Hoan Kiem Lake

Digital cameras have amateurs drooling - Hoan Kiem Lake

If there’s a social gathering in Ha noi it will no doubt be punctuated by camera flashes and documented on the internet within a few hours.
A trend that started with engagement photographs in Lenin Park and family snapshots around Hoan Kiem Lake has grown into a widespread passion, with young people from every social stratum joining the fun. While some are pursuing careers in photography, others are simply nurturing a hobby, intrigued by the challenge of artistically capturing a moment in time.

Either way, the trend lends itself to a city-wide concern with image – among both photographers and their subjects (who are in ever-present danger of finding their smiling faces posted on the internet).

The new fascination with all things photogenic is made possible by an influx of cheap digital cameras on the local market.

"In the digital era, it’s super easy and cheap to buy a good camera and practise using it with amateur models, like your family and friends," says Thanh The Vinh, a graduate of Ha noi Fine Arts College.

Vinh began dabbling in photography six years ago with an old German Praktica camera he shared with a friend, trying to capture beautiful landscapes to create models for paintings.

However, he soon succumbed to the allure of slick new digital cameras and their bevy of accessories and began pursuing photography as its own art form.

Until recently, a newbie photographer had to learn to master a new skill set – including lens adjustment and printing and editing photographs – before taking to the streets with a camera. Now, anyone can point, shoot and upload in minutes.

"With just a digital camera, a good lens and photo-editing software, an amateur photographer can produce surprisingly impressive results," Vinh says.

Thanh Trung, a senior member of photography website xomnhiepanh.com, discovered he had a knack for photography while he was studying information technology. While Trung works as a computer programmer to pay the bills, his photographs have won acclaim, including a prize at the photography competition Banh Xe Thoi Gian (Wheel of Time) held by the Viet nam Canon Corporation last year.

"For a beginner, buying a reasonably priced digital camera is the top priority," he says.

Many amateur photographers aren’t as prudent as Trung, however, and find themselves heading down the slippery slope of buying expensive photography equipment like cameras, lenses, tripods and humidity-proof cases.

"The key is to understand what your camera can or cannot do," Trung says, explaining that many amateur photographers invest in fancy equipment without taking advantage of its benefits.

Vinh’s first camera cost about VND700,000 (US$44). Over the last six years, however, he has spent about $5,000 on accessories.

"It’s tempting to upgrade digital equipment. A $1,000 camera will shoot clearer and more beautiful photos than a cheaper one, provided that you can take advantage of its functions," Vinh says.

For those with money burning a hole in their pockets, the potential to upgrade photographic equipment is limitless. There is always a model that shoots faster, does away with digital noise and offers more manual options – for a price.

As photography becomes a popular hobby among Ha Noi residents with cash to spare, the owners of such equipment are increasingly inexperienced with photography and therefore often ignorant of how to use their new toys, according to Vinh.

Vinh says many of his fellow amateur photographers have spent thousands on camera equipment but seem more interested in looking professional among photography circles than in actually producing professional-quality photographs.

Many of these inexperienced enthusiasts may soon find their delicate equipment falling victim to Ha Noi’s humidity and dust. Le Ngoc Phuoc, a student at the University of Technology, haphazardly tried to clean the sensor in his camera with cotton and quickly realised that he needed to call in a professional.

"The more I tried to clean it, the more dirty and dusty it became. I was so worried that I ran to a reputable shop to have it fixed," Phuoc says.

Of course, for every amateur who’s more interested in showing off his or her toys than producing art, there’s a serious aspiring photographer. Not content to simply document his friends at parties, Vinh enjoys venturing to the countryside to find new subjects.

"Each time I go to a new place, I learn more about the country. It also gives me a chance to get to know local residents and their cultures, and of course to take unique photos," Vinh says.

(Source: VNS)

Tag: Culture , Ha Noi , Paintings , Viet Nam

Digital cameras have amateurs drooling - Hoan Kiem Lake

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