Around the World in Analogue: Hiking Through Hungary
3Through landscapes, portraits and star trails, Community member Mark Miller (@markmiller) has captured the picturesque views of Hungary's National Blue Trail countless times on film since inheriting a film camera from a family member.
He has trekked and camped in the country's wondrous forests since childhood, even more so during the pandemic lockdowns when they remained open. In this edition of Around the World in Analogue, Mark tells us about his experience traversing the scenic forests of Hungary and photographing them on film, and gives us some advice for camping and traveling with film equipment. Let's hear his stories!
Name: Mark Miller
LomoHome: @markmiller
Cameras: Olympus 35 RC, Nikon F2, Yashica D
Films:Kodak Gold 200, ColorPlus, Portra series, Kodak Vision3 250D and 500T (favorites), Fomapan 400, Kodak Double X
Location: Primarily along the National Blue Trail (Kéktúra) and surrounding areas across Hungary
Hiking Through Hungary is a personal visual journal I started when I combined my love of hiking with film photography. I grew up in a small village in the Buda Hills, where hiking with friends has been a part of my life since childhood. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, we started hiking more seriously, since the forests remained open and free to explore.
Eventually, our day trips turned into 2-3 day hikes, camping under the stars. In 2023, I inherited a Zenit TTL from a family member, and that’s when my journey into analogue photography truly began. Since then, I’ve taken my Olympus 35 RC — chosen specifically for its compact and fully manual nature — on most of my hikes.
The photos in this album are mainly taken along the National Blue Trail, a 1,173 km long-distance hiking route that spans Hungary from west to east. It covers some of the country’s most beautiful natural and cultural landscapes. Whether hiking with friends, solo, or with my dog, the journey is always inspiring.
One of my favorite experiences is passing through the peaceful rural villages along the trail. These places feel frozen in time — quiet, calm, and untouched by the fast pace of city life. The people are warm and welcoming, and there’s a unique charm in these slower rhythms of daily life.
Hungary’s landscape is incredibly diverse for such a small country. The variety along the Blue Trail alone — from hills and forests to plains and small towns — is impressive. But what really sets it apart is the freedom: in Hungary, all forests are open for hiking, and wild camping is generally allowed for one night outside of protected or private areas. This openness makes spontaneous exploration possible in a way I haven't experienced elsewhere.
Camera protection: Bring a weatherproof bag for your gear — it can rain unexpectedly, and longer hikes mean you might not have shelter nearby.
Film access: You can order film easily from local webshops if you run out during your trip.
Wild camping: One-night camping is allowed in most places outside of strict nature reserves and private land.
Freedom to explore: No permits are needed to enter the forests. Just be respectful of nature and local communities.
Travel light: A small, fully manual camera like the Olympus 35 RC is a great choice for hiking.
Hungary is a welcoming and accessible place for analogue photography lovers who enjoy being outdoors — there's so much to discover.
We'd like to thank Mark for sharing his stories and images with us! To view more of his work, visit his LomoHome.
Want to take us Around the World in Analogue? Drop a line at magazine-submission@lomography.com with the subject Around the World in Analogue and share your unforgettable travels with the rest of the Community! Read the guidelines here.
written by sylvann on 2025-07-04 #culture #people #places #around-the-world #hiking #hungary #around-the-world-in-analogue
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