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Ho Chi Minh City

Jan 08 2019

3-Day Street Photography Workshop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

3-Day Street Photography Workshop

in Ho Chi Minh City

  • FEBRUARY 9TH-11TH : HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
  • ADVANCED STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP WITH FORREST WALKER

I’m excited to announce a 3-Day workshop I’ll be leading this February 9th-11th in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Read on for more details and how to sign up…

  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ©Forrest Walker
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ©Forrest Walker
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ©Forrest Walker
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ©Forrest Walker
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ©Forrest Walker
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ©Forrest Walker
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ©Forrest Walker
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ©Forrest Walker
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ©Forrest Walker
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ©Forrest Walker

This intensive three-day workshop will focus on finding yourself in your photography and seeing the photos you want to make through lessons covering a variety of work, reviews of your own work, editing, activities and plenty of shooting throughout the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Led by international photographer Forrest Walker, this workshop will be an immersive and educational experience.

*ONE SPOT LEFT!*

Full 3-Day Workshop Fee – €500

Reserve Spot

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

FORREST WALKER

Forrest Walker (aka F.D. Walker) is an internationally acclaimed photographer from Portland, Oregon, USA. He is also the sole creator of this blog and member of The Street Collective. His work has been awarded and exhibited across multiple continents and expresses his interest in capturing the world candidly in vibrant colour, along with a passion for exploration and adventure. He has been an invited speaker and judge at multiple major street photography festivals, including MSPF 2017 and was recently interviewed for the immensely popular ‘The Candid Frame’ podcast.

Currently, Forrest is in the final stages of photographing a five year project taken in 100 major cities, where he strives to capture the diversity and connections found in daily life across all regions and cultures. His images distil the layers of life within major cities and reveal the commonalities of human experience. This project is documented on his popular blog ShooterFiles.com, where he provides street photography city guides, tips, photography, stories, local photographer interviews and more.

SEE MORE OF FORREST’S WORK ON INSTAGRAM & HIS WEBSITE

*ONE SPOT LEFT!*

Full 3-Day Workshop Fee – €500

Reserve Spot

Places are strictly limited, sign up early to avoid disappointment

WHERE: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

WHEN: February 9-11, 2019 (3 Full Days)

Daily Schedule (Detailed itinerary will be emailed to participants):

  • Saturday February 9th: 10am-6pm 
  • Sunday February 10th: 9am-6pm
  • Monday February 11th: 9am-6pm

*We will break for lunch daily and all are invited to dinner and drinks afterwards for more interaction

Workshop Description:

Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as many locals still call it, is not only one of my favorite cities in the world, but also one that I’ve lived in and know well. That especially goes for street photography. For more info on this amazing city, you can look through the Street Photography Guide I created for Ho Chi Minh City.

The workshop will include a mixture of daily photo walks, photo and editing critiques, portfolio reviews and interactive lectures. This is an intensive workshop with an emphasis on helping you fully immerse yourself in the city and find yourself through street photography, so you can learn, while also having a great time experiencing Ho Chi Minh City.

What’s Included?:

  • A variety of guided street photography walks giving a wide view of photo opportunities and exploration in Ho Chi Minh City.
  • 1-on-1 shooting with your instructor to provide feedback, tips, guidance, and allow you to observe how I work. You will also be allowed to work on your photography without distraction during the walks.
  • Multiple educational and inspirational lessons covering different aspects of street photography.
  • An initial portfolio review followed by daily critiques and a final editing lesson covering your work during the workshop.
  • Constant access to your instructor, including outside of the workshop’s scheduled time. 
  • Activities planned to give time for bonding with other photographers, while having a great time in Ho Chi Minh City.
  • A memorable experience not only improving your photography, but also enjoying one of Asia’s most amazing cities.

Additional Information:

  • The workshop will be very limited to keep the group small and give plenty of personal attention and quality interaction.
  • The workshop fee covers not only the time during the workshop schedule, but also the time spent on workshop preparation with each individual, and any time needed outside of the daily schedule while in Ho Chi Minh City.

