Sy Minh and his "career" behind the camera.
(Baonghean) - I first met Sy Minh on a business trip to the mountainous region. Back then, his name was already famous, while I was just a young girl fresh out of school. However, the feeling of being overwhelmed vanished when I interacted and talked with this simple "artist." Sy Minh is open, youthful, and likeable, with a bright, gentle smile. He is simple and sincere, just like what he expresses in his works. He says that his love and passion for photography make it difficult for outsiders to guess his age. He's been passionate about it since his youth, and his artistic activities aren't for money, but simply to satisfy his personal hobby. From working as a photographer in the Culture sector, he's now nearly 50 years old, having experienced countless ups and downs with Baonghean Newspaper.
He always had a camera with him. He told me something that felt like he was "pouring his heart out": cameras are just tools; with good tools, you can complete the job faster and better, but the most important thing is what you photograph and how you photograph it. To this day, Sy Minh has tried his hand at almost all genres of photography, from news photography and everyday life to photojournalism, to nurture his passion for art photography, and he has achieved great success in every field.
In the past, capturing a beautiful photograph required a great deal of expense, having "burned thousands of film rolls," filling an entire photo archive. Now, using digital cameras, especially with the modern equipment provided by the Nghe An Newspaper, his passion and talent are further enhanced. He shared: "Throughout the years, I've 'carried' my camera to various rural areas, from mountainous regions to lowlands, from Central Vietnam to the South and North. Despite many years dedicated to photojournalism, most of my works draw inspiration from the working lives of people, the beautiful scenery of fields and gardens, and the development of my homeland and country..."
With over 20 years dedicated to photography, he has produced thousands of works in various genres, from news to art, serving the propaganda efforts and political tasks of the provincial Party newspaper. Not only does he supply photos to his own newspaper, but whenever there is an important provincial event, he shares his photos with colleagues, central and provincial newspapers, and several local newspapers and magazines, contributing to exhibitions promoting the province's image. He has also submitted hundreds of his works to national, regional, and international photography competitions and exhibitions. Whether journalistic, news, or art, Sỹ Minh's photos are authentic and very close to everyday life.
To date, Sy Minh has amassed a remarkable record of achievements, with nearly 70 awards in art photography and journalism from provincial to national, regional, and international levels. In 2006, he published the art photography book "Love of the Land - Love of the People" with 320 works and held a solo exhibition with 71 works. In 2010, he was awarded the title of Outstanding Vietnamese Photographic Artist (EVAPA) (he was the second person from Nghe An province to receive this title). His successes are due to his dedication to journalism, his love of life, his passion for his profession, and the result of moments of inspiration. His name is recorded in the history of journalism, literature, and art in Central Vietnam and in the hearts of his colleagues nationwide.
Thanh Le
