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Tomaszcz

@wildszczide

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My extra ordinary outdoor adventures
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🙋‍♂️ @tomaszcz 🏢 @budapeszczt 🇭🇺 based

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Green toad photo taken in the beginning of summer when I spend some time with my little amphibian friends in a water stream running through a densely populated area of Budapest.

The light you see in the background is one of the streetlights sitting above the stream, acting here like the moon, this plus the toad standing upright, leaning against the concrete wall by the stream, creating a rather dramatic and romantic impression just before he begins his love song. His distant, nonchalant demeanor contrasts with the scene.

I had to make some adjustments to get this result that I actually quite like, but the best part of it is still being there with my rubber boots listening to their nuptial call, taking my photos in the dark. Hope to see them again next year 🥹

#greentoad #zöldvarangy #amphibian by @wildszczide

I finally found the time to edit some of my favorite photos from my trip to Finland last year. This year, I didn’t take any big trips dedicated to wildlife photography; instead, I had lots of little adventures here and there.

The summer heat and other events threw a wrench in our plans. That said, I’m still incredibly grateful for everything I’ve been able to do and see so far.

We’ll see what 2027 has in store, but I’ll keep getting out and about as much as possible. I also hope to spend time with @boromisza_zs and @govinda.thompson—and who knows, maybe we will manage to plan another memorable trip? 😉 by @wildszczide

Last August, I spent a few days in the High Tatras—far from the extreme heat and drought that were plaguing Hungary. During my hikes, I was lucky enough to encounter some of the area’s inhabitants, from the smallest to the largest.
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It was also my first encounter with—and first sighting of—a bear and her two cubs in the wild; admittedly from a great distance, but a wonderful reward after a beautiful hike.

Northern nutcracker - red squirrel - common frog - red deer - alpine accentor - adder - brown bear

#hightatras #slovakia #bear by @wildszczide

Nutria

Not so long ago I felt it was time for me to go pay a visit to the beavers again, while I failed to see them I stumbled upon another semi aquatic mammal. One that I had already seen in the area but not in this size or number.

1 adult and around 10 little ones swimming around. At some point I even got surrounded by them 🫪

Imported into Europe for their fur, coypu have ended up in the wild and have been classified as an invasive species. Unlike beavers, which are perfectly integrated into the ecosystem, nutrias – which have virtually no natural predators here – tend to breed throughout the year and see their populations grow, particularly with mild winters with low mortality rates, to the detriment of the local flora, and the species that depend on it.

However, this species is here to stay, despite efforts to eradicate it. And although the harmful effects are well documented – as with many other so-called exotic species – a policy of coexistence seems to be the most effective path to follow as well as waiting for the species to become an integral part of the wildlife food chain in Europe.

#nutria #coypu #ragondin #hódpatkany by @wildszczide

Danube mayflies

Once again this summer, we were able to witness the frenzied aerial ballet of the mayflies. A chaos of wings that is synonymous with survival for them, yet surprising for those unfamiliar with this phenomenon.

A phenomenon that, incidentally, nearly disappeared, and which – despite encouraging signs such as improved water quality and the installation of lighting to prevent them from straying too far from the river – is under threat.

Once again, it is down to human activity: global warming in recent years and repeated droughts are placing additional strain on the river, which has reached a new record low this year.

When I see people seeming disgusted by a few mayflies for four or five nights, whilst the natural world is collapsing all around us, I want to tell them to marvel at this spectacle, to learn, to find out more, and to ensure that we make room for this suffocating natural world.

#dunavirág #mayflies #mayfly #ephemere by @wildszczide

A few weeks ago, I met Béla while he was moving his flock across the Hungarian countryside. After taking a few portraits, he asked if I could print them so he could take them home to his family in Romania.

He insisted to have them printed in color 😇

A few weeks later, I came back with the photographs.

Portrait photography of people in the countryside and especially shepherds is something that resonates strongly in me and having someone asking me for prints was such a good feeling, although a bit pressuring because I wanted the pictures to be really nice.

Yes this post isn't about building, or design but It encompasses a bit of all that matters for me and my photography projects: a culture that is fading away, people who are disappearing and, in many ways, living in a parallel world. There are also aesthetic elements quite unique to Hungary, which I’ll discuss in more detail in another post. It also touches on the country’s history, with its past, its wounds and its borders.

Hope you enjoy it, for me this is what makes me go out.

#ethnophotography #sheperd #hungary #countryside by @wildszczide

This time last year, I was in Finland on the trail of one of the continent’s largest mammals.

