Swirls of colour, sparkles of light and shadow and the interference ofcultures are key themes at Italian photographer Maurizio Cofini'songoing photo exhibit in Hanoi.
The 26-picture collection,entitled Italy-Vietnam: Distant Colours, features a unique view oflandscapes and people from various regions of Italy and Vietnam.
Itforms part of the Italy-Vietnam 2014 Programme framework and will runat the Casa Italia at 18 Le Phung Hieu Street till November 20.
"Ifound his photos on popular landscapes in Vietnam interesting andfresh. They include Sword Lake in downtown Hanoi, Tam Coc and Hoa Lu innorthern Ninh Binh province and Bac Ha market in northern Lao Caiprovince," said retiree Bui Quang Anh.
"Sword Lake looks sostrange, with the image of the Tortoise Tower in the middle of the lakeas seen through branches of trees, while Bac Ha market is simplyrepresented with rolls of colourful wool," Anh remarked.
Cofinitold Vietnam News that he has travelled through most of Vietnam duringseven visits to the country and preferred travelling along small lanesto capture residents' daily lives.
"I have found an even more peaceful life here than in Italy," he admitted.
Cofini revealed that he always took pictures naturally, with feelings, and had never used photoshop.
Pointingat a photo of Ha Long Bay taken through the rusty window of a fishingvessel, he recalled nearly everything about his night cruise on thatbay.
"The ship captain and I spoke to each other a lot, though wedid not understand each other," Cofini said. "He taught me todistinguish between sounds of the sea such as wind, waves and fish."
Cofini added that a street corner full of wastewater and rubbish was one of his favourite pictures of Rome.
"An Italian photo critic reminded me about taking pictures of ugly things to imply beauty," he said.
Startingat a young age in theatre work, Cofini befriended a photographer who,by chance, taught him how to take pictures with heart and feelings.
Cofinialso admitted that the style of noted 16th century Italian painterMichelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, who used only a source of light tolight up various layers of objects featured in paintings, influenced hiswork.
A winner of numerous awards in Italy, Cofini is apassionate reporter who has travelled many times throughout the Far Eastand Southeast Asia.
Dedicated to Vietnam, the collection had been displayed in Rome in 2009.
In2010, another photo exhibit dedicated to Vietnam and Cambodia andentitled "Mosaic of Imagination: Vietnam and Angkor" was likewise shownin Rome.
Also in 2010, the photos were featured in a book of thesame name published by Casa Editrice Anicia, an Italian publishinghouse.-VNA
The 26-picture collection,entitled Italy-Vietnam: Distant Colours, features a unique view oflandscapes and people from various regions of Italy and Vietnam.
Itforms part of the Italy-Vietnam 2014 Programme framework and will runat the Casa Italia at 18 Le Phung Hieu Street till November 20.
"Ifound his photos on popular landscapes in Vietnam interesting andfresh. They include Sword Lake in downtown Hanoi, Tam Coc and Hoa Lu innorthern Ninh Binh province and Bac Ha market in northern Lao Caiprovince," said retiree Bui Quang Anh.
"Sword Lake looks sostrange, with the image of the Tortoise Tower in the middle of the lakeas seen through branches of trees, while Bac Ha market is simplyrepresented with rolls of colourful wool," Anh remarked.
Cofinitold Vietnam News that he has travelled through most of Vietnam duringseven visits to the country and preferred travelling along small lanesto capture residents' daily lives.
"I have found an even more peaceful life here than in Italy," he admitted.
Cofini revealed that he always took pictures naturally, with feelings, and had never used photoshop.
Pointingat a photo of Ha Long Bay taken through the rusty window of a fishingvessel, he recalled nearly everything about his night cruise on thatbay.
"The ship captain and I spoke to each other a lot, though wedid not understand each other," Cofini said. "He taught me todistinguish between sounds of the sea such as wind, waves and fish."
Cofini added that a street corner full of wastewater and rubbish was one of his favourite pictures of Rome.
"An Italian photo critic reminded me about taking pictures of ugly things to imply beauty," he said.
Startingat a young age in theatre work, Cofini befriended a photographer who,by chance, taught him how to take pictures with heart and feelings.
Cofinialso admitted that the style of noted 16th century Italian painterMichelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, who used only a source of light tolight up various layers of objects featured in paintings, influenced hiswork.
A winner of numerous awards in Italy, Cofini is apassionate reporter who has travelled many times throughout the Far Eastand Southeast Asia.
Dedicated to Vietnam, the collection had been displayed in Rome in 2009.
In2010, another photo exhibit dedicated to Vietnam and Cambodia andentitled "Mosaic of Imagination: Vietnam and Angkor" was likewise shownin Rome.
Also in 2010, the photos were featured in a book of thesame name published by Casa Editrice Anicia, an Italian publishinghouse.-VNA
