talking to him in his home in Balatonmagyaród in southwest Hungary, where he lives with his wife, Maya, Eiter embodies the natural bonhomie of a good storyteller. His innate likeability draws the listener in. His quiet certitude adds a layer of assurance that what he has to say is worth listening to. Here's a man who quietly wrings every last moment of joy from life. The couple (his wife is a ceramicist) originally moved to the village when commissioned by a production cooperative to make ceramic stove stiles and unique wooden furniture. They'd sold their apartment in Pécs and when the coop wound down, they decided to stay. Moving his planing bench from room to room as they renovated their village home, Eiter began making signs, sculptures, and furniture. He now works out of the workshop he built on their property. The work came pouring in as news of his abilities spread. He employed other carpenters and students and began to take on more serious work, all of which he documented himself. In photos. While I've a fondness for intricate carvings and practically salivate over photos of some of the woodwork he's done, it's not Eiter's mastery of wood I find restorative, it's what he captures with his camera. As a child, he'd watch his father develop film in the bathroom of the family apartment in Pécs. Enthralled by how the stories slowly appeared on paper, gradually coming into focus, his love of photography blossomed. His property in Balatonmagaryód backs onto the Kis-Balaton, a huge wetland habitat home to more than 250 species of birds and listed as a UNESCO Wetlands of International Importance as Waterfowl Habitat as part of the Ramsar Convention of 1971. [For some sense of how this used to be, watch this wonderful short video by British Pathé from 1930 showing the Kis-Balaton in all its glory.] With Kányavári Sziget literally in his backyard, it didn't take Eiter long to forge a lasting relationship with the inhabitants of the wetlands. He is, you could say, their press photographer, their publicist. It's the early bird that catches the worm, as the idiom goes. So, too, with nature photography. Eiter is up and about when the rest of us are turning over for a second sleep. This is when the light is at its most beautiful. With so many birds and so much wildlife to choose from, you'd think it would be simply a matter of point and click. It isn't. Looking at the photographs Eiter published in May alone, each has a story there. The deer swimming across the lake – they could be going or coming, leaving something behind, or moving towards something new. The Eurasian Hoopoe ( Búbos banka ) on a twig – it might be addressing the nation, singing a song, or saying its prayers. The Cormorant family reunion – or a council of war, a family holiday, a community meeting? Each photo has a story. Many stories. 'A photo is ready in a matter of seconds, but to make a good photo, a good camera is not enough; the circumstances, the subject, and the thought I want to convey are important. The sum of these is what makes a picture really good,' Eiter explains. I savour each image, taking a few minutes to quietly contemplate the magic that is nature, appreciate the patience and artistry behind each shot, and celebrate the joy that comes with finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. Contemplate. Appreciate. Celebrate. It's a lovely way to start my day. 'From the embers, to leave a few sparks as a memory like tiny stars, I would like to do this with my photos and my woodwork,' Eiter says. Job done, I say. Job done. Photo prints can be ordered in the size and materials you need by emailing István Eiter at eiti12enator@ See his work on his Facebook page, and if your Hungarian is up to it, check out this video bio. Better still, get thee out of the city and into the beautiful Hungarian countryside. Visit the Eiters at their weekend café in Balatonmagyaród and see the magic for yourself. Mary Murphy is a freelance writer, copyeditor, blogger, and communications trainer. Read more at | |
The Journal
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
From Bush to Berlusconi and Mugabe to McAleese, the famous faces at John Paul II's 2005 funeral
British Pathé / YouTube TODAY'S FUNERAL OF Pope Francis is likely to be the largest gathering of world leaders and royalty in one place for many years. The Vatican has said at least 130 foreign delegations had confirmed their attendance, this includes around 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs. It's a line-up that will be rarely matched, with the funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 perhaps the only other recent event with such a status. Before that, the funeral of Pope John Paul II on 8 April 2005 is the last time there was such a distinguished congregation. That was reputed at the time to be one of the largest gatherings of heads of state in history, with four kings and five queens in attendance along with at least 70 presidents and prime ministers. Three US presidents were in place for John Paul II's funeral, then President George W Bush was joined by his predecessor Bill Clinton as well as George Bush Snr. Advertisement Bill Clinton shakes hands with then Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi on the eve of Pope John Paul's funeral. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo On this occasion, President Donald Trump is travelling to Rome with his wife Melania, with his predecessor Joe Biden also expected to be in attendance. When such a gathering takes place in front of the world's press, the interactions between the dignitaries is always scrutinised, even 20 years after the fact. Much like today when Ireland will be represented by the President Higgins and his wife Sabina, as well as Taoiseach and Tánaiste , for John Paul II's funeral President Mary McAleese was present alongside her husband Dr Martin McAleese, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Tanaiste Mary Harney and then Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny. Bashar and Asma al-Assad behind Mary and Martin McAleese at the funeral of John Paul II. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo McAleese was seated near to then Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2005, with Assad only last year overthrown after years of brutal dictatorial rule. Assad is now in exile in Russia, with Vladimir Putin's regime one of the few nations that maintained relations with Assad. On the subject of Putin, it was confirmed this week that Russia's little-known culture minister Olga Lyubimova would be attending Pope Francis's funeral on behalf of Russia. There remains an ICC international arrest warrant for Putin for alleged forced deportation of Ukrainian children. However, Putin did not attend John Paul II's funeral either despite having met with the pontiff in Rome in 2003. Pope John Paul II received Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2003. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo In terms of British attendees, it has been confirmed that William, the Prince of Wales, is to attend the funeral of Pope Francis on behalf of his father King Charles III. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scotland's First Minister John Swinney will also be in attendance today. Related Reads Next pope: What the Vatican choreography tells us about the possible outcome of the conclave Over 90,000 people have filed into St Peter's to pay their respects to Pope Francis What happens during a real-world conclave? The protocol matches that which was followed in 2005, when Charles, then Prince of Wales, attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II on behalf of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. Tony Blair and his wife Cherie at John Paul II's funeral in 2005. British Pathé British Pathé On that occasion, Charles was forced to postpone his wedding to Camilla, now Queen Camilla, by 24 hours in order to attend the funeral. At the funeral, Charles was seated alongside Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, who died in 2017. Charles, rear left, and Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, center right. One of the features of Pope John Paul II's funeral that turned out to be significant was that the three-hour service was conducted by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who was dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals. That position also traditionally presides over the papal conclave to elect the next pope. Ratzinger of course went on to be chosen by the conclave to be John Paul II's successor 11 days after the funeral, when he became Pope Benedict XVI. The current dean of the College of Cardinals is Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, however the 91-year-old is too old to take part in the conclave, with that task falling to Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, who is seen among the favourites to succeed Pope Francis . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
