Ha Giang, the far North of Vietnam

[kiemchacsu]

...

Just a word on harmony and simplicity so often thought to be found in subsistence (family) agriculture communities. I have never visited one community based on subsistence agriculture that was in peace and harmony - I have visited a lot, mainly here in south america, but in Bangladesh and Africa as well. The rythm of life and cultural codes are different, but behind what seems like a harmonious community often lies a reality marked by lack of education options, lack of medical care, poor housing conditions, invisibility to government policy and institutions, an extremely heavy workload mainly for women and a high incidence of domestic violence. As outside pressure increases (by market forces or adverse government policies) these vulnerabilities tend to increase and the villagers have little to defend themselves, as their equilibrium of subsistence/survival is very precarious.

Now I should start posting more pics to sustain my point of view, right ?

Cheers to all.

I could not agree more with you dear Mr. Wouter, you are absolutely right. And that's true that I tried to collect the images that might bring the happiness or smiles even though behind of the story might be different.

Cheers and very appreciate your contribution in this kind of social-factor involved topic.

 

[kiemchacsu]

Hello guys,

Here I am again, hope that the photos still have your interest. The below photos are taken in Lung Cu commune which is faced to Chinese border and is the Northernmost point of the country.

21.

1111_73_M3_BW400CN by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

22.

1111_16_LungCu_M3 by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

23.

1111_12_LungCu_M3 by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

24.

1111_75_M3_BW400CN by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

25.

1111_76_M3_BW400CN by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

26.

1111_08_LungCu_M3 by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

27.

1111_15_LungCu_M3 by kiemchacsu, on Flickr


28.

1111_34_LungCu_M3 by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

29.

1111_35_LungCu_M3 by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

To conclude the serie, the above last 2 pictures were taken in the Lung Cu flag-tower, yes in the line of the North border with the Chinese. I was looking foward to the Vietnamese side. Hope you guys enjoy the serie. I will come back to Ha Giang in the near future.

 

[jimrohrer]

Beautiful portfolio... thank you for sharing your work!

 

[oftheherd]

Thanks for sharing with us. I really enjoyed all those photos. Those mortorless walls are impressive. That was a good move showing the two color shots last. I like good b/w, but those color shots are great as well. Not only for the color which is good and stands out after the b/w, but they are great compositionally as well.

Thanks again. Look forward to any other shots you have of Viet Nam that you may wish to share.

 

[35mmdelux]

....But I still see harsh conditions and poverty in the pictures...Just a word on harmony and simplicity so often thought to be found in subsistence (family) agriculture communities. I have never visited one community based on subsistence agriculture that was in peace and harmony - I have visited a lot, mainly here in south america, but in Bangladesh and Africa as well. The rythm of life and cultural codes are different, but behind what seems like a harmonious community often lies a reality marked by lack of education options, lack of medical care, poor housing conditions, invisibility to government policy and institutions, an extremely heavy workload mainly for women and a high incidence of domestic violence. As outside pressure increases (by market forces or adverse government policies) these vulnerabilities tend to increase and the villagers have little to defend themselves, as their equilibrium of subsistence/survival is very precarious....

Does this apply to Brazil? See Sabastiao Salgado seminal monologue Workers.

 

[kiemchacsu]

Hi there,

I recently has visited Hà Giang again (my 4th trip to there) after 1.5 year. This time I didn't take photos that much, may be I has became very familiar to this land that I couldn't see something really new to me. Anyway, some photos from the trip

#1

1304_Hgiang_03_tri-x_rodinal_roll1 by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

#2

1304_Hgiang_15_tri-x_rodinal_1 by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

#3

1304_Hgiang_05_tri-x_rodinal_roll1 by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

#4

1304_HGiang_21_fomapan_rodinal by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

#5

1304_Hue_35_fomapan_rodinal by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

 

[John Lawrence]

Great work.

Thanks for sharing these with us.

John

 

[benji77]

Really nice set of photos. I especially like the first batch, where I am curious about your developing workflow, as it is so consistent with Fomapan.

I have used a bulk roll of Fomapan, yet I dont have images as close to your 'output'.

Well done!

 

[kiemchacsu]

Great work.

