Last Pix from Việt Nam

[Comanche]

Yeah, I know – I’ve been back from Việt Nam for the best part of a month, but there are still a few things I’d like to share from the trip. These are photos that I particularly liked, but they just didn’t seem to fit into any of the stories I posted. My solution? I’ll write a little mini-story about each otherwise unused photos.

Out in the countryside near Huê is a small Catholic village. My friend Cu showed it to me – and he said he’d only found it recently. You could tell the village had had a rough time of it after 1975. I saw what was once a church school, now abandoned and forlorn, as well as a partially built building I’ll guess was meant to be a rectory. Both buildings were in semi-ruins. With the opening up of Việt Nam since 1986, so has there been more religious freedom. Today the church building itself is in good repair – and the villagers practice their faith. This was taken on a Wednesday afternoon at five o’clock. The church bells rang, and people gathered for prayer. This shot was not posed – the boy was just part of the group of people in prayer.



I used my 17-40 f4 L for the shot, and it turned out okay shooting at ISO 3200. But, shots like this are what impelled me to buy a 16-35 f 2.8 (on the TPF, I might add) I would rather get the speed I need from glass, not ISO. Shooting this is RAW helped a lot.

I was wandering around the famous (or in my case, infamous) Dong Ba market with Cu one day. (It’s infamous to me because it is so crowded – and I don’t do well in crowds.) It is the very large central market in Huê, and we were looking for obligatory “market shots.” Cu started talking with this lady and something he said just cracked her up. Her laugh was infectious.



(Just a side thought – do you suppose this lady would still be happy if she had a payment due on her new BMW and had to fill the tank at today’s prices just to get to the market twice a day?

I’m just sayin’.)

The shot was taken with my 24-105 f 4 IS. At home, I don't use it much, but this proved to be a wonderful "walk-around" lens. It stayed on the camera most of the time unless I knew I needed another focal length.

It was at the very beginning of the rice harvest in central Việt Nam when I was there in April. I’m here to tell you folks – this is hard, back-breaking work. But I found one family that seemed to joke around with each other a lot. In this case, the smile is not for me or the camera – the smile was for another member of the family who was standing behind me holding two fingers over my head. I guess this proves the old premise that the mere presence of a photographer changes the scene, whether we are trying to take candid shots or not.



Used the 17-40 for the shot.

One of my assignments took me into the countryside to a preschool. As the old saying goes, you can’t go wrong taking pictures of kids or puppies. In this case, the problem was trying to stay clear of a mass of giggling, finger-poking, squirming kids in order to take any photos. While most of the boys were trying to put a fingerprint on my lens, this little girl stayed off to one side – just watching to see what would happen with the big foreigner and his giant camera.



I switched over to the 70-200 f 2.8 for this shot because I wanted to isolate the girl from the background. However - astute observers will see my screwup - I forgot to change my ISO setting when I came back outside after shooting in the classroom. But - not too bad for ISO 3200, eh?

It was a fun trip - if any of you would like to go with me on a trip, let me know.

[PIC]

Kool.
Where does the bus go next ???

EL

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by PIC

Kool.
Where does the bus go next ???

EL

The bus goes to New Mexico tomorrow morning.

But - assuming you mean "when does the bus go next" to Viet Nam, I will be returning for a short two-week trip at towards the end of July - exact date yet to be determined.

Just remember - its hotter than the hubs of hell in central Viet Nam this time of year, but I'll introduce you to my friend Cu who can find shots you'll never get on your own.

EDIT: Ooops - I just realized you wrote "where." Yeah, off to the mountains of northern New Mexico.

[CaptainTom]

wonderful as usual Doug.

Puts a different perspective on the day to day complaining and bitching around here about gas prices, food prices, politics, Sex in the City, etc.
Reminds me that there is a whole other world out there if you can just step out of your box and take a look around.

[AllenAyres]

Right Tom :)

Great photos and story Doug, thank you for posting them.

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

wonderful as usual Doug.

Puts a different perspective on the day to day complaining and bitching around here about gas prices, food prices, politics, Sex in the City, etc.
Reminds me that there is a whole other world out there if you can just step out of your box and take a look around.

If I remember, Tom, you spent a little time in Viet Nam a long time ago.

Me too.

And yes, it is a very different world - in some ways - but people are people wherever they are. They just bitch about different things. However - having said that - there is something deep down in the Vietnamese national character that makes most of them optimists.

[lhdvies]

As usual Doug, nice work (and thks for it). The curious expression on the little girl's face is priceless-a great photo.

[PIC]

Originally Posted by Comanche

The bus goes to New Mexico tomorrow morning.

But - assuming you mean "when does the bus go next" to Viet Nam, I will be returning for a short two-week trip at towards the end of July - exact date yet to be determined.

Just remember - its hotter than the hubs of hell in central Viet Nam this time of year, but I'll introduce you to my friend Cu who can find shots you'll never get on your own.

EDIT: Ooops - I just realized you wrote "where." Yeah, off to the mountains of northern New Mexico.

Taos is cooler but Cu connection is interesting !
Just got to make up a good reason for Mama ...

EL

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by PIC

Taos is cooler but Cu connection is interesting !
Just got to make up a good reason for Mama ...

EL

Yep - I'll be in Taos. I used to live in New Mexico, and we're heading for a place called Angel Fire, in the mountains east of Taos. I intend to show two kids a little about photography - and can't of a better place than Taos Pueblo.

BTW - I'd love to have Cu come to America. I wonder what he'd like to shoot the most.

[PIC]

Originally Posted by Comanche

Yep - I'll be in Taos. I used to live in New Mexico, and we're heading for a place called Angel Fire, in the mountains east of Taos. I intend to show two kids a little about photography - and can't of a better place than Taos Pueblo.

BTW - I'd love to have Cu come to America. I wonder what he'd like to shoot the most.

Know the place and Pueblo.
Have a safe and sane one.
That would be interesting ,,, how those outside of America would render it ...

EL

[semperaggie]

I like them all, especially the third because of the composition.

Thank you for including some details about how you took the pictures as well. Those are great for learners like myself!

[ThiNguyen]

I am going there soon. I will post some pictures when I am there or when I am back.

Thi

[Comanche]

Thi - I am really looking forward to seeing your work. I assume you speak Vietnamese - and that is one of my biggest problems - I could know so much more about the people and the culture.

Safe trip - and send lots of posts.