The construction of the common section of the M1-M7 highway on Budaörsi Way in 1965 and the traffic on the same road in 1975. In the background, the Ostapenko statue. This pair of photos is a bit tricky because they were taken from opposite directions (see the uncut photos below). #97095 and #98848 Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV
  • Heti Fortepan 104.

Same but different

Before and After Photos

How much can happen between taking two photographs even when the photographer quickly presses the shutter release button again? We are looking into this question through an expanded selection of before and after photo pairs from Fortepan originally featured at the Hungarian National Gallery’s 2019 exhibition titled Every Past is My Past.

A home-built rooftop tent or “moving hotel” mounted on a 850 Fiat car. Photo taken on the Pest Lower Wharf in 1975, with the buildings of Várkert Wharf and the Buda Castle (formerly, the Royal Castle) on the other side of the Danube. #215657 Photo: Fortepan / FŐFOTÓ
A home-built rooftop tent or “moving hotel” mounted on a 850 Fiat car. Photo taken on the Pest Lower Wharf in 1975, with the buildings of Várkert Wharf and the Buda Castle (formerly, the Royal Castle) on the other side of the Danube. #215657 Photo: Fortepan / FŐFOTÓ
A home-built rooftop tent or “moving hotel” mounted on a 850 Fiat car. Photo taken on the Pest Lower Wharf in 1975, with the buildings of Várkert Wharf and the Buda Castle (formerly, the Royal Castle) on the other side of the Danube. #215659 Photo: Fortepan / FŐFOTÓ
A home-built rooftop tent or “moving hotel” mounted on a 850 Fiat car. Photo taken on the Pest Lower Wharf in 1975, with the buildings of Várkert Wharf and the Buda Castle (formerly, the Royal Castle) on the other side of the Danube. #215659 Photo: Fortepan / FŐFOTÓ
Piarista Alley towards the old Erzsébet Bridge in 1967. It is noteworthy that the earlier photo is the color one. #61684 Photo: Fortepan / Annamária Szőke / Anonime
Piarista Alley towards the old Erzsébet Bridge in 1967. It is noteworthy that the earlier photo is the color one. #61684 Photo: Fortepan / Annamária Szőke / Anonime
Piarista Alley towards the newly built Erzsébet Bridge in 1967. It is noteworthy that the earlier photo is the color one. #136097 Photo: Fortepan / Album020
Piarista Alley towards the newly built Erzsébet Bridge in 1967. It is noteworthy that the earlier photo is the color one. #136097 Photo: Fortepan / Album020
1946. #4040 Photo: Fortepan
1946. #4040 Photo: Fortepan
1946. #4045 Photo: Fortepan
1946. #4045 Photo: Fortepan
Secretaries from the Swiss Consulate in Vienna visiting on the terrace of the former British Embassy in Buda Castle, no. 1 Táncsics Mihály (Verbőczy) Street in 1943. In the background, a view towards the Danube and the Parliament. #105761 Photo: Fortepan / Archiv für Zeitgeschichte ETH Zürich / Agnes Hirschi / Carl Lutz
Secretaries from the Swiss Consulate in Vienna visiting on the terrace of the former British Embassy in Buda Castle, no. 1 Táncsics Mihály (Verbőczy) Street in 1943. In the background, a view towards the Danube and the Parliament. #105761 Photo: Fortepan / Archiv für Zeitgeschichte ETH Zürich / Agnes Hirschi / Carl Lutz
The garden of the former British Embassy in Buda Castle, no. 1 Táncsics Mihály (Verbőczy) Street in 1945 in Budapest. On the right, the Swiss diplomat Carl Lutz. In the background to the right is the ruined Erdődy-Hatvany Palace. #105773 Photo: Fortepan / Archiv für Zeitgeschichte ETH Zürich / Agnes Hirschi / Carl Lutz
The garden of the former British Embassy in Buda Castle, no. 1 Táncsics Mihály (Verbőczy) Street in 1945 in Budapest. On the right, the Swiss diplomat Carl Lutz. In the background to the right is the ruined Erdődy-Hatvany Palace. #105773 Photo: Fortepan / Archiv für Zeitgeschichte ETH Zürich / Agnes Hirschi / Carl Lutz