Looking through my photos has taken me right back to the atmosphere of that encounter; as we moved forward in silence, hidden by the vegetation, we came across this large male. It’s 9.30 pm; it’s still daylight, but the light is fading. A large shadow appears as we pass a tree, we freeze and realize what we are facing; he stares at us; I can hear his heavy breathing. I’m fascinated by the size of this animal – it’s the first time I’ve come so close to one, and only one of the first times I’ve seen one with my own eyes. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I know that, even though the chances are slim, he might charge if he feels threatened; but, as is often the case, the encounter is peaceful, and he eventually goes on his way quietly.

Beyond the incredible sightings and the landscapes, what I remember most of all is the memory of an idyllic week spent with my friends @boromisza_zs and @govinda.thompson . And today I realize even more keenly the value of those moments, and just how important it is to cherish them – not just in nature, but with the people you hold dear.

#moose #finland #wildlifephotography by @wildszczide

During last week's journey through the Tokaj region we came accross one of Europe's largest bird: the white stork

One of Hungary’s most beloved birds and a true symbol of spring. Every year, these remarkable travelers return from Africa after a journey of up to 10,000 km, often arriving between March and April. Around 5,000 breeding pairs can now be found across Hungary, making the country one of the species’ important strongholds in Europe.

In Hungarian folklore, storks are seen as bringers of luck, fertility, and new beginnings. Their nests atop village rooftops and church towers have long been a familiar sight in the countryside.

The Tokaj region, with its mosaic of wetlands, rivers, vineyards, and traditional villages, offers ideal habitat for these elegant birds throughout the breeding season.

Have you spotted a stork this summer? ❤️

#Hungary #Tokaj #WhiteStork #BirdMigration #NatureLovers #SlowTravel #WildHungary #VisitHungary by @wildszczide

When in the Bükk

A shrill cry rings out, a black shadow, a flash of red—there’s no doubt about it: we’re in the presence of Europe’s largest woodpecker, the black woodpecker.

In addition to ridding trees of the larvae that gnaw at them from the inside, it creates nesting sites for numerous species.

A magnificent bird that inhabits our forests and one I always enjoy watching.

#woodpeckers #blackwoodpecker #feketeharkály #bükk by @wildszczide

Female stag beetle

I was lucky enough to observe her last week in Bükk National Park.

After spending 4 to 5 years as larvae in dead wood (often oak), these insects emerge in the heat of summer to reproduce. While the males fight on the bark of trees, the winner earns the right to mate. Once fertilized, the female seeks out a suitable spot in the ground to lay her eggs.

Beyond their impressive appearance, these insects actively contribute to the recycling of dead wood in forests. It is interesting to note that they never attack healthy wood and instead focus on dead wood that has already begun to decompose due to fungal activity.

#stagbeetle #bükk #wildlifephotography by @wildszczide

A somewhat special post today. No specific building, no focus on a particular animal species or my professional work—but a little bit of all three.
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I’m taking this opportunity to go through this album of photos I took last week to reflect a bit on what I love here in Hungary, what I’m doing, and what I plan to keep doing.
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The most notable change in my photography and my social media presence is that I’m now working as a photographer and managing some of the operations for a Hungarian travel and events company: @humtour .
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The opportunity arose, and it made perfect sense to me: to discover and help others discover the Hungarian countryside, whether for Hungarians or foreigners; to appreciate its richness, its traditions, and its unique aesthetic, but also to work toward a different vision of tourism. For me, it was also a chance to meet and work with key figures in local life, experts, seasoned guides, naturalists, and biologists.
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Of course, I will continue my projects separately and independently of one another, even though today—more than ever before—they are converging.

I’m taking this opportunity to go through this album of photos I took last week to reflect a bit on what I love here in Hungary, what I’m doing, and what I plan to keep doing.

The most notable change in my photography and my social media presence is that I’m now working as a photographer and managing some of the operations for a Hungarian travel and events company: Humtour.

The opportunity arose, and it made perfect sense to me: to discover and help others discover the Hungarian countryside, whether for Hungarians or foreigners; to appreciate its richness, its traditions, and its unique aesthetic, but also to work toward a different vision of tourism. For me, it was also a chance to meet and work with key figures in local life, experts, seasoned guides, naturalists, and biologists.

course, I will continue my projects separately and independently of one another, even though today—more than ever before—they are converging.

#hungary

#socialrealism

# by @wildszczide

European Green Toads

More often heard than seen. They are most active during the mating season and after sunset. They sing to impress other males (only the males sing, by the way).

These songs, which melomaniacs will appreciate, also help the females find their way to the breeding site.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard them croaking in an urban setting—at least not in Hungary. I’m glad to see that they’re able to adapt and make use of spaces not originally designed to accommodate wildlife. This shows that it’s more than necessary to leave room for wildlife in our cities!

#amphibians #toads #crapaud #greentoad #crapaudvert by @wildszczide