Photographer Nguyễn Á at the book launch. — Photo courtesy of nguoidothi.net

Photographer Nguyễn Á has released two new books published by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Publishing House. Some of the 100 photos from the books were displayed at the Youth Cultural House in HCM City recently.

VNA's daily Thể Thao & Văn Hóa (Culture & Sports) reporter Lâm Hạnh spoke with the author about his new books.

As a veteran photographer, you have made photo books in your career. Could you tell us the inspiration for this project?

I made the books entitled Returning to Côn Đảo: Memoirs of Ex-Death-Row Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners and The Unexploded Mines Sweeping Team. I released them on July 27 which was War Invalids and Martyrs Day. People think that I made the first one to mark this day. But this wasn't actually my intention.

There are two reasons for me making the book Returning to Côn Đảo. Firstly, I admire the spirit of the political prisoners who were sent to Côn Đảo Island by the Sài Sòn regime. However, I think that they are not featured enough. The other reason is that the former prisoners aged around 80 so I made the book to respect those who dedicated their youth and their life to the cause of national liberation.

In the second book, The Unexploded Mines Sweeping Team, I took photos of members of the Restoring the Environment and Neutralising the Effects of the War (RENEW) project funded by Norwegian People's Aid that clears unexploded mines and bombs left behind from the war in the central province of Quảng Trị.

I think the young people working on the project are the young generation who will inherit the strong spirit of the former prisoners.

Although they work in peacetime, their work is fraught with danger for themselves with the aim of keeping a peaceful life. They are also courageous.

Could you share about the difficulties you had making the books?

I've published nearly 20 photo books, but I put pressure on myself to make the books in a different way not boring the readers. I thought a lot about shooting methods and camera angles.

The most difficult was to organise the trip to the former Côn Đảo Prison with the ex-prisoners. With help from the Ex-Côn Đảo Political Prisoners Liaison Committee, I could contact them. After that, we proposed the project to the HCM City's People Committee. We were also funded VNĐ300 million (roughly US$19,000) from the committee for the trip to Côn Đảo.

I spend VNĐ200 million of my own on the project.

It wasn't just financial difficulty but also the health of the former prisoners that was my worry. I wished the trip to be successful and that no one had problems with their health.

Frankly, I would not carry the project if I did not get support from the city and the former prisoners.

I made an effort to compile the book but it hasn't fully satisfied my curiosity yet. I will continue to make books with this theme.

With the second book, the key was to follow the organisation's rules to ensure safety when out clearing unexploded mines and bombs. Luckily, I got into contact with its members when I came to Quảng Trị Province.

What difference did you find between the old and the young people in your books?

During the trip to Côn Đảo Island the former prisoners told me that this could be their last trip. I don't know if it's because of that or because they have a strong spirit but I see them as young, although everyone has to carry medicine with them.

Those are people who had a meaningful youth and are vibrant elders.

As for the young people in the mine-sweeping team, they are living their best and most disciplined days - like real soldiers.

How did you feel about the subjects when shooting them?

They moved me. They meet and care for each other with small things and they reminisced about unforgettable experiences of their days in prison.

The young people in the mine-sweeping team also made me tear up when they said that they had witnessed friends lose their lives or get injured by landmines.

Of course, this job gives them a good income, but if they are not brave, they can still make a living from other jobs.

These people inspire me and give me good energy. They remind me to live a disciplined life with the manners of a soldier. Both the old and the young have shown me what it means to be dedicated in life.

Covers of the new books by photographer Nguyễn Á. — Photo courtesy of nguoidothi.net

What photos bring a tear to your eye?

The cover photo of Tử Tù, Cựu Tù Côn Đảo - Ngày Trở Về. There was a group of tourists to Côn Đảo and they knew about our group there. They were told stories by the former prisoners. All people including me shed a tear. I could not set up that moment.

Or photo I took ex-prisoner Lê Hồng Tư who helped me to complete my work. He could not go with our group to Côn Đảo because his wife was sick. Right after his wife got better, he went with only me to Côn Đảo. He is an indispensable character in the book.

How did you make the theme?

I liked to imagine the colours of the book when shooting. I use warm and vintage colours to feature the former prisoners and show the gratitude of the young generation to them.

The book on the young people uses cool colours. The women went first to search for unexploded mines ensuring safety and then I followed them taking the photos.

Editing is the most difficult and time consuming process. I edit carefully to choose the photos and write capitons. Plus, it is not easy to take photos of old people. I have to change to different camera angles.

They told me they like this book. It makes me happy.

You have won awards for your books. Do you hope these new books will receive awards?

If the books are awarded it will be great. I will be happy because my effort is recorgnised and I will have more money which will help me to do the next project.

The organisations and units order me to make books so I have a chance to do what I like. I still like my job. It is the happiness of an artist.

Photography is the work of a triangle: me, the lens, and the character and all three have to work together in harmony. When my heart is innocent, everything naturally will be right. — VNS