A photo by Nicholas Cornet.

HÀ NỘI — A series of photography events will be the focus this month with workshops and exhibitions at the French Cultural Centre (L’espace) in Hà Nội.

Entitled Hà Nội, Tuổi 20 Tươi Đẹp (To Be 20 in Hanoi, Young Is Beautiful), the event being is held to inspire and encourage Hà Nội-based professional photographers.

Participants aged from 18-26, including Vietnamese and foreigners, will be guided by French veteran Nicholas Cornet along with Bình Đặng and Mai Nguyên Anh to build a visual story

“Many young photographers have to learn by themselves,’ said Cornet. “It is good but maybe it is more difficult for them to have some notions which are abstract like building a narrative through photography.”

By making a set of photos themselves the participants will improve their skills from a personal perspective based on their own stories and life experiences.

The participants will attend a two-day workshop on May 16 & 17 to learn important skills about to take photos which help them to express their ideas, views and feelings.

The aim is to help young photographers to build photo essays and assist them in producing and working a consistent story, according to Cornet.

“We expect participants to be able to set up personal works or short documentaries to express their feelings, point of view or state of mind in photography.

“If they feel confident enough they will be able to approach media outlets and pitch their photo essays. Some other participants will be working on a more personal scale and they will be able to display their portfolios online or at festivals in Việt Nam and abroad,” he said.

Cornet is journalist and photographer working both in Europe and Asia. He has collaborated with major European newspaper and magazines such as L’Espress and Le Monde, as wells as film crews and TV documentaries.

Cornet has published six photo books on Việt Nam and Southeast Asia.

Đặng is magazine photographer and is known for his project on social issues. Visual artist Anh completed a one-year course at the International Centre of Photography in New York and he was the recipient of the Open Category at the Objectifs Documentary Awards in 2018.

At the end of the event the best photos will be displayed at Matca Café in Hà Nội from May 24-26. — VNS