When the lens touches the breath of the ocean

Each contest season, “The Fatherland on the Shore” leaves special emotions in the hearts of the art world and the public. Because more than a contest, it is the journey of artists quietly searching for the beauty of the Fatherland in every drop of salty sweat, every white-haired wave and the smile of fishermen in the middle of the ocean.

The first prize in the photo series category this year went to photographer Nguyen Khac Hao (Hung Yen) with the work "Bustling Anchovy Season". At the age of 70, he still persistently travels across the country, from the cloudy border to the sea and windy islands, diligently capturing the image of the gentle yet resilient Vietnamese people. In 2022, stopping in Ninh Thuan , he was captivated by the scene of boats returning in the salty smell of the wind, the strong taste of anchovies, a small fish but the "soul" of the Vietnamese sea. From there, "Bustling Anchovy Season" was born as a harmony between people and the sea, fully recreating the labor process from catching, drying to processing, closely associated with the culture and lifestyle of coastal fishermen.

The work is displayed at the competition's exhibition. Photo: VIET TRUNG

In October 2024, he went to Ca Na port (Khanh Hoa) to complete the work. For a whole week, he immersed himself in the bustling life of fishermen: basket boats coming and going, smoke from wet fish baskets drifting like mist, fishermen hurriedly carrying, some washing fish, some drying fish in the warm sunlight. In each frame, he conveyed the image of optimistic, life-loving, proud Vietnamese people under the red flag with a yellow star fluttering at the bow of the ship. In June 2025, he continued to Hon Yen, Phu Yen province (now Dak Lak province) to go out to sea with fishermen in basket boats, flying flycams in the open sea. During the process, one of his flycams fell off due to a collision with a seabird, but when talking to us, he still smiled: "I don't regret the equipment, I just feel happy to see my beautiful country, the people are so gentle and hospitable".

For photographer Nguyen Khac Hao, the greatest prize is not the medal or title, but the moment when the viewer pauses for a long time in front of the photo to feel the love for the homeland through each wave and each smile of the fishermen.

In the single photo category, the first prize went to “Under the shadow of the national flag”, taken in October 2024 by Nguyen Viet Hoang Long, capturing the sacred moment when the red flag with a yellow star fluttered in the vast early morning waves of Ha Long Bay. The sunlight mixed with the early morning mist made the background blurry, highlighting the brilliant, soft and heroic flag in the vast sea and sky. In the distance, fishing boats were cutting through the waves, one boat going out to sea, another returning, evoking a feeling of peace and warmth. “It took me hundreds of attempts to capture the right moment of wind, light and mist blending together. When the boats cut through the waves and return after their long voyages, the flag was like a sturdy shield, reminding them that they were always safe in the arms of the Fatherland,” Nguyen Viet Hoang Long shared.

With the second prize in the photo series, the work “Dance of the Sea” by Nguyen Van Khoi is the result of days of wandering from dawn to dusk during the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Tourism Week at the end of 2024. With only two cameras and one lens, he “hunted” precious moments, from the scene of a boat cutting through the waves carrying the fluttering national flag, to the radiant smiles of tourists in the golden sunlight. Mr. Khoi said: “Sometimes it was just an instinctive reflex, when the boat suddenly changed direction, I just had time to turn the flycam, press the shutter and as soon as I reviewed it, I knew I had caught the heartbeat of the sea.”

The artists participating in the contest come from many generations, but they all share the same heartbeat. Some quietly capture the Vietnamese soul in each frame, while others break out to capture the moment of time. But they all have passion, love for the country, and use photography to preserve the beauty of the Fatherland.

Spread love and contribute to affirming sovereignty over seas and islands

Starting the first season in 2021, the contest attracted nearly 6,000 works, by the second season in 2023 with 9,595 works, until 2025, the number had exceeded 15,770 works from 3,514 authors. Those telling numbers demonstrate the strong vitality of the contest. Comrade Ma The Anh, Director of the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibitions, commented: “The authors' love for the sea, islands, and the Fatherland is very clear. It is this dedication that has created works rich in emotion and high artistic value.”

Each photo is a story, about the salty sweat of workers, the innocent smiles of children or the steadfast eyes of soldiers at the forefront of the storm. It is not only art, but also emotional pieces about the Fatherland in the new era. Photographer Ho Sy Minh, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists, affirmed: “The third contest brings together quantity, quality and spread. That is a solid foundation for "The Fatherland on the Shore of Waves" to grow stronger and stronger.”

Going beyond the limits of an art competition, “Fatherland on the Shore of Waves” has become a symbol of the Vietnamese spirit reaching out to the sea. Each photo is a song, each frame is a piece of the Fatherland’s soul. Like the waves constantly hitting the shore, the journey continues so that the love for the sea and islands, and national pride will forever shine in each look, each frame, each wave of Vietnam.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/bien-dao-to-quoc-an-tuong-trong-tung-khung-hinh-912999