Vietnam Trip - Some Photos

[fleetwoodjazz]

Just engaged myself in a 3 weeks long trip to Vietnam...I though of what to bring with me and in the end only carried one 35mm f2 Biogon for ease of travelling.

I consistently found that maybe the Nokton 35mm 1.2 was a more universal lens as shooting indoors is a real challence with the Biogon. Also find that the images look like they were taken by a tele-lens as there were virtually no distorsion to speak of.

Anyway, just want to show some images.... don't take these seriously and happy new year 🙂

Thanks.

 

[bgb]

very nice images ... well done 🙂

how do the Vietnamese feel about having their photos taken?

or does it depend on the region and the photographer ie sneaky quiet little rangefinder vs dirty big slr with a huge lens

I like the first and the last ones best

Happy New Year

 

[Trius]

Holy crap these are good! You have just proven the "truth" of "one lens".

Congrats on wonderful work.

 

[cmdrzed]

Those are some excellent photos! Very nice.

 

[fleetwoodjazz]

Generally the Vietnamese are rather opened to photographers. These photos were taken in the rural part of the country so the altitude may be different in big cities like Saigon or Hanoi.

On the other hand, being a Vietnamese I don't get...say rebuked that much :d

 

[kitaanat]

Many nice shots here. I've visited Vietnam in 1991 but never go this place. In the northern around the border? Some Vietnamese tell me that they don't want to take a photo of three people, they believe that the one in the middle will be in bad luck. This is one of an interesting country to visit. I also met someone from a small tribe call "Tai" which I can understand what they said because it similar to my language. I agree that Vietnamese are friendly to photographers.

kitaanat

 

[__hh]

These are truly unique photos from VN. Glad to see a Vietnamese person on the forum!

 

[fotomeow]

Really nice compositions, colors, and (decisive) "moments". Just curios-were these digital or film? (if film, type of film used?)
Gary

 

[fleetwoodjazz]

I shot these using very cheap Fuji Superia X-tra film.

You should be very careful when expecting the result as processing makes quite a big difference. I sent these to a C-41 lab and suspect that the lab did not really do a good job.

Look at the two Kodak CN400 photos below (also developed by the same C41 lab) you can find that the photos are not sharp and don't have the "solid metal black" contrast which I normally find using the same film. This only to say that developing process may not give you the same result.

Cheers

P/s: yes, the Vietnamese don't like photos of 3 persons. I have been living abroad for way too long to remember this. I plan to have another 2 weeks travelling in Vietnam next April so do PM me if anyone is interested :d

 

[punkromance]

Both amazing. Definitely my favourites.
I was in Vietnam over summer. Stunning country, but it did my head in. It was the final destination on the two month SE Asia leg of my trip, and being 6'3 and very self conscious, I couldn't wait to get back to a place where I wasn't stared at by absolutely everyone for being more than a foot taller than every other person in the country.

 

[zenlibra]

Excellent photos!

 

[pakeha]

regardless of the very `cheap' film, the composition, framing and subject selection is great, i like.

 

[amateriat]

These look stunning. Whatever processing "limitations" you had to deal with, I can't tell from looking at these (online, admittedly). Did you make the scans yourself, or have the lab do it? This can make a difference.

Again, wonderful work.


- Barrett

 

[fleetwoodjazz]

The lab did it all from developing to scan - again as you rightly pointed out, scan (post processing) can give different results.

In the past I used to burden myself with all film - chemical selection to print and scan and yet, the result was very mediorce.

So I decided to free myself a little, concentrate on taking the photos, not to be a gear head. I now carry less, processing less and spend more time with the social environment I am involved to take photos.

 

[meven]

Great series! They are all very very good.

 

[bgb]

"So I decided to free myself a little, concentrate on taking the photos, not to be a gear head. I now carry less, processing less and spend more time with the social environment I am involved to take photos."

What ever you are doing is working, not only is this group of photos excellent but your work on Flick is outstanding.

I might have to consider Vietnam as a possible destination ... but at 195cm I might not be totally stealth

Please post more work from Vietnam 🙂

 

[fleetwoodjazz]

Yes, do come if you can...Vietnam is a hidden beauty as they say.
Some more photos as I still wait for my negatives to be developed 😛.

1. This guy was hurting himself as he tried to squash a bee 🙂)

2. The little lady was rushing to tie up her falling rope as she noticed how many males were around - including me :d

3. This lady was deliberatedly trying to put on an innocent face.

4. His reaction when I disturbed his "skying game"

5. The last season in the market with her mother before going to school.

6. As I bid farewell to the kids 🙂

The below photos were taken with a medium format camera which belongs to our travel group.

7. Studying time

8. The Common Room

9. The Kitchen - I don't know if it is meant for farm animal food or human food.

Cheers

 

[Phantomas]

Fantastic! Love these, thanks for sharing.

 

[papasnap]

stunning photos! bloody excellent, great work!

the 35mm f1.2 nokton is a terrific all rounder for going from day to night, but you sure know how to use that biogon!

 

[HuubL]

Great shots! I'm going to Vietnam in three weeks. I'll bring my M6 and 35mm. If I get back with shots just half as nice as yours, I'll consider myself a true photographer 😉