Hidden scenery
Flipping through old photos, the poetic scene of the "Magnificent Dust" photo exhibition, held in Hoi An in 2010, came to mind. The exhibition showcased the landscapes and people of Vietnam, primarily the tranquil life in the outskirts of Hoi An, through the lens of French photographer Etienne Bossot.
What's even more remarkable is that these photos are memorable because all the captions use lyrics from Trinh Cong Son's music. One photo, depicting a woman in a field at sunset, was titled "On the Field of Peace" by Etienne Bossot, with the caption from Trinh Cong Son's music : "On this field of peace, the sun rises peacefully, shining brightly, reddening the hearts of people."
It was this exhibition that sparked Etienne's decision to live in Hoi An more than 15 years ago. After all these years, witnessing the ravages of time on the heritage, Etienne said: "After many years of documenting the bustling ancient town, I have discovered a different beauty and soul of Hoi An in recent years."
I wanted to wander around Hoi An Old Town and capture these moments because they remind me of Hoi An when I first arrived. The quiet streets, the few people strolling around, and the amazing architecture create a truly magical Hoi An.”
Now, Etienne is quite familiar to foreign tourists and photographers who want to explore Vietnam. His connection with Hoi An, and right there in Hoi An, led him to "start his career" with Hoi An photo tours.
Etienne later founded "Pics of Asia," an organization that provides small group photography tours and even teaches photography in countries such as Myanmar, Bangladesh, Iran, Sri Lanka, India, and, of course, Vietnam.
“We are living our dream: traveling and photographing people, and helping you do the same. Travel with Pics of Asia and you will receive dedicated, professional guidance on personal skills. We strive to find new angles and we love our work” - the message from Pics of Asia.
Ageless beauty
When discussing foreign photographers who have a special connection with Quang Nam province, Réhahn cannot be left out. Since 2011, Réhahn has chosen Hoi An as his place of residence. In this Frenchman's concept, heritage is people. People are also the source of heritage.
And that's the origin of Réhahn's photo collection in Hoi An, titled "Priceless Heritage," with most of the images featuring people with their deep eyes and gentle smiles. The portraits are closely linked to each region, giving Réhahn's work a unique character. For this Frenchman, "priceless heritage" is what happens around people, with their traditional clothing, handicrafts, and long-standing ways of life.
Mention Réhahn, and the world remembers the "hidden smile" of a woman from Hoi An. From this photograph, the "hidden smile" project, initiated by Réhahn, spread far and wide through portraits gifted to the subjects. In his travels around the world, Hoi An became a haven, like home, for this man from Normandy.
In the Vietnamese photography community, the heritage sites of Quang Nam, including Hoi An, My Son, Cu Lao Cham, and the western border regions, are always special destinations. Photographers stay there for months to contemplate, or some, like Duong Minh Long, choose to stay for years, searching for scenes still hidden behind the mists of time, or even crowds.
Through unique camera angles, they preserve the timeless beauty of the heritage.
Awards from Heritage
The Hoi An Photography Club, established over 20 years ago, has made a strong mark with numerous award-winning works on heritage sites both domestically and internationally. In 2006, young photographer Huynh Ha won a gold medal with his photograph "Visiting the Old Town".
In 2012, Thai Bich Thuan, the only female photographer in Quang Nam and Hoi An, won a double gold and silver medal at the regional art photography festival.
On an international level, in 2005, photographer Dang Ke Dong won a silver medal with his photograph "Secret Love" at the VN05 international photography competition.
Photographer Duong Phu Tam has left many marks with numerous achievements in international competitions, such as the photograph "Hoi An in Memory," which won a FIAP Bronze Medal, and the Gold Medal for his work "Childhood on the River" at the international art photography competition in Macedonia.
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/nhung-doi-thuong-cua-di-san-3152021.html
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