A photo that is being presented at the “Tones of America” exhibition. — Photo courtesy of Nguyễn Huỳnh Bách

HCM CITY — A photo exhibition featuring the colourful, multi-polar urban life of the United States opened to the public at the Book Street on Nguyễn Văn Bình Street in HCM City’s District 1 on August 19.

Entitled Tones of America, the exhibition showcases 30 photos taken by Nguyễn Huỳnh Bách (Bill Nguyễn), a 11th grade student at Đinh Thiện Lý High School (Lawrence S.Ting School) in District 7.

The photos depict a multifaceted perspective of a young person about the life and people in the US cities and states that the author first set foot in.

Not choosing to capture famous majestic natural scenes in the country, he was attracted by the colourful, multi-polar urban life of the US.

During a month in the country, through his camera lens, Bill has captured unique moments with a youthful and creative photographic perspective.

According to curator photographer Hải Thanh, ‘Tones of America’ is a 'short diary' that chronicles his 30-day journey in the United States. “The diary recreates a new, multifaceted perspective of a young person, bringing interesting experiences to life through the lens of photography.”

“Bill sees this series as a small picture book, unable to reveal all of the ‘personalities’ of a country as large as America, nor can it cover all of the stories that occurred both inside and outside the trip, but it will provide an uncommon point of view. The photos appear simple in form, but the stories behind them are a mirror that reflects the reality of life in the world's most modern country,” Thanh said.

The photo series show a modern streetlife photography style, each work is a story that reflects the author’s freedom of thought, life perspective, and difference in the way of expressing the photo series with personal imprint.

The author skillfully uses photographic techniques to increase the visual effect for the viewers through colour, space, lines, and light.

Through the exhibition, Bill wants to convey a message to his peers that if you really have a passion, go ahead to do it. And if you are inspired and accompanied by adults, you will realise your ambition and be yourself in that passion, he said.

Bill, born in 2007, likes design, graphic design and has a talent for photography. While in 10th grade, he and his friends made a photobook named "Saigon around Chợ Lớn," which was exhibited at his school’s ‘Think Different’ exhibition.

The Tones of America exhibition will open until August 25.

The exhibition is a beginning for a series of projects that Bill plans to implement in the near future. Specifically, he will organise free photography skills sharing sessions for children in schools and groups to spread positive energy and confidence to young people about expressing their passions and looking for opportunities to show their abilities. — VNS