An example of dedication to the art of photography

The late photographer Ngo Dinh Cuong (1928 - 2019) was one of the big names who became familiar to the photography community in the South before April 30, 1975.

With his talent, intelligence and enthusiasm, he has made domestic and international friends not only know the hidden beauty of Phan Thiet - Binh Thuan but also admire and desire to come to the place to learn, explore and introduce through the lens of photography. At over 90 years old and 70 years of experience, he has left behind a large body of work, most of which have been "nailed" to prestigious domestic and international awards. The theme of "Mui Ne sand dunes" is one of the abundant sources of emotion, often appearing in the pinnacle works of him and many other famous colleagues such as: Nguyen Cao Dam, Le Anh Tai, Nguyen Manh Dan, Khuu Tu Chan, Nguyen Ngoc Hanh. Looking at his black and white artworks of Mui Ne sand dunes reminds us of the SaPa landscape works of veteran photographer Vo An Ninh. The two great artists from two regions of the country met at a common point: they both contributed to the world masterpieces, honoring their homeland and country. In the 60s and 70s of the last century, when color photography was not yet developed, he was highly appreciated by his colleagues in the South for his ability to use "darkroom techniques" to create many outstanding and vivid works of art.

All of those achievements have created the "identity card" that brought him to the noble title - British Royal Photographer (1973). "Hen Da" is another famous work of his, showing a technique with the appearance of Oriental art, the style of "drawing clouds, bouncing the moon"; using the "still" to evoke the "movement", at the same time opening up diverse perspectives for the viewer. What catches the viewer's eye is an elegant idea, tinged with romantic, soaring colors but still deeply rooted in real life. I know, many young artists consider his work "Hen Da" as a classic, exemplary work to research and learn. For a long time, in many articles about him, few people have paid full attention to the historical value of documentary photography, especially the photos associated with the ups and downs of Phan Thiet city - the provincial capital of Binh Thuan. If before, there were photos of Ong Hoang Tower (now a rare photo), Dai stele, Phan Thiet water tower, Ong Dia rock, Mui Ne coconut forest, Quan bridge... then later, there were unique historical photos such as the photo "Revolutionary army tanks entering to liberate Phan Thiet" on April 19, 1975.

Participating in the Provincial Literature and Arts Association Executive Committee for 4 consecutive terms (1986 - 2010), I had the honor of being his old friend, and discovered many interesting things about him, not only limited to the art of photography. First of all, it was his passion for reading, then his ability to compose Tang poetry (under the pen name Anh Tu); not to mention his talent for fine arts and music that was revealed from his youth. Just talking about his passion for reading, he especially loved and took the trouble to buy and collect books written about President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap and the outstanding intelligence officer Pham Xuan An. Unlike some people, who sometimes only buy books to display on the shelves for beauty, he always read and reread his favorite books and was willing to discuss and share with people with similar interests. He remembered exactly every event, character, and development of the historical context of his "bedside" works. When he was still healthy, whenever I visited him, I always brought new books to give him and discussed with him a good poem, a special detail in a short story or a main character in a movie that he had seen and was absorbed in. The two of us maintained this elegant hobby for quite a long time until his book collection filled the bookshelf and his health gradually declined due to old age.

The work "Over the sand dunes" - Ngo Dinh Cuong.

In addition to being a famous photographer, he is also a devout and prestigious Buddhist, a respected brother of the Phan Thiet Health Club. His greatest happiness is that the career he devoted his whole life to pursuing and dedicating has been worthily inherited by his children. If I remember correctly, Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV) went to Phan Thiet to make a documentary to introduce and honor his “Photography Family”. Photographers Ngo Dinh Hong and Ngo Dinh Hoa were truly worthy of being “children of the family…” when they consecutively won many prestigious awards at domestic and international photography competitions. The young generation of his grandchildren have also begun to reveal here and there his inherited talent. It is a pity that the photo book summarizing all his contributions to the country's photography art is only in the planning stage. His passing in 2019 left behind endless sorrow for his family, relatives and many colleagues who cherished him in both the North and the South. It is necessary that the central and local authorities should have an award to recognize and honor his outstanding contributions to the field of photography during his 70 years of holding the camera.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/mot-tam-guong-tan-hien-cho-nghe-thuat-nhiep-anh-126305.html