At 75, Dinh Quang Thanh keeps travelling and shooting pictures at a moment’s notice.

LookAtVietnam Bridge - Photographer Dinh Quang Thanh leaves a strong impression on those who meet him. His nimble gestures, powerful voice and sparkling eyes are in complete contrast to the image one expects a 75-year-old man to possess.

They’d be more surprised if they were to follow him on his field trips and discover him whirling away with his equipment, joyfully exclaiming his compliments to nature’s bountiful beauties and the way he contorts his body, ready to shoot at a moment’s notice.

After completing a photographic exhibition featuring 92 works of art titled Tren Nhung Cong Trinh Xay Dung (On the Building Projects) in 2006, Thanh became the head of the 16-member Hong Ha Photographic

Thanh’s photo of a terraced rice field, part of a historical-cultural heritage site recognised by UNESCO in 2007.

Artists Group and travelled tirelessly through out the country, seeking "life materials" for his photo book.

"I’m full of energy, inspiration and I want to devote more to the photography circle as well as the national artistic field. Holding a camera and recording the most remarkable moments of life has been part of my flesh and blood for the last 50 years," said Thanh.

After doing a two-year photography course with the Vietnam News Agency in 1958, Thanh became the resident correspondent in Nam Dinh Province, when hostilities between France and Viet Nam were escalating.

Despite not being a war correspondent, Thanh

Ripening rice fields mark the festival season of the ethnic people in La Pan Tan Commune, Yen Bai Province.

was determined to rush into the fierce battlefields to document the happenings for the news agency. He snapped endless footage in battlefields from Nam Dinh, Hai Phong to Hue, Sai Gon. The photos of the army and people battling against the US’s torpedo campaign, the Spring 1975 general offensive Campaign, and the historical Ho Chi Minh Campaign were just some of the major events he was able to record. Thanh also followed the soldiers of Division 304 and Brigade 203 on the fight to Independence Palace. His photos of the nation’s red flag flying atop the palace on April 30, 1975 and the liberation army flashing their smiles were sent to the North and published in both the domestic and foreign press as a symbol of the country’s great victory.

Also, the photographer recorded his words to accompany the photos from a memorable trip made to the former Soviet Union in 1982 to document the astronaut Pham Tuan and his launch into space and orbit the earth. Although he had been well-prepared in aeronautical matters with a three week course in it, Thanh was anxious about the then advanced cameras he’d be using. To catch the moment the two astronauts stepped on the spacecraft’s shell – the symbol of Viet Nam – Russia relationship, Thanh had to trample down thorny trees and the burning sands of the desert to elbow his way through the correspondents’ crowd. It was only after he completed the mission did he realise that his feet were bleeding and burnt.

But his efforts were not wasted for even today, the image he captured is proudly displayed in the Viet Nam Air Force Museum.

His older brother Dinh Dang Dinh, also the former General Secretary of the Association of Photographic Artists, had the most influence on Thanh, particularly Dinh’s unique photos of President Ho Chi Minh. Both brothers had photographed Uncle Ho together but he walked away from the experience with perhaps the most valuable moment of his life.

"I only had the chance to see Uncle Ho twice, but those moments proved to be far more profound and I’ve carried the lessons learnt from those meetings throughout my career as a news photographer," said Thanh.

He recalled the time Uncle Ho visited Nam Dinh Province. After the meeting, Thanh followed the president to his resting place, which was once the campus of Nam Dinh Textile Mill. The image of the white haired Uncle Ho sitting on the veranda, in front of a flower garden filled with sunshine and singing birds urged Thanh to raise his camera.

"Uncle Ho gestured for me to stop and reminded me of the practical value of the photo. Only when the photographer knows the purpose and usefulness of the photo, should he raise his camera otherwise it’s a waste of time and money," said Thanh.

During Uncle Ho’s funeral ceremony, Thanh successfully shot the image of President Le Duan embracing crying children, sharing his loss with them. Fifteen years later, Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper published the photo on the cover page, enclosed with it a reader’s article from Thanh Hoa Province expressing his interest in the photo.

"I felt a strange emotion wash over me as I read through the article. That is the most valuable gift any photographer can hope for," he said.

After his retirement, Thanh continued to travel across the country and discover the hidden charms of the places he set foot in: from the peaceful images of the old village surrounded by banyan trees, water wells and a wharf, to the exciting atmosphere of spring festival with the traditional costumes, to capturing the images among the Northwest and Central Highland’s 54 ethnic minorities. During his 50-year career, he possessed a vast collection of thousands of beautiful moments, picking up many prizes along the way, including the Excellent Photographer of the Association of the Photographic Artists and the International Federation of Photographic Art. He is also one of the organisers of the Association of the Photographic Artists and Ha Noi Photography Association, and a familiar face on the board in many competitions.

He recalled the time Uncle Ho visited Nam Dinh Province. After the meeting, Thanh followed the president to his resting place, which was once the campus of Nam Dinh Textile Mill. The image of the white haired Uncle Ho sitting on the veranda, in front of a flower garden filled with sunshine and singing birds urged Thanh to raise his camera.

"Uncle Ho gestured for me to stop and reminded me of the practical value of the photo. Only when the photographer knows the purpose and usefulness of the photo, should he raise his camera otherwise it’s a waste of time and money," said Thanh.

During Uncle Ho’s funeral ceremony, Thanh successfully shot the image of President Le Duan embracing crying children, sharing his loss with them. Fifteen years later, Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper published the photo on the cover page, enclosed with it a reader’s article from Thanh Hoa Province expressing his interest in the photo.

"I felt a strange emotion wash over me as I read through the article. That is the most valuable gift any photographer can hope for," he said.

After his retirement, Thanh continued to travel across the country and discover the hidden charms of the places he set foot in: from the peaceful images of the old village surrounded by banyan trees, water wells and a wharf, to the exciting atmosphere of spring festival with the traditional costumes, to capturing the images among the Northwest and Central Highland’s 54 ethnic minorities. During his 50-year career, he possessed a vast collection of thousands of beautiful moments, picking up many prizes along the way, including the Excellent Photographer of the Association of the Photographic Artists and the International Federation of Photographic Art. He is also one of the organisers of the Association of the Photographic Artists and Ha Noi Photography Association, and a familiar face on the board in many competitions.

(Source: VNS)