In recent years, the field of art photography in Da Nang has developed quite vibrantly and gained has many achievements, and especially, Da Nang photography artists have won many high prizes at art photo competitions and festivals at home and abroad. This is a channel that actively spreads images of nature, people, life, culture of the land and people of Da Nang to the world, which makes Da Nang worth visiting in the hearts of tourists.

Sunset on Ban Co (Chessboard) Peak, Da Nang. Photo: THANH HIEP

The 29^th Artistic Photo Festival of the South Central and Central Highlands regions is running in Da Nang on the occasion of the 49^th anniversary of the Liberation Day of Da Nang (March 29). The organising committee said that 2,032 entries by 283 competitors in 10 provinces and cities in the region, namely Binh Dinh, Da Nang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, Kon Tum, Phu Yen, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai have been submitted to the festival.

The jury will select 163 works by 105 entrants for the exhibition and awards round. Among them, Da Nang is the leading locality in the number of photos at the exhibition and award rounds with 35 entries by 25 contestants.

Through the lens of photography, artists used the technique of contrasting the colours of natural elements such as the clear blue Han River, the beauty of bridges across the river, and the yellow lights shining on the river to create a city of modern, sparkling, and fanciful beauty. Or with new perspectives, the photographers have captured the moments of sunrise and sunset by the mountains and sea, creating works of art about Hai Van Gate, Son Tra and Ba Na.

Artist Nguyen Van Hiep shared: “With the desire to preserve the beauty of nature and the unique culture of the people and my hometown of Da Nang, every time I take a photo, I always choose and capture the best, most soulful moments, thereby conveying to the public in all regions of the country in particular and tourists around the world as a whole, the beauty of a livable city”.

Artist Dao Dang Cong Trung said: “As someone who loves the environment and wants to spread green life to the community, for many years I have wandered on the roads around the Son Tra mountain. Each scene has its own beauty. And all things also have their own vitality and meaning. I think how to create the spirit into the work. Through photography, I want to spread love for the environment to the community through perspectives and visual storytelling”.

Evaluating Da Nang photography artists’ photos competing at this year’s festival, artist Than Nguyen, the Chairman of the Da Nang Photography Association, said the number of works participating in this year’s festival by members of the Da Nang Photography Association far surpasses previous years in both quality and quantity, with about more than 500 entries. This partly proves that the Da Nang photography movement is developing strongly. The number of works reflecting nature, environment, life, and festivals in Da Nang accounts for 70%. In addition, photography artists also exploit many new perspectives on the city in many directions, showing the daily change, development, and hourly rhythm of life of a modern city with the iconic Han River.

Also at the festival, there will be a marathon photo contest for photographic artists from 10 provinces and cities whose works are selected for the prize round. They will have the opportunity to explore and record natural moments and social life in Da Nang. This is also an opportunity for Da Nang's image to continue to be promoted more widely in the coming time.

The outstanding strength of photography that no other art form can compare to is the art of the moment. A photo with good, profound content will certainly contribute to a high social impact, touching the hearts and emotions of the public and itself will be a channel to promote the unique beauty of the land to the world. Hopefully, through contests and photo festivals, nice photo, along with the support of digital technology, will attract the attention of more and more domestic and international tourists to Da Nang.

Reporting by MINH KHUE - Translating by A.THU