(VOVworld) – Veteran photographer Quang Phung has spent close to 60 years capturing historic moments and the beautiful everyday life of Hanoians. His silent meaningful contribution has won him the prize “For the love of Hanoi” also known as “Bui Xuan Phai” prize.

Born in 1932 in Ha Dong, Phung learned photography by himself because of his passion for this art. Working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Phung captured and collected many photos of great value including those featuring Hanoi’s liberation in October 1954 and the 12 days and nights of the Dien Bien Phu in the air campaign in 1972. He then began to portray the everyday life in Hanoi, the Restored Sword or Hoan Kiem lake, the Old Quarter, and changes in the capital city from scenery to architecture and lifestyle. Phung says each of his photos has a story and he can remember the names and home villages of many characters in his photos: “Human is the primary focus of my works about Hanoi. I followed street vendors in the early morning to their lodgings to see how they managed to live in Hanoi. I wondered if they had health insurance or if they could return to their home villages.”

Phung said photography is an effective means to store images, events, ideas and feelings. His photos not only depict the beauty of life but also portray historic moments and society in a truthful way. Phung was the first photographer in Vietnam that had a caricature photo exhibition about drug addiction. Phung said photography reflects the good, the genuine and the beautiful so as to make appropriate adjustments in society. He says that each photo is an angle, behind which are questions that need to be answered: “Photography is of great documentary value. Photographers must be at the sites of the happenings and fear nothing. For instance, when I took the photos for my exhibition about drug addiction in Hanoi, I had to face criminals and drug addicts. An artist never fears because his love is beyond danger.”       

Though Phung is already in his 80s and has recently suffered a stroke, Phung waded in rain water during downpours to take photos near Hoan Kiem lake. His wife, Nguyen Thi Chin, says: “The weather was stormy and I was very worried because he did not return home. I called the shop where he works but he was not there. He came home at 2PM wet from top to toe.”

Phung has inspired his granddaughter Minh Anh with his love of Hanoi. Minh Anh is in high school but also nurtures the dream of following in her grandfather’s footsteps. She says: “When I saw him work with joy, I thought that his photos would make people happy and that’s why I decided to learn photography. I will take photos of Hanoi like my grandfather and my focus will be the old quarter and Hoan Kiem lake.”

As a Hanoi native, photographer Quang Phung has spent most of his life to capture the everyday stories of the city with the ultimate goal of beautifying life here.