WHAT TO BRING:

Good walking shoes, camera(s), lens – between 50mm and 21mm equivalents preferred, sunscreen, water bottle, cool and comfortable clothing, laptop with appropriate processing software installed (Lightroom, Capture One or Photoshop), spare batteries and memory cards, notepad, pen, and mobile/ smart phone.

*ONE SPOT LEFT!*

Full 3-Day Workshop Fee – €500

Reserve Spot

Places are strictly limited, sign up early to avoid disappointment

 

Terms and Cancellation Policy:

  •           Workshop fees include tuition ONLY. Participants are responsible for their own equipment costs, food and beverage costs, and travel expenses.
  •          Forrest Walker accepts no liability for any loss or damage of participants’ equipment or liability for injury, illness or misadventure during the course of the workshop. The public liability of the participants is their own responsibility as is conducting themselves safely and according to Vietnamese Law at all times.
  •           Forrest Walker reserves the right to cancel the workshop at any time, for any reason. In this event, participants will receive a 100% refund on any fees paid.
  •          Forrest Walker is not responsible for reimbursement of travel expenses in the event of a cancellation. We recommend that you buy refundable air tickets and/or travel insurance. Cancellations: More than 21 days before workshop begins, participant will receive a 100% refund. Between 7-21 days before workshop begins, participant will receive a 50% refund. Within 7 days of workshop, participants will receive NO refund.

Written by f.d. walker · Categorized: Featured File, Files, Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, Street Photography, Travel, Travel Photography, Vietnam, Workshop

Jan 25 2018

My Annually Updated Top 10 Cities for Street Photography (2018)

The number one question I’m asked is “What’s your favorite city for Street Photography?” From friends and family to strangers and emails. The truth is I can’t deal in absolutes or favorites with most anything, especially when it comes to answering that one. There are things I like about most cities that make them memorable in their own way, and there’s too many things dependent for me to pick just one above all for street photography. But I can pick some that personally stand out a little more and tell you why.

So, now that I’m over half way towards my goal of photographing major 100 cities, it’s time for a 2018 installment of my Annually Updated Top 10 Cities for Street Photography. Heading into its 4th year, only cities I’ve photographed so far during my 100 city project are eligible. So, check the list here before you get mad at me for not including cities like NYC or Tokyo yet (They’re coming this year, though).

While last year did bring the most cities covered, and plenty of strong competition, there actually isn’t too many changes to the list this year. A couple of new cities made their way into the Top 10, but the rest proved too solid to get edged out. You can see some of the strongest and most memorable competition from the year here, though. You can also see which cities were edged out from last year’s list here, and we’ll see how much next year’s list changes with even more cities up for inclusion.

My Annually Updated Top 10 Cities for Street Photography

(for 2018)

  1. Istanbul, Turkey
  2. Havana, Cuba
  3. Saint-Petersburg, Russia
  4. London, England
  5. Mumbai vs Kolkata, India
  6. Odessa, Ukraine
  7. Cairo, Egypt
  8. Paris, France
  9. Marrakech, Morocco
  10. Hanoi, Vietnam

1. Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul holds a special place in my heart so I might be a little biased here. It was the first of my 100 major cities project, and the jumping off point for this blog and mix of plans and goals I’d set for myself. I lived here much of 2015, so I got to know it better than most cities too, but personal bias aside, I can’t imagine Istanbul not being towards the top of any street photography city list. Istanbul truly has it all. 

Being the capital of three empires helps cram the city with so much to offer a photographer that other cities can’t compare. Culture, history, religion, politics, people, diversity, character, conflict, architecture, sea, sunlight, color, old world, new world, and the list goes on. It’s many worlds of atmosphere packed into one city. It’s no surprise it needs two continents to contain it.

You could live here for years and only touch the surface. The energy and atmosphere of Istanbul is what I miss the most, though. It feels more alive than other cities, with a raw beauty that I haven’t found anywhere else.

Istanbul, Turkey 2015
Istanbul, Turkey 2015
Istanbul, Turkey 2015

2. Havana, Cuba

If you imagined the perfect city for street photography in your head, Havana might be what you’d picture. It’s extremely walkable, full of character, color and life around every corner, as photo friendly as it gets, almost too easy to shoot in, and all with an atmosphere frozen in time. The opportunities for photography are endless here. You can just walk in any direction and explore away.

