Travel

Eerie Photos of Town Transformed Into Frozen Wonderland After Icy Weather

1/28
Photographer Mark Mervai captures surreal images of the 12th district of Budapest, Hungary, on December 2014, after icy weather hit the area. (Mark Mervai Photography)

1/28
Photographer Mark Mervai captures surreal images of the 12th district of Budapest, Hungary, on December 2014, after icy weather hit the area. (Mark Mervai Photography)

When photographer Mark Mervai set out to document the effects of the icy weather that gripped Budapest, Hungary in December of 2014, he didn't find a typical winter scene. The 12th district of the city, in the hills of Buda, has been transformed into an eerie wonderland, with entire forests blanketed in ice.

As he captured images of the frozen town, Mervai knew and understood the dangers of the icy conditions. He could hear tree trunks and branches cracking and giving way under tons of ice.

"I blanked out thoughts about the danger because I know that this is my job and I want to show people the power and danger—but also the beauty—of nature," Mervai told weather.com. "It was my most dangerous press work, but I didn't let the feelings overcome me, I just focused on my work."

(MORE: Breathtaking Photos of the World's Northernmost City)

His focus resulted in a series of beautifully eerie images, straight out of an apocalyptic nightmare. His favorite image, he said is that of two figures—a mother and her child—walking on the street, amidst the fog.

Mervai has been a photographer since 2009, and is interested in documenting nature's most beautiful moments. "I love to take pictures of the sunrise and sunset and I love interesting and [unique] views, for example, from a rooftop," he said. "You get a totally new view of your city, your hometown, or your country, and that awakens new feelings for [the place]. "

To see more of Mervai's work, visit his Facebook page.