Gypsies, Shepherds, and Jazz Musicians

 Born in Transylvania, Sánta István Csaba moved to Budapest after high school to study photography. His black and white photos are studies of light and dark. They powerfully capture the lives of gypsies, shepherds, fisherman, and everyday people waiting for trains or the market to open or coping with deep Hungarian snow. There is a sense of lots of lost time in Csaba’s photos… a feeling of trapped despair. An interesting collection in his portfolio is of contemporary jazz greats that were shot during their European tours and during Csaba’s visit to New York City (He gets to brag that he “traveled 3000 km for a concert.”). Jazz greats that he’s captured include: Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, Sonny Rollins, Victor Wooten, Bobby McFerrin, McCoy Tyner, Béla Flack, and Benny Golson. Earlier this year, Sánta István Csaba received awards from the Association of Hungarian Journalists and as an international photography contest winner that was presented in the Parliament of Hungary.