Havana is also a city that invites you in with the people like not many, so it’s a complete experience for photography. The amount of times I get invited for a drink or even into someone’s home in Havana is something that you don’t experience elsewhere, especially in a large city.

Still, while Havana is no secret among photographers, people question me about it as much as any. “It seems too hyped, over photographed, packed with clichés, every photographer’s destination,…” and so on. And while the old car type clichés of Cuba do deserve caution when here photographing, it’s mostly a bunch of nonsense. You won’t find many photographers that have been here that regret it. Most fall in love just like everyone else. And believe it or not, there’s still plenty to photograph here. So my advice is to just ignore the clichés and get over here as soon as you can.

Havana, Cuba 2017
Havana, Cuba 2016
Havana, Cuba 2017
Havana, Cuba 2016

3. Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Saint-Petersburg is probably the least hyped and talked about city on my list, so why is it up at #3? Because people just don’t know how good it is. Now, the time of year does makes a big difference, but if you go in the summer, it doesn’t get much better for street photography. The winter can be beautiful in its own way too, you just won’t have many hours of light.

The summer in Saint-Petersburg might be my favorite place to be for street photography, though. The sunlight is out 20+ hours a day and the beautiful city is full of life just as long. More than that, though, there’s just something magical about the city. The canals, pastel colors, architecture, bridges, islands, hundreds of parks, and more give it this surreal atmosphere that has to be experienced. The life and people are full of character too. Many people go about their life without any care of what others think, so it’s not uncommon to see older women and men sunbathing in their underwear. At the same time, you have many people who care a lot, so you see a variety of fashion and looks. It’s a big, magical city with a mix of so many things.

Saint-Petersburg, Russia 2016
Saint-Petersburg, Russia 2016
Saint-Petersburg, Russia 2016

4. London, England

London is as well-known as any city in the world, and as famous for street photography as it gets, but sometimes cities don’t live up to their fame. London isn’t one of them.

One of my favorite aspects of London are all the different neighborhoods, each with their own character. It’s like different villages grew until they combined into one large city over time. It isn’t like New York or Tokyo, where skyscrapers dominate over you. London doesn’t feel overwhelming for a city its size. You can spend your days exploring parts of London on foot and get completely different atmospheres when it comes to photography. Some areas are chaotic and crazy, while others are quiet and relaxing. There’s something around every crooked, winding street, and you never know what it will be.

The biggest knock on London is the weather, which I can’t say is undeserved, but if you get some sun, the light here is special and it’s really hard to beat this city. It’s as dynamic and fun to shoot in as it is famous.

London, England 2016
London, England 2016
London, England 2016

5. Mumbai, India vs Kolkata, India

Mumbai was here on last year’s list, but I honestly expected Kolkata to knock it off this year’s list. Having already been to both cities in the past, Kolkata had originally left the best memories for street photography. But after returning to Mumbai in 2016 and Kolkata in 2017, while photographing them more in-depth, Mumbai closed the gap in my mind. It’s difficult to choose between them, as they each bring different pluses and appeal. India is so packed with cities for street photography that I’m just going to include both cities under one, while explaining their different appeals.

Mumbai is the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of India. If you go by population, Mumbai is the largest city in the world’s second largest country. If you go by money, it’s the wealthiest city in India, but with some of its most extreme poverty. Mumbai is also India’s most diverse, cosmopolitan and westernised city. Basically, Mumbai is everything and more.

Bazaars and temples, colonial architecture and skyscrapers, bay promenades and fishing villages, Asia’s biggest slums and Bollywood stars’ most expensive homes. Mumbai is filled with a variety of scenery and life that rivals any city in the world. It’s filled with an urban energy that consumes you and endless interest that keeps you wanting more. All of this adds up to one of the top cities in the world for street photography.