Thanks for sharing these with us.

John

Really nice set of photos. I especially like the first batch, where I am curious about your developing workflow, as it is so consistent with Fomapan.

I have used a bulk roll of Fomapan, yet I dont have images as close to your 'output'.

Well done!

Thank John and Benji77,

I myself find that Fomapan rendering and tonality are fantastic. Might be of your interest: I used and ORANGE filter attached to the 35/2 Summicron IV. Fomapan souped in Tmax 1+4 developer. Tmax dev is also great, the only weakness is high cost.

 

[benji77]

Hi Trung

Your work with Fomapan inspires me to do better with my remaining stock of it 🙂. This is great work, and you should have them printed for pure joy!

I rarely work with filters, and I should try it out sometime with Foma to see if I can get even close to your development results. TMax is also one of my favourite developers besides DDX.

 

[noisycheese]

Recently, I had a chance to visit Ha Giang again. That was my third time to be there but I always feel exited, the reason? May the pictures could explain some things. 🙂

<snip>

P.S: sorry for the confusion in the file name, it was a mistake while naming the scanned file. The film was FOMAPAN 100. Leica M6 | 35/2 V4

@ kiemchacsu,

These are some wonderful images - congratulations!

Being committed to film photography, I also love the fact that they were shot with an M6, a 35/2 and Fomapan 100 film.

You are on the right track - keep up the great work and remain true to your vision!

 

[stompyq]

Dude these photos are brilliant. Almost medium format like. How did you scan these?

 

[kiemchacsu]

@ kiemchacsu,

These are some wonderful images - congratulations!

Being committed to film photography, I also love the fact that they were shot with an M6, a 35/2 and Fomapan 100 film.

You are on the right track - keep up the great work and remain true to your vision!

Thanks for nice words. I also put myself into film photography as an serious hobby. Hope to see your works some day.

Dude these photos are brilliant. Almost medium format like. How did you scan these?

Thanks, some people also have commented the same thing above. I don't know if it's because some photo were shot WIDE OPEN with the "king of bokeh" 35/2 IV. I scanned quickly and dirtily with Nikon Coolscan IV, Nikon Scan software; almost default settings 8 bit gray-scale. That's it. If I like a photo and want to print it large, I re-scan 12 bit TIFF, positive and then edit it in Photoshop. The image does has more details and sharper than the quick JPG one.

 

[Letien]

Congratulation! Excellent set and I love every single shot.
I have never been in this area but I have no doubt that these people could be very happy living their lives the same way their ancestors had lived for thousands year. They just don't waste their time speculating on what they don't have!

 

[kiemchacsu]

Appreciated all the comments, here are some more:

#6

1304_HGiang_09_fomapan_rodinal by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

#7

1304_HGiang_07_fomapan_rodinal by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

#8: I still dont know why the tribe ladies tend to sit for hours on edge of mountain.

1304_HGiang_17_fomapan_rodinal by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

#9: thanks for the rapidly development of telecommunication, now mobile phone has become very popular here: cheap tariff and device also.

1304_Hgiang_12_tri-x_rodinal_roll1 by kiemchacsu, on Flickr

 

[Contarama]

Great photos sir...

These folks have what the rest of us have lost I think...

 

[lynnb]

Trung, thank you for sharing these, I love your photographs. I would have missed this thread had you not returned and added to it.

Kind regards,

 

[bk1970]

Wonderful photos!

 

[darya151]

Vietnam

Vietnam

"Helen - I think you see STRUGGLE through your NYC filter, and if I were to put on my "adult-life in Southern California" filter, I would see the same struggle. But if I were to see the photos through my "born and raised in SE Asia" filter, I do not see struggle, but rather harmony. Just saying..."

-Keith[/QUOTE]

These photos reflect how people are living, with artistry and feeling. Can't we look at what these images express without viewing them through a 'personal filter?' There's something very real going on.
Darya

 

[Paulbe]

Trung--great photos and thanks for posting!
If I were near the edge of a mountain--with all that beautiful scenery--I'd sit there for hours, too! Those folks look pretty happy to me--and they seem to take good care of their pets as well.
Thanks again!
Paul