József Bankó, Photographer

  • 20 Mar 2023 9:11 AM
József Bankó, Photographer
József is a professional photographer based in Budapest with years of experience working in the creative industry. These days he creates images for both corporate and private clients.

In his mid-20s, not feeling satisfied with his IT career he says he made the decision of his life to quit his job and to look for new opportunities in something he always felt he has skills and talent for: photography.

Working hard to achieve his goal, now he’s has a Bachelor of Arts in Photography, and since graduating he’s been taking on diverse commissions which allows him to face new challenges and grow in his chosen field, he says. Click here to visit his website

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up not so far from Budapest, in a small town called Gödöllő. It’s well-know for its baroque castle, the Grassalkovich Palace.

2. If you could be an expat anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

I would choose Japan or South Korea.

3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?

The personal connection to my friends. Talking to someone online is simply not the same experience.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?

I’d recommend them visiting the must-see sights and locations but I would definitely give them tips to go to a few other places where not all the tourists go.

For example, to take a ride on the Zugliget Chairlift (Libegő) in the Buda hills or to look around at a district market hall, not only the main one at Fővám square.

And I almost forgot about my favourite spot in the city: a beautiful green and silent tiny park on Buda side, the Garden of Philosophers. The park is named after a piece of art, a sculpture of the most important thinkers of human history – I simply fell in love with this place.

5. What is your favourite food?

I am fine with simple food and don’t mind if it’s meatless. So I’m happy having a veggie stew (főzelék) with nice bread. Ohh… and soups! We have so many of them.

6. What is your favourite sport / form of exercise?

Running is my favourite. Cycling is the second. And the most recent one is chess. :))

7. What is your favourite place in Hungary?

The countryside Hungary. I’ve completed parts of the National Blue Trail (Kéktúra in Hungarian - it is a country-wise hiking route) and that’s how I realised how beautiful the natural environment is in Hungary. I also like the Tisza river and Lake Tisza so much. 1 / 3

8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?

Being a jazz musician or a DJ.

9. What’s a job you would definitely never want?

Something that’s too boring or senseless or has a great negative impact on people, living beings or nature.

10. Where did you spend your last vacation? Last year we did an all-family trip to Lake Garda in Italy to celebrate my parents’ wedding anniversary.

11. Where do you hope to spend your next one?

Hopefully in Japan. :)

12. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

Grunge bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden but also different genres and bands, like The Cranberries. But so many years have passed since then and I got to like many different genres and performers from electronic or classical music to hip-hop and jazz.

My hobby was playing Formula 1 on the family PC (okay… some strategy games too).

13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?

Cakes and any kinds of homemade sweets. But this is not completely true, since I’m quite good at stopping myself from eating too much of these.

14. Red wine or white?

In the recent years it’s white.

15. Book or movie?

Both but I definitely watch more films than I read.

16. Morning person or night person?

 Night. :)

17. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?

Providing chance to everyone for having at least the very basics of living (a flat to live in and income to cover the costs of living). 2 / 3

18. Buda or Pest side?

I live on the Pest side… but I'd choose Buda. :) I grew up in a much greener environment in my hometown, so I think this is where this comes from.

19. Which achievement in your life are you most pleased about?

Becoming a photographer. I had to make at least one tough decision... and that was quiƫng my job and applying to the college to study art & photography. This is how my new life started more than a decade ago.

 20. What would you say is your personal moto?

Something smart and deeply true from C.G. Jung, probably :)

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