I gave it my best shot.

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Friday, October 15, 2010 | 5 photos

I'm a writer by trade but passionate about photography because while reports can be chopped and twisted a good photographer can tell the unadulterated truth. It's the purity of photography that appeals to me, in that sense. One photo by W. Eugene Smith told the world more about Minimata Bay than 1000 inches of print column. I'm writing for a living at the moment (but it's barely a living) having recently returned from Italy where I was a teacher. These Viet Nam photos were taken during a visit to the north of that country for a friend's wedding. I took the opportunity to visit Sa Pa which left a strong impression on me. The local Hmong deal with biting cold and not a lot of infrastructure, but work hard and do the best they can. The school was a simple building but immaculately maintained. The farm behind the barbed wire speaks to me of the importance of agriculture; something to be defended resolutely. The people were mostly shy but very friendly and accommodating. I'd have liked to include two more pics but the limit is five and such is life. The story here is that the Hmong - on the border with China - lead a life that is neither Chinese nor Vietnamese, both modern and traditional. Even their clothes are a mixture of hand spun, hand-dyed garments and mass-produced purple wellington boots and other modern items. The story is about duality, ultimately. The Hmong were badly treated by the Viet Cong in the early days after the end of the war, and it is only relatively recently that the government has invested in improving services in Sa Pa. While much of the country advanced the far north was neglected - and now you see a story of combined an uneven development. Thanks.