Hanoi captured on classic film cameras

A unique exhibition displaying the million faces of Hanoi has opened in the city’s Old Quarter.
Hanoi captured on classic film cameras ảnh 1Fountain, a photo by Le Tuan Anh (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - A unique exhibition displaying the million faces of Hanoihas opened in the city’s Old Quarter.

While images of Hanoi taken on modern equipment are familiar, theshow is a rare opportunity to see photos taken on classic film cameras.

The colour and monochrome photos are divided into five themes:landscape, cultural life, people, daily life, and art and culture.

All of the photos were carefully selected to ensure image qualityand the content they deliver.

The exhibition aims to portray the artistic side and classicbeauty of Hanoi captured by film cameras, an old method largely bypassed in thecurrent era of digital technology. These snippets of Hanoi reflect the essenceof the city from the perspectives of film camera users.

A few decades ago, classic film cameras and film rolls werefamiliar items for photography lovers. However, the boom in digital cameratechnology has gradually overtaken film as the chosen method of takingpictures.

“It doesn’t mean we have forgotten the classic cameras and thatthey will disappear, because they have values that digital cameras do not,”said photographer Trung Thanh.

“One of these values is the actual sentiment of taking a shot,then waiting and developing it with tender care. The finished photo is all themore special because it is the one and only reflection of a specific momentwhich cannot be adjusted or upgraded.”

The exhibition consists of around 100 photos taken by 30professional and amateur photographers from Hanoi and other Vietnameselocalities. They are members of the Classic Film Camera and Photography, VietnamFilm Photo, 36 Lab and Coffee-Zone 5 forums.

In addition, there are many short movie clips about life in thecity that are part of the celebration. “Through the exhibition, we can feel thelove of photographers for Hanoi,” said Le Tuan Anh, a member of the organisingboard.

“Hanoi is always attractive and inspirational for photographerswith four distinct seasons, for example, the spring has a cool climate, themorning mist unfurling on the street, peach flower petals floating on thebreeze; the autumn covers streets with leaves falling, the alternating sunshimmering through the leaves. Each season has a flower blossom.”

“The familiar corners, the lively street life, the old roofs andthe poetic landscape changing when the seasons shift are an endless inspirationfor the photographers.”

The exhibition Film and Hanoi will run until September 3 at the HoGuom Information and Culture Centre, 2 Le Thai To Street, Hanoi.-VNA
VNA

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