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VietNamNet Bridge – Photos by Nguyen Duc Tri entitled Cuu Lay Mau Xanh (Save the Green) and Ngay Binh Yen (A Peaceful Day) have won the first and second prizes in the first annual Conception photo competition.
The competition, focusing on conceptual photography that has been modified using computer technology, was launched by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Department of Arts, Photography and Exhibition back in January.
The competition drew 1,500 entries from 322 artists in 51 provinces and cities. This was not as many photographers as other photo contests but was nevertheless successful for a first-time event, said jury panel member Thanh Chuong.
"Traditional photography is mainstream but conceptual photography enables artists to create with software, expressing more clearly their ideas," said Chuong. "The first-prize image could not have been made without Photoshop."
That prize-winning image, Save the Green, features a worker trying to cover smokestacks with green. "The photo speaks in languages of both photography and graphic arts," said artist Doan Thu Huong, head of the jury panel.
"The jury was surprised to discover that the second prize-winning work was also by Tri," added Huong. A Peaceful Day depicts a fisherman dreaming about a big catch.
The two works were among six entries by Tri who works as a free-lance artist in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.
"I was so happy and surprised by the prizes," Tri said. "I don't need to explain much about the works. I think the ideas and the conceptions are reflected in the images, which inspired my own emotions."
The prizes were announced at the opening ceremony on Monday for an exhibition of 88 prize-winning photos by nine artists. An additional second prize was awarded to Vi Mau Xanh (For the Green) by Dinh Manh Tai from the northern province of Vinh Phuc.
Three third prizes were awarded to Nhan Quoc Dung from the southern province of Soc Trang, Nguyen Huong Vuong from the Central Highlands province of Dac Lac, and Nguyen Ba Nhan from the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.
The exhibition continues at the Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum at 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street through next Monday.
"I would like to see the photos without captions," commented an exhibition visitor. "Someone looking at them could imagine different ways these images were captured and how think about the interaction created between them and the photographer."
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