Mumbai, India 2016
Mumbai, India 2016
Mumbai, India 2016

While not quite as big as Mumbai, Kolkata is still one of India’s biggest cities. Yet, it has a noticeably different, more easy-going and welcoming atmosphere compared to the others. It’s a city made for walking and street photography. While India’s other large cities are more spread out, Kolkata feels like you can walk everywhere. It has a special, old world feeling mixed into a big, urban city. It feels authentic, filled with culture and a chaotic, yet friendly vibe. The colonial-era architecture contrasting with urban slums, it’s also gained a reputation as the most friendly of India’s metropolises. While it might not be as known with the general traveler, it is known among the photography community. It’s made for bringing your camera and exploring away.

If I really had to choose between the two, I’d say Kolkata is easier and more enjoyable for a shorter visit, while Mumbai provides more variety and interest the more time you have. They’re both as good as gets for street photography, though.

Kolkata, India 2017
Kolkata, India 2017
Kolkata, India 2017

6. Odessa, Ukraine

I have to include a city from Ukraine, one of my favorite countries in the world for street photography. Kiev and Lviv both get high recommendations too, but if I had to choose one, it would be Odessa. I included it in last year’s list, but actually returned again since, which only cemented its place as a personal favorite.

I went to Ukraine for the first time in 2015 and fell in love. So much so that I’ve returned both years since. I like places that feel authentic, are full of character and mood, while being a little rough around the edges. Ukraine is all this more than any place I’ve been. There’s nothing fake about the atmosphere and it doesn’t feel over photographed. It’s more untouched, while still being a large country with plenty going on. And the markets are the best you’ll find anywhere. Odessa’s Privoz Market is no exception.

Odessa provides this atmosphere that I love, but adds the Black Sea and more. It’s become the country’s top vacation getaway with beaches that fill up during the summer. The city is filled with history and character, while being extremely walkable. You can enjoy the pedestrian streets, old courtyards, parks, and markets in the city, and then take a walk to the beaches to enjoy the very unique character, and characters, that fill it. They aren’t the typical tourist beaches you might be used to, either, which provides even more interest for street photography.

Odessa, Ukraine 2016
Odessa, Ukraine 2016
Odessa, Ukraine 2016

7. Cairo, Egypt

It doesn’t get any bigger or historic on the list than this ancient city turned chaotic metropolis. At 22 million people, this urban sprawl famous for the pyramids is packed with history, crumbling character, chaos, and endless neighborhoods to explore. Cairo has a one of kind atmosphere making it a special place for street photography. Even its signature golden brown hue becomes part of its photogenic charm. 

Cairo might not have a reputation as the cleanest, quietest city, and there are touts and hassle to endure, but it’s more than worth it here. It’s also not as overly tourist crazy as it used to be, making the hassle and distractions a little less, and the authenticity even stronger. With Cairo’s sheer size, buzzing streets, and variety of interest, it provides endless opportunities for exploring without ever losing inspiration. It might be a little more for the adventurous and bold than other cities on the list, but it’s a city I immediately want to return to as soon as I leave. There’s just too much to miss as a photographer.

Cairo, Egypt 2017
Cairo, Egypt 2017
Cairo, Egypt 2017

8. Paris, France

The city credited by many as the birthplace of street photography would be hard to leave off my list. When thinking of the classic black and white street photos from the past, scenes of Paris come to mind first for many. That’s a lot of hype to live up to when times change and the city is photographed as much as Paris, but for me, it still doesn’t disappoint.

There’s a lot more to Paris than the classic romanticized image of the city, though. The center of Paris, especially around streets like Rue de Rivoli, provides plenty of that classic picturesque street photography atmosphere, which is what will attract many photographers. And of course there’s the impressive parks like the Tuileries Garden, the scenic Seine River and all the famous architecture. All of these spots provide the atmosphere that makes Paris one of the most visited cities in the world, and why it’s so photographed, but what puts it on the list for me is how it also provides a much different atmosphere in many places.

Paris isn’t all beauty and romance. It’s also one of the edgier cities in Europe. This edginess in many areas does come with some negatives, but it also brings character, interest, a different atmosphere, and, in my opinion, photo opportunities that are very different from the clichés you might relate to Paris. It’s a city with a lot to offer, on both sides of the spectrum when it comes to your definition of beauty.