View from St. Gellért's Steps towards the Tabán district and the Royal Palace (today, Buda Castle) in 1943. In the foreground, the ruins of the Serbian Orthodox church of St. Demeter, and behind it, the church of St. Catherine of Alexandria. #105821 Photo: Fortepan / Archiv für Zeitgeschichte ETH Zürich / Agnes Hirschi / Carl Lutz
View from St. Gellért's Steps towards the Tabán district and the Royal Palace (today, Buda Castle) in 1943. In the foreground, the ruins of the Serbian Orthodox church of St. Demeter, and behind it, the church of St. Catherine of Alexandria. #105821 Photo: Fortepan / Archiv für Zeitgeschichte ETH Zürich / Agnes Hirschi / Carl Lutz
View from St. Gellért's Steps towards the Tabán district and the Royal Palace (today, Buda Castle) in 1945. In the foreground, the ruins of the Serbian Orthodox church of St. Demeter, and behind it, the church of St. Catherine of Alexandria. #105728 Photo: Fortepan / Archiv für Zeitgeschichte ETH Zürich / Agnes Hirschi / Carl Lutz
View from St. Gellért's Steps towards the Tabán district and the Royal Palace (today, Buda Castle) in 1945. In the foreground, the ruins of the Serbian Orthodox church of St. Demeter, and behind it, the church of St. Catherine of Alexandria. #105728 Photo: Fortepan / Archiv für Zeitgeschichte ETH Zürich / Agnes Hirschi / Carl Lutz
The Víziváros district in Esztergom with the church of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Archbishop's Palace in 1940; in the background, the Mária Valéria Bridge. #40751 Photo: Fortepan / Éva Kafka
The Víziváros district in Esztergom with the church of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Archbishop's Palace in 1940; in the background, the Mária Valéria Bridge. #40751 Photo: Fortepan / Éva Kafka
The Víziváros district of Esztergom with the church of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Archbishop's Palace in 1958; in the background, the remains of the Mária Valéria Bridge. #54787 Photo: Fortepan / Zoltán Lencse
The Víziváros district of Esztergom with the church of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Archbishop's Palace in 1958; in the background, the remains of the Mária Valéria Bridge. #54787 Photo: Fortepan / Zoltán Lencse
Balatongyörök, lookout, 1965. The “support” is provided by a Skoda Octavia Super. #4699 Photo: Fortepan
Balatongyörök, lookout, 1965. The “support” is provided by a Skoda Octavia Super. #4699 Photo: Fortepan
Balatongyörök, lookout, 1965. The “support” is provided by a Skoda Octavia Super. #4698 Photo: Fortepan
Balatongyörök, lookout, 1965. The “support” is provided by a Skoda Octavia Super. #4698 Photo: Fortepan
May 1st parade in 1954, seen from the first-floor balcony of no. 6 Kossuth Lajos Street, Budapest, looking towards the Astoria intersection. #129449 Photo: Fortepan / Miklós Horváth dr
May 1st parade in 1954, seen from the first-floor balcony of no. 6 Kossuth Lajos Street, Budapest, looking towards the Astoria intersection. #129449 Photo: Fortepan / Miklós Horváth dr
Book burning at the Astoria in 1956, seen from the first-floor balcony of no. 6 Kossuth Lajos Street, Budapest. #129465 Photo: Fortepan / Miklós Horváth dr.
Book burning at the Astoria in 1956, seen from the first-floor balcony of no. 6 Kossuth Lajos Street, Budapest. #129465 Photo: Fortepan / Miklós Horváth dr.
The corner of Erzsébet (Lenin) Boulevard and Dob Street in Budapest in 1948. #128481 Photo: Fortepan / Sándor Bauer
The corner of Erzsébet (Lenin) Boulevard and Dob Street in Budapest in 1948. #128481 Photo: Fortepan / Sándor Bauer
The corner of Erzsébet (Lenin) Boulevard and Dob Street in Budapest in 1957. #5377 Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV
The corner of Erzsébet (Lenin) Boulevard and Dob Street in Budapest in 1957. #5377 Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV
1956. On the board: “STRIKE!” / Until the Russians are not getting the hell out of the country, we are not going to work!” #79416 Photo: Fortepan / Pál Berkó
1956. On the board: “STRIKE!” / Until the Russians are not getting the hell out of the country, we are not going to work!” #79416 Photo: Fortepan / Pál Berkó
