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When I saw these two elderly ladies dressed as bride and groom in a retirement home in Páty, near Budapest, my first thought was to wonder why they had chosen those particular costumes. I took their picture in the home’s lounge and afterwards we had a long conversation. I asked them about their lives, what they believed was the secret to a long life, and how to preserve a love of life in old age. They both emphasised a long and happy marriage. Magdolna, 87, on the left, lived with her husband for more than 50 years, and 86-year-old Irén for 62, until their spouses died.
In Hungary, the average pension is the equivalent of about £500 a month. It takes the talents of a magician for a pensioner to stretch that beyond basic needs and make any room for leisure, culture or travel. The health of Hungarian pensioners also falls short of what is typical in the west. And it’s really hard to get into a retirement home in Hungary. You have to wait for years for a good place.
With my series Carnival at the Retirement Home, I wanted to show people who have managed to overcome these difficulties and are still able to lead fulfilling and happy lives. They can serve as role models not only for their peers, but also for today’s middle generation to plan ahead.
The circumstances of moving into a retirement home have changed in recent decades. In the past, it was usually the family who forced it, at the last moment, when there was no other option. Today, however, a significant proportion of elderly people recognise when their family members are unable to take care of their needs, then they take a look at different homes and make their own choices.
Personality traits deepen along with wrinkles – good qualities as well as bad. How each person copes with going into a home depends on their personality type, their life experiences – or even those of their ancestors. Many people are able to deal with this period cheerfully and actively – like those who dress up for the carnival.
I asked them what their secret was for enjoying life: Magdolna said she had good genes and had never had a headache in her life, or any other pain. She always walked a lot, and still takes four long walks a week. Irén also recommended a healthy active life with plenty of walking and travelling – as well as avoiding borrowing money. Her grandmother had told her: “Only spend what you have, because debt eats from the same plate as you.”
For me, this is a happy subject. Most of the time I’m covering conflicts for Telex, the independent online newspaper I work for – social conflicts, political conflicts, war. Hungary is in the neighbourhood of Ukraine, so I was there in the early days of the invasion. Recently, we’ve been covering our election campaigns, which is stressful, but the series this picture comes from was made during carnival, which starts in February to celebrate the end of winter. These people are happy and it was fun, playful and inspiring work.
I learned that we must prepare for our retirement years, rather than just letting them happen. We need to gather emotional and financial resources by setting goals, trying new things, stepping out of our comfort zones and being creative.
This was not the first time I had chosen retired individuals as my subject. I’ve always been able to connect well with elderly people since childhood, having lost my grandparents when I was very young. When I talk with old people who are content, it makes me feel good too.
Interview by Amy Fleming. János Bődey is shortlisted in the Sony World Photography awards 2026. Exhibition at Somerset House, London, 17 April–4 May, Worldphoto.org. Guardian readers can use the code GUARDIAN15 to redeem a 15% discount on the tickets to the exhibition (valid until 4 May, at 5pm).
János Bődey’s CV
Born: 1977, Zalaegerszeg, Hungary
High point: Carnival at the Retirement Home being shortlisted for the Sony World Photography awards, and selected as one of the 20 awardees of the International Photography Festivals Association 2025
Top tip: Don’t be afraid to change careers. I graduated as an economist specialising in social policy from the Budapest University of Economics. I spent 13 years working in corporate management roles. At 35, I made a career change and became a photojournalist.