Paris, France 2016
Paris, France 2016
Paris, France 2016

9. Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech is probably the most challenging street photography city on the list, but it more than makes up for it in photo opportunities and atmosphere. It’s one of the more interesting cities for street photography that I’ve been to, not only for the rich variety of life and scenes to capture, but also for this challenge that it brings. While comparatively, not a photography friendly city, it is one of the most photogenic cities you’ll find. Many photographers come here for that reason, but leave frustrated if they’re not prepared for the challenge. You have to be on your game if you want to get close, candid shots.

If you’re ready, though, you’ll be rewarded with all the life, colors, chaos, atmosphere, unique charm, and more that Marrakech has to offer. It’s chaotic, full of touristic hassling and haggling, and comes with some challenge, but as far as non-stop photo opportunities, it ranks as one of the best cities I’ve been too. There’s so much happening everywhere, so many characters and interesting people, so much color and beautiful scenery, and it’s all mixed in with a unique look that is all Marrakech. And that beautiful sun is always above making sure you have no excuse not to go out and capture some that.

Marrakech, Morocco 2016
Marrakech, Morocco 2016
Marrakech, Morocco 2016

10. Hanoi, Vietnam

I’ve been based in Ho Chi Minh City since 2016 and love the city, but when it comes strictly to street photography, I have to be honest, Hanoi is even better. Vietnam’s capital has endless character, charm, plenty of places to shoot, some of the most photography friendly people you’ll meet, and packs this all into a very walk friendly city. Being thousands of years old, you feel the city’s age when exploring the streets. It can feel almost like groups of villages packed into one big city with the authentic, old world atmosphere it exudes.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)  is a great city which some photographers might prefer, but Hanoi is so much older and filled with even more character. They share many similarities, including the friendliness of the people, but Saigon is a little more polished, urban and spread out, while Hanoi is more walkable and gives a little more of the exotic. If big city skyscrapers and development are your preference, then Saigon might win out, but for me, Hanoi has a very attractive blend of big city and old world. Both cities are highly recommended, though, so visit both and decide for yourself.

Hanoi, Vietnam 2016
Hanoi, Vietnam 2016
Hanoi, Vietnam 2016

 

For 2018, I have plans to photograph around 30 more major cities across 4 continents so we’ll see how this list gets shaken up next year, but with 66 cities down already, every one of these cities comes highly recommended and are sure to provide an amazing experience for street photography, and more. (To see what cities I have tentatively planned for this year, check here.)

 

Written by f.d. walker · Categorized: Asia, Cairo, Cuba, Eastern Europe, Egypt, England, Featured File, Files, France, Hanoi, Havana, Ho Chi Minh City, India, Kolkata, Lists, Marrakech, Morocco, Mumbai, Odessa, Paris, Russia, Shooter Files Series, St. Petersburg, Street Photography, Travel, Travel Photography, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vietnam

Jan 02 2018

50 Street Photography Photos From 2017

Time for the New Year’s tradition here and share some photos from the old year to bring in the new.

While 2016 had been my busiest year yet on the road working on my 100 cities project, 2017 was even busier. I was on the road non-stop, clocking in at over 5,000 miles walked while covering 33 cities, including 26 major cities for the project. I started in city #41 Quito, Ecuador and finished in #66 Mexico City, Mexico, leaving 34 major cities left to do. I’m attempting to make 2018 even busier so I can get most of it finished before I start working on the book in 2019. 

While focusing on the project, I was still able to make it to a few street photography festivals this year, including the London SP Festival as a judge and the Miami SP Festival as a guest artist speaker, which were great experiences. In addition, I led some successful workshops in London, Budapest and Havana, and plan on doing more in 2018. All in all, it was an extremely busy year with its share of downs and setbacks, but it’s only made me more determined to make this all work. The blog had a busy year growing too, as it’s now ranked #2 in the world in the street photography genre on feedspot. I have more plans for the blog this year, which I’ll share soon, but for now, thank you to everyone that’s been following along!

One thing I did decide this year was not to share all of my favorite photos yet, as I want the future book to be at least a third never seen work. Still, with such a busy year of street photography, walking an average of 15 miles/22km per day year-round, I have more than enough to share now too. So, here’s 50 photos from the year that take you through all 33 cities I photographed in 2017. It’s not a top 50 of my favorites, but some selections to share for now in bringing on 2018. So, I hope you enjoy. 

