'Migrant chic': Hungary photographer removes images Published duration 8 October 2015 Related Topics Europe migrant crisis

image copyright Norbert Baksa image caption Norbert Baksa said his images were based on news photographs of migrants

A Hungarian photographer has taken down a fashion shoot inspired by migrants making the arduous journey through Europe after a barrage of criticism.

"Despite our intentions, many unfortunately consider the pictures offending," Norbert Baksa said.

Baksa's series Der Migrant showed a woman dressed in revealingly draped clothes struggling with a policeman and taking a selfie next to barbed wire.

Social media users had accused him of glamorising the migrants' plight.

"We have experienced a lot of negative feedback since the publication of our photo series Der Migrant, although more and more people recognise the true message behind the pictures and agree with it," Baksa told the BBC.

"Considering the heated emotions and because, despite our intentions, many unfortunately consider the pictures offending, we have decided to remove the series from our website."

image copyright Twitter

Earlier, Baksa told the BBC he had not meant to offend anyone.

"It is meant to show that we cannot make a clear judgment on this issue," he said. "Depending on which media you read or watch, you see them as either refugee families fleeing for their lives or as masses of aggressive people. There is always another side to the story, that's what we wanted to say. Do not judge on partial information."

Images of desperate migrants - many fleeing the Syrian civil war - climbing over fences, attempting to evade police and resting exhausted in fields have filled the world's media.

Their travails have drawn mixed reactions around Europe - but Baksa's attempt to riff on their situation unleashed a storm of criticism.

image copyright Twitter

image copyright Twitter

Many of the comments on social media were particularly critical of three photos showing model Monika Jablonczky leaning against a barbed wire fence, her shirt wide open, taking a selfie with a smartphone bearing the logo of luxury brand Chanel.

Some said the images were disrespectful because many of the migrants come from conservative cultural backgrounds where revealing clothing is not commonly worn.

image copyright Twitter

Baksa responded, tweeting that his images were based on news photographs already published in the Hungarian media, which he claimed showed both refugees fleeing for their lives and "aggressive migrants or terrorists".

image copyright Twitter

In a statement on his website , Baksa said he wanted viewers to see "a suffering woman, who is also beautiful and despite her situation has some high-quality pieces of outfit and a smartphone".

He added that he had done his best to "respect people's faith and conviction and not to cross certain boundaries".

image copyright Norbert Baksa image caption Social media users described the photos as "sick" and "disrespectful"

The reaction in Hungary to the big flows of migrants across its borders has seen some controversial moments.

However, Baksa said he did not think his photographs would damage his country's image as long as people "think about why the images were made".

image copyright Raj Shteye

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