HCM CITY — A photo book of female nude shot by veteran photographer Thái Phiên of HCM City has been released in HCM City.  

The 465-page book, Miền Cổ Tích (Fairytale Land), includes 95 black-and-white and colour pictures selected from his collections.

Phiên, a member of the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP), began working in nudes 10 years ago.

“I’ve worked very hard to highlight the beauty of the female body as well as promote the art to the public,” said Phiên.

Phiên is one of the country’s leading photographers who regularly shoot nudes. But they have faced prejudice from society against their nude photos.

In 2007, photos from his Springtime by Thái Phiên, the country’s first photo book of nudes, were shown at an exhibition in HCM City. 

The Việt Nam Association of Photographic Artists gave the book an award, and the Voice of Hồ Chí Minh City recognised the book as one of the city’s top 10 cultural events of 2008.

However, later, Phiên was not allowed to hold a similar exhibition of his nude photos in Hà Nội and Huế.

Miền Cổ Tích is his third photo book of nudes. 

“Nude photography has evoked conflicting opinions from the public for several decades, even though nude paintings have been accepted. Photographers face challenges as they seek to develop their art,” said Hạo Nhiên, a photographer who has more than 20 years of experience but only five years in shooting nudes.

Last year, Nhiên organised the country’s first photo exhibition of female nudes at the HCM City Fine Arts Association.  

The event, titled Tạo Tác (Beauty), featured 50 black-and-white works selected from his collection of more than 500 photos.

More than 2,000 copies of Phiên’s Miền Cổ Tích, published by Hồng Đức Publishing House, are available at bookstores. — VNS