"The sea" through the lens of a mountain town photographer

With their own unique feelings, they have excellent works, many of which have won high prizes at domestic and international photography competitions.

1. As a veteran photographer, having had many creative trips to the sea, photographer Nguyen Ngoc Son, Head of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists in Gia Lai Province (formerly), admitted that he was attracted by the call of the waves hitting the shore. There, he was always touched by strong, new emotions. "Only then can new perspectives and quality shots be created," Mr. Son shared.

Work Together to Protect the Marine Environment by photographer Nguyen Ngoc Son.

Most recently, from May 8 to 13, 2025, he joined a group of photographers from the Photography Association - Literature and Arts Association of Gia Lai province (old) on a field trip to create works in the two provinces of Khanh Hoa (old) and Phu Yen (old). In Khanh Hoa, the artists had many interesting experiences when walking around Hon Ro market, learning about the traditional salt making profession in Hon Khoi, recording the sunrise scene on the sea as well as the daily activities of fishermen... In Phu Yen , the group excitedly woke up from 2-3 am to take photos of fishermen having a good anchovy harvest, traditional fish sauce making villages...

From this trip, the artists selected the best photos to submit to the National Art Photography Contest and Exhibition "Fatherland on the Shore" chaired by the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, in coordination with relevant agencies and units to implement the propaganda plan on seas and islands in 2025.

Photographer Nguyen Ngoc Son said: From my abundant inspiration for the sea, I have had a number of works that have won high prizes in domestic and international competitions. For example, the work Joining hands to protect the marine environment won a gold medal at the "Chrysalis Photo Circuit" art photography contest, organized by the Asian Photographers Association in Thailand in 2023. Next, the work capturing the beauty of salt workers' labor also won a gold medal at the "4 th Circular Exhibition of Photography" art photography contest, sponsored by the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP), held in 2024.

The beauty of salt workers through the work Traditional Products by photographer Nguyen Ngoc Son.

In addition to beautiful photos of nature, people and culture of the South Central Coast, photographers from the mountain town also connect, exchange and learn from artists from other provinces, and receive enthusiastic guidance and support in their actual creations. In particular, photographer Nguyen Ngoc Son said that each trip to the sea always brings pride in the sea and islands of the Fatherland when witnessing the daily life and work of fishermen developing day by day.

“Fishermen’s equipment is no longer as primitive as in the past; fish sauce production villages have modern production lines, and quality is strictly controlled; many forces are joining hands to protect the marine environment… From marine resources, fishermen’s lives are gradually improving,” Mr. Son said.

2. Working at sea for the first time, young photographer Pham Cong Quy, a member of the Gia Lai Province Literature and Arts Association, was still amazed when he recently witnessed the "golden moment" of a whole family of whales hunting in the waters of Gia Lai Province. "Meeting whales, the species of fish that fishermen worship, is already lucky. Meeting the whole family is super lucky!" - Mr. Quy excitedly said.

Whale hunting scene through unique camera angle of photographer Pham Cong Quy.

In early July 2025, when he happened to be in Quy Nhon ward and heard that Bryde's whales appeared in the De Gi sea area, Quy rented a boat to go hunting for photos. Although he was excited, the photographer from the mountainous region was immediately challenged by the scorching heat and seasickness. Even holding the camera and focusing became difficult. Not to mention, the boat rocked continuously, making it difficult for the flycam to take off and return.

However, on the third day, when the whole whale family suddenly appeared, the father whale swam around to herd the school of whales in for the mother and baby fish to hunt, Quy and his colleagues no longer remembered the seasickness. He was absorbed in taking pictures, absorbed in recording the magnificent scene he had witnessed for the first time in his life. Those were cinematic angles with giant fish struggling in the deep blue water; above, countless flocks of swallows were circling to "follow" and hunt for food. Birds of the sky and fish of the water harmonized in a symbiotic relationship in the vast sky and immense sea.

After that, this young photographer continued to participate in a similar photo hunt in Nhon Ly sea area with famous photographers of "Gia Lai mountain" such as Hoa Carol, Nguyen Linh Vinh Quoc, Hoang Quoc Vinh. In 10 days (from July 1 to 10), the total number of photo files that Quy took on this topic reached nearly 2,000 files, in addition to hundreds of clips with many new angles, beautiful backgrounds. Quy said that the above work trip marked the most memorable moments he had ever experienced in his life as a photographer.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/bien-trong-goc-may-cua-nhiep-anh-gia-pho-nui-post560826.html