The Winding Staircases of Photographer Balint Alovits

Project Name

Time Machine

Posted in

Photographer

Detailed Information
Project Name	Time Machine	Posted in	Photography	Photographer	Balint Alovits

Time Machine, the mesmerizing photography series from Hungarian photographer Balint Alovits can only be described as an homage to perfect geometry, repetitive shapes and perspective forms. By highlighting the staircases in beautiful Art Deco and Bauhaus buildings, the series offers viewers the chance to really notice architectural features that often go overlooked. Although he began the project in 2013, Balint decided to revisit it last year, recapturing his favorite shots with a new eye and a fresh perspective.

As the photographer describes it, the staircases winding shapes - be they circular, triangular, oblong, etc. - create a certain "pulling energy" when viewed from the bottom up, or from the top down, and this is what creates the compelling effect, which in this case is successfully accomplished as one seems unable to easily look away from staring at the images. As for the title of his project? "When captured in a photograph, perspective transforms these humble marble steps into 'time portals' that look like they’re straight out of a sci-fi movie," Balint goes on to say. "As if one was in a whirlpool between two points in space and time. I wanted to collect and showcase all the different shapes and colors that these time machines-slash-stairways feature."

Unsurprisingly, Balint says that he's always been interested in visual arts and that photography has always been "fascinating" to him. It was in 2010, at the age of 23 that he took this interest seriously and not only bought his first camera, but also began his photography studies via the Metropolitan University’s BA Photography program in his native Budapest.

When we ask him to describe his photographic style, he humbly says that he doesn't think he has his own style yet since he's just at the beginning of his career. That may well be, however, a glance through not only Time Machine but also his two other photography series, Off Season and Undiscovered, seem to reveal a penchant for symmetry in one way or another, as well as a pure, exacting and harmonious rhythm to his compositions.

"For me, a great photograph [makes an] impression and [has a] meaning on top of its visual experience," Balint says when we ask him what, in his opinion, defines a great photograph. "It’s something that stops you, grabs your attention and doesn’t let go of it: you look for the details and seek out all the little things." In other words, exactly the emotions that one feels and the actions one takes when staring and staring into the depths of Time Machine.

"When captured in a photograph, perspective transforms these humble marble steps into 'time portals' that look like they’re straight out of a sci-fi movie."
Balint Alovits