Happy New Year to all and Cheers to 2018!

– Forrest

50 Street Photography Photos From 2017

(in order of capture date)  [Read more…] about 50 Street Photography Photos From 2017

Written by f.d. walker · Categorized: 33 Street Photos, Addis Ababa, Africa, Almaty, Asia, Bangladesh, Beirut, Bogota, Bucharest, Cairo, Cape Town, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Delhi, Dhaka, Dire Dawa, Dominican Republic, Eastern Europe, Ecuador, Egypt, England, Ethiopia, Europe, Featured File, Files, Haiti, Hanoi, Harar, Havana, Ho Chi Minh City, India, Izmir, Johannesburg, Kazakhstan, Kolkata, Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, London, Macedonia, Medellin, Mexico, Mexico City, Odessa, Photo Projects, Photos, Port-au-prince, Puerto Rico, Quito, Riga, Romania, Russia, Saigon, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Seoul, Shooter Files Series, Shot of the Week, Skopje, South Africa, South Korea, Soweto, St. Petersburg, Street Photography, Travel, Travel Photography, Tunis, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Varanasi, Vietnam, Zagreb

Nov 30 2016

City Street Guides by f.d. walker:
A Street Photography Guide to
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

saigon-guide-cover

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

Ho Chi Minh City

[Read more…] about City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Written by f.d. walker · Categorized: Asia, City Street Guides, Featured File, Files, Guides, Ho Chi Minh City, Shooter Files Series, Street Photography, Travel, Travel Photography, Vietnam

Nov 06 2016

Street Shot Sundays
Photo of the Week:
“Dog Clap”

Saigon Shooter Files

Street Shot Sundays Story & Stats

Story:

This Sunday’s Street Shot of the Week was taken at September 23 Park in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Taken in the same area as a previous Sunday Street Shot, this long, skinny park runs along Saigon’s backpacker district up to the popular Bến Thành Market. In the heart of the city here, there’s always something going.

After shooting in the park some, I noticed this little white dog at the edge of the grass. I really liked the colors, with the bright white dog inside the red cloth set on green grass. As I walked over to take a photo, his owner came over too. The short, older man leaned over and started playfully talking to his dog while clapping. Due to how short the man was, I was able to tower over them by stepping on the grass side curb. I tried to compose the shot directly above the dog to accentuate the combination of colors, while also creating a sort of illusion with the man’s hands and feet only showing from under his hat. While it was a little difficult balancing above for the shot, the old man got a good laugh once he noticed what I was doing. 

Stats:

  • Camera: Fujifilm Xpro1
  • Lens: Fujinon XF 18mm 
  • Focal Length: 18mm (27mm full frame equivalent)
  • Aperture: f/8
  • Shutter Speed: 1/500
  • ISO: 1600

Saigon Shooter Files

Written by f.d. walker · Categorized: Files, Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, Shooter Files Series, Shot of the Week, Street Photography, Street Shot Sundays, Vietnam

Oct 23 2016

Street Shot Sundays
Photo of the Week:
“Siesta and a Short Dress”

Saigon Shooter Files-47

Street Shot Sundays Story & Stats

Story:

This Sunday’s Street Shot of the Week was taken on Nguyen Hue Street in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Also called Walking Street, Nguyen Hue is the first pedestrian-only street in Ho Chi Minh City. The French colonial styled City Hall and Ho Chi Minh statue sit here, which can bring some tourists during the day, but it usually doesn’t get crowded until night.

Streets run across each side of the walking lane, lined with cafes and shops. I was walking along when I noticed this attractive woman in a tight, short dress with an unusual pattern that stood out. She was also wearing purple high heels and looked like she was dressed for the club in the middle of the day. As she stopped at a closed business to look in the window, I also noticed a man dressed in a bright orange work uniform sleeping on his motorcycle, with shoes off on the ground and his feet resting above.

In Saigon, men sleeping on their motorbikes are about as common as Pho restaurants. So I normally avoid taking photos of them due to how common of a sight it is, but this scene gave me a reason to stop. I composed them together while catching some of the city reflection in the window, and making sure to expose correctly since they were under shadow, out of the bright Saigon sun. For me, this scene is 100% Saigon. 

