When workers act as photographers
(Baonghean.vn) - Round 1 of the "Beauty of Workers in Labor and Production" contest is taking place with great enthusiasm on the fanpages of the Nghe An Provincial Trade Union. With nearly 500 entries, the contest has become a diverse exhibition showcasing various professions and types of workers, evoking a wide range of emotions.
Perhaps no other photo contest in the province has brought together such a diverse range of professions, fields, perspectives, and jobs as this one."The beauty of workers in labor and production"Organized by the Provincial Federation of Labor, the competition featured entries from district and sectoral labor unions, encompassing a wide range of roles and professions, from doctors to teachers, from factory workers to farmers, from workshops to construction sites, from lowlands to highlands… Each entry offered unique perspectives on the culture and geography of each locality and enterprise. Because of this, despite the large number of entries, the works were far from monotonous; instead, they were diverse and multifaceted.
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| The contest received many beautiful photos of workers from all sectors. Photo: Provided by the Provincial Labor Union. |
The unique aspect of the competition lies in the fact that the photographers are workers, laborers living in the environment, deeply connected to the work, and familiar with their subjects. Perhaps this is why the photos possess such genuine emotion. In these photographs, one finds both triumphs and hardships, successes and difficulties, risks and opportunities… Without embellishment or staging, many entries touch the hearts of viewers with their authenticity, simplicity, and the unpretentious beauty of the working people. These include beads of sweat under eyebrows, soaked masks, grease-stained smiles, construction dust, and noisy, bustling assembly lines…
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| Photo: Provided by the Provincial Labor Union |
Sharing her thoughts on her entry, Ms. Dam Thi Thanh Thuy, an employee of Cua Lo Water Supply Joint Stock Company, confided: “The photo captures familiar scenes from our work installing water pipes and dealing with leaks. Rain or shine, day or night, whenever there's a problem, workers have to be there to handle it immediately. Seeing my colleagues wading through water, mud, and sand for hours, struggling with large pipes, I feel so much sympathy for them.”
Sharing about her emotionally charged work, Ms. Dinh Thi Trang from Luxshare - ICT Nghe An Co., Ltd. said: “The photo captures the joy of the workers holding the new product in their hands. The photo was taken in mid-September 2021, when the first batch of goods was successfully produced at a time when the pandemic situation was at its peak. To achieve this joy, there were days when the production line worked day shifts until nearly 8 PM, even 9 or 10 PM, and night shifts until 7:50 AM. Everyone strived to meet the shipping deadline. There were even times when exhaustion led to arguments, but in the end, we succeeded, and the customers were very satisfied with the progress and quality of the product. In recognition of the production line's efforts, the management of factory Bu11 gave meaningful gifts to encourage the team.”
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| The joy of workers at Luxshare-ICT Nghe An Co., Ltd. upon completing an order during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Provided by the Provincial Labor Union. |
Beyond the stories, the photographs also contain heartfelt reflections and profound insights. Sharing her thoughts on her entry, Ms. Nguyen Thi Cam Tu from Trung Lai Gas Lighter Company said: “Not everyone can do the job they love. But no matter what job you do, try your best, put your heart into it, and gradually you will find your passion for it.” Perhaps this reflection holds true for all the submitted photographs. With hundreds of jobs in hundreds of environments, the subjects in the entries all find their passion, live fully with it, and are happy with their own “mission.”
"Most of the entries were taken with ordinary mobile phones, without the careful adjustment of composition, color, and lighting like professional photographers. But it is precisely this natural, everyday quality that makes the competition a success; it truly reflects the beauty of working people, very real and relatable," commented one photographer.
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| The artwork "Drops of Sweat" is by author Ho Thi Ngan Ha - Trade Union of Thanh Xuan Stone Mining and Processing Joint Stock Company (Quy Hop). Photo: Provided by the Provincial Labor Federation. |
It's impossible to tell all the stories behind the more than 500 photos in this article, but perhaps the contest..."The beauty of workers in labor and production"The event organized by the Provincial Labor Union was a resounding success, exceeding expectations with its many meaningful messages and values. Although only a few works received awards at the end of May, it is certain that all of them deserved recognition. This is because they fulfilled their role in honoring workers and served as a "diary" in the overall picture of labor, production, recovery, and socio-economic development after the pandemic.
The photo contest "The Beauty of Workers in Labor and Production" was organized onWorkers' MonthIn 2022, the competition aimed to create a platform for workers, motivate and encourage them, and inspire enthusiasm in labor and production. Participants were workers directly employed at enterprises and non-public service units under the District, City, and Town Labor Federations, industry trade unions, and the Nghe An Sugar Cane Trade Union.
The entries are photographs documenting real-life activities.workersThe photo shows the employee working, laboring, and producing at their workplace, taken from January 2021 to the present, and has not been submitted to any other competitions.