Photographer Minh Hoa: Every homeland is our Fatherland

As a veteran photographer with many viral works on the internet, loved by the community - most recently the photo series of the Vietnam Air Force at Bien Hoa Airport; the photo of Ho Chi Minh City with the view of Ba Den Mountain on the horizon - photographer Minh Hoa shared with Dong Nai Weekend the secret to his success in photography.

14 pilots board the SU30-MK2 cockpit, preparing to take off from Bien Hoa Airport at dawn on April 12, through the lens of photographer Minh Hoa.

45 years of professional photography by photographer Minh Hoa (60 years old) is associated with the genre of high-quality commercial photography and photos of landscapes, architecture, culture, and history of his homeland - what he is most proud of and many people affectionately call him "the visual historian".

Multi-purpose, multi-tasking, flexible

* What does photography mean to you that makes you spend your whole life capturing moments and the beauty of time?

- For me, each photo, each photograph is a moment captured to tell a meaningful story to the viewer. In the genre of commercial advertising, high fashion , wedding, portrait photography... my forte, I often take photos according to the script, the needs of the customer, sometimes not completely according to my own wishes, but I always try to balance the artistic quality to have photos that are right for the customer and also create inspiration and satisfaction for myself.

Photographer Minh Hoa teaches architectural heritage photography to young people.

I love landscape, architecture, cultural heritage works… the most and I take photos according to my preferences when I have the chance. Especially on days with good weather, bright sunshine or breathtaking sunsets, I take photos with the vibration of my soul and the feeling of love for the beauty of my homeland.

* Nowadays, in your opinion, is it true that a flexible photographer "holds two guns": a digital camera and a camera phone?

- Yes. For example, I currently use a Canon R5 Mark II with a lens range from super wide angle 10mm to telephoto 500mm to be able to take most types of high-quality professional photos for work. At the same time, when I go out, I always carry a Vivo smartphone equipped with a ZEISS lens for very good image and video quality.

I always shoot in RAW format, then post-process with software to get the best possible quality, even when shooting with my phone. In addition, a drone (with a safety license) is essential for high-altitude panoramas and is very convenient for high places that cannot be climbed.

A rare clear view of Ba Den Mountain from Ho Chi Minh City at the exact moment an airplane flew across the sky, captured by photographer Minh Hoa at 6:07 p.m. on June 29, has gone viral online.

* In your opinion, what is the most important technical thing to take a photograph of?

- The most important part for me is the light and I keep in mind the saying: "Light is the teacher of photography and cinema". For shooting techniques, you can take classes from basic to advanced, or self-study on the internet... But a beautiful photo is not enough, it must have "soul" and a story to touch the viewer's emotions. If you take a portrait, you need to learn about the character's personality and information to easily capture the character's spirit and emotions.

"I take photos of the city where I live with the perspective and feelings of gratitude for the land where I was born and raised" - Mr. Minh Hoa said.

The value of photos is a legacy for future generations.

* Your landscape photos of Vietnamese provinces and cities are a source of inspiration for photography lovers. How dedicated are you to this genre?

- In the early stages of taking up photography, I pursued commercial photography to make a living, take care of my family, and raise my children. In the following years, I had more time to take photos of projects that left a personal mark on me, such as taking photos of sunrise and sunset, the most beautiful moments of light during the day. I took so many photos that I discovered that each sunrise and sunset angle is different each season; or the sun is most beautiful from January to April each year.

I don't dare to call myself "a visual historian" because every day I still research documents, learn from previous generations, the great people who research history, cultural origins, place names..., and then take photos of my homeland in a way that I understand, "absorb" and am proud of.

I think the value of images is a legacy left for future generations. Future generations looking back at photos will always cherish the history and heritage, the development process of a land. From there, they will be aware of protecting works of historical value, national pride, and a deep awareness that "any homeland is home" when merging geography and adjusting place names to symbiosis and solidarity for better development in the new era.

A photo taken by photographer Minh Hoa of architect Naomi Thuy Nguyen at the "Tui - Colors of Life" exhibition opening on July 25 in Ho Chi Minh City.

* What are some useful tips from you for young photojournalists and photographers?

- Young people should learn the basics of photography very firmly. Gain a lot of experience in using light in photography. Study the shooting operations on the camera very smoothly so that when you need to take a quick photo at the scene, you don't have to worry about technical factors anymore. At that time, you need a keen eye to observe, find unique shooting angles based on experience, the ability to predict and feel to have impressive, different, creative photos.

Before taking a photo, I always have the habit of carefully studying the message, core requirements of the project, the company's identity, the scale of the event... to think of ideas, form a "frame" before taking the photo and taking the camera to capture the precious moment. In short, if you want to enter the path of professional photography and not just stop at the level of "mid-level profession", you need to have 2 important factors: technique and passion.

* Thank you!

“I like new ideas, I don’t like to retake or copy other authors’ ideas. Photography in particular, and art in general, requires creativity and your own uniqueness,” photographer Minh Hoa shared.

Trung Nghia (performed)

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202507/nhiep-anh-gia-minh-hoa-vung-troi-que-huong-nao-cung-la-to-quoc-4fa2c0f/