I recently had the pleasure of visiting Authentique Home ceramics in Saigon and photographing the intricate hand painting of their individually made ceramics. Another example of a great local business doing beautiful hand crafted work, that I knew nothing about. I have to get out more. A few frames from my time there.
Lost, on a painted sky.
A series of images that I shot for a photo essay on Kite Flying for the January issue of Oi Magazine. I had no idea that this pastime was so popular in Saigon and the location for these shots was right under my nose, a stones throw from where I live!
Don't try this at home. Katori Shinto Ryu in Saigon, Vietnam.
Last week I lucked on to an annual gathering of martial arts experts from around the world who were holding their get together in Saigon for the third year running. Hosted by Katori Vietnam there were experts from various disciplines from as far afield as Russia in attendance.
Some images form the afternoons excitement are below.
Vietartians. Charity begins at home. Vinh Long, Mekong Delta, Vietnam.
I was very fortunate to spend a day in the Mekong Delta last month to photograph the good work of Lily Phan and Vietartisans. Founded by Lily the organization teaches underprivileged woman skills in calligraphy, silk screen printing and book binding, amongst other things. The women work in a beautiful setting in Vinh Long on the banks of the Mekong where they make the most exquisite gifts with the flavor of Vietnam.
Corporate gifts are a specialty.
Lily is a powerhouse of energy, a super cool lady and an excellent portrait subject. I had a thoroughly enjoyable day. Photo's appear in the December issue of Oi Magazine.
Check out the website www.vietartisans.org.
Lily Phan.
Eggcentricity in Saigon
I photographed a cafe for Oi Vietnam Magazine recently where they make the coffee from two beaten egg yolks. The finished coffee is delicious and tastes almost like tiramisu. Here are a few humorous photo's from the shoot that ended up on the cutting room floor.
The Fog of War. The War Remnants Museum, Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
I found myself, yesterday morning, at the War Remnants Museum in Saigon. Say what you will about this space and what it contains, a visit is always a confronting experience.
There was a group of maybe 30 high school students there, 14 or 15 year olds, boys and girls, who in that earlier time might have been combatants.
I was struck by this one boy who would repeatedly pause in front of some awful image from that war, now so long ago, read the inscription, hang his head as he tried to understand the enigma that was the Vietnam War, and then, slowly, he would reach out and touch the image with his hand. as he sought to understand that which was not understandable.
His simple act was beautiful, and it was moving.
These photographs, in the "Agent Orange" section are not good, in fact they are terrible, they are out of focus and poorly composed, like the Vietnam conflagration itself, but this boy's thoughtfulness was as moving as any of the terrible images that we, together, observed.