1956. On the board: “Results / The provisional Works Council’s mandate expires on 5 November. We ask all our employees to be present at the election of the definite Works Council on 5 November, at 10 o’clock.”/ The provisional Works Council.” Below, left:, in another hand:“DARING.” #79419 Photo: Fortepan / Pál Berkó
1956. On the board: “Results / The provisional Works Council’s mandate expires on 5 November. We ask all our employees to be present at the election of the definite Works Council on 5 November, at 10 o’clock.”/ The provisional Works Council.” Below, left:, in another hand:“DARING.” #79419 Photo: Fortepan / Pál Berkó
Petőfi Sándor Street in Monor, 1967. #141926 Photo: Fortepan / István Péterffy
Petőfi Sándor Street in Monor, 1967. #141926 Photo: Fortepan / István Péterffy
Petőfi Sándor Street in Monor, 1969. #141711 Photo: Fortepan / István Péterffy
Petőfi Sándor Street in Monor, 1969. #141711 Photo: Fortepan / István Péterffy
The construction of the common section of the M1 and M7 highways on Budaörsi Way in 1965; view toward the Ostapenko statue. #97095 Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV
The construction of the common section of the M1 and M7 highways on Budaörsi Way in 1965; view toward the Ostapenko statue. #97095 Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV
Budaörsi Street in 1975: to the left, Balatoni Way, in the middle, the common section of the M1 and M7 highways, in the foreground, the statue of Ostapenko, and to the right, the junction of the road to Budaörs. #98848 Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV
Budaörsi Street in 1975: to the left, Balatoni Way, in the middle, the common section of the M1 and M7 highways, in the foreground, the statue of Ostapenko, and to the right, the junction of the road to Budaörs. #98848 Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV
The National Theater on Blaha Lujza Square in Budapest, subject to demolition due to subway construction. #5382 Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV
The National Theater on Blaha Lujza Square in Budapest, subject to demolition due to subway construction. #5382 Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV
Subway construction on Blaha Lujza Square in 1965. #96797 Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV
Subway construction on Blaha Lujza Square in 1965. #96797 Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV
Cleaning before visitors at Institute no. 2 for the Education of Boys of the Hungarian Ministry of Culture in Aszód in 1974. #89508 Photo: Fortepan / Tamás Urbán
Cleaning before visitors at Institute no. 2 for the Education of Boys of the Hungarian Ministry of Culture in Aszód in 1974. #89508 Photo: Fortepan / Tamás Urbán
A visit to Institute no. 2 for the Education of Boys of the Hungarian Ministry of Culture in Aszód in 1974. #89486 Photo: Fortepan / Tamás Urbán
A visit to Institute no. 2 for the Education of Boys of the Hungarian Ministry of Culture in Aszód in 1974. #89486 Photo: Fortepan / Tamás Urbán
The poet Zoltán Zelk with his wife, the literary historian Erzsébet Sinka, in 1975. #106281 Photo: Fortepan / József Hunyady
The poet Zoltán Zelk with his wife, the literary historian Erzsébet Sinka, in 1975. #106281 Photo: Fortepan / József Hunyady
The poet Zoltán Zelk with his wife, the literary historian Erzsébet Sinka, in 1975. #106280 Photo: Fortepan / József Hunyady
The poet Zoltán Zelk with his wife, the literary historian Erzsébet Sinka, in 1975. #106280 Photo: Fortepan / József Hunyady

Photo Editors: Miklós Tamási and István Virágvölgyi | English translation: Nóra Vörös

The Weekly Fortepan blog is a collaboration between Fortepan and the Capa Center. The original article can be found at https://hetifortepan.capacenter.hu/elotte-utana-fenykepparok

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

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