Stats:

  • Camera: Fujifilm Xpro1
  • Lens: Fujinon XF 18mm 
  • Focal Length: 18mm (27mm full frame equivalent)
  • Aperture: f/5.6
  • Shutter Speed: 1/500
  • ISO: 800

Saigon Shooter Files-47

Written by f.d. walker · Categorized: Files, Ho Chi Minh City, Photos, Shooter Files Series, Shot of the Week, Street Photography, Street Shot Sundays, Travel Photography, Vietnam

Oct 16 2016

Street Shot Sundays
Photo of the Week:
“Bridge Work”

Saigon Shooter Files-18

Street Shot Sundays Story & Stats

Story:

This Sunday’s Street Shot of the Week was taken in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Cuong Tran, a local street photographer in Saigon, was kind enough to take me along for a few walks to show some of the places he likes to shoot. One stop we made was at a village along the river in Binh Thanh, a district in the center of the city just north of District 1. While it’s in the heart of the city near skyscrapers and modern developments, this area takes you back in time and out of the city with its atmosphere.

After exploring the narrow village streets and talking to the friendly locals, I spotted some work being done on a small bridge. Saigon is in constant development and you see construction and electrical workers in their blue jackets all over the city. I liked the blue/turquoise shades of the bridge, water and sky matching their uniforms, and the background reflection of the city and village on the river. So I decided to wait and see if anything interesting happened to capture.

As one worker was strapped below the bridge and making his was back up, I made this shot in mid-effort to pull himself up. Judging by his expression, it’s not easy work. 

Stats:

  • Camera: Fujifilm Xpro1
  • Lens: Fujinon XF 18mm 
  • Focal Length: 18mm (27mm full frame equivalent)
  • Aperture: f/11
  • Shutter Speed: 1/500
  • ISO: 800

Saigon Shooter Files-18

Written by f.d. walker · Categorized: Asia, Files, Ho Chi Minh City, Photos, Saigon, Shooter Files Series, Shot of the Week, Street Photography, Street Shot Sundays, Travel Photography, Vietnam

Oct 09 2016

Street Shot Sundays
Photo of the Week:
“Head Out”

Saigon Shooter Files-38

Street Shot Sundays Story & Stats

Story:

This Sunday’s Street Shot of the Week was taken in the Gò Vấp district of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Gò Vấp is a district in the northwest of Saigon, just above the international airport. Having the airport right inside the city can provide some interesting captures from the planes flying so low over the buildings. This urban district also has some nice little alley neighborhoods and markets for street photography.

I was exploring the winding, narrow alleys with some local street photographers. It was pretty quiet, but around a corner, we came across a few people outside their home. Out of the corner of my eye I saw an older women quickly pop her head out of her curtain door. She popped back inside before I had a chance to capture it, but I decided to get my camera ready just in case she came out again. 

Sure enough, only a few seconds later, out popped her head. At the same time, I saw a little boy watching me in the door window’s reflection. So just as she looked to talk to someone in the street, I snapped the photo to include them both. It doesn’t get much friendlier than here so she had a good laugh about it before going back inside, while some of the curious kids gathered around to check out my camera.

Stats:

  • Camera: Fujifilm Xpro1
  • Lens: Fujinon XF 18mm 
  • Focal Length: 18mm (27mm full frame equivalent)
  • Aperture: f/5.6
  • Shutter Speed: 1/500
  • ISO: 1600

Saigon Shooter Files-38

Written by f.d. walker · Categorized: Files, Ho Chi Minh City, Photos, Shooter Files Series, Shot of the Week, Street Photography, Street Shot Sundays, Travel Photography, Vietnam

Oct 03 2016

33 Street Photography Photos from Three Months in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Saigon-33-cover

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam became my base this year, and a chance to stay in one spot during all my travel. That being said, I was only able to spend 3 months there so far before leaving to Europe for the summer. And some of that time was spent traveling outside the city. Still, 2+ months, while having an apartment in the heart of Saigon, gave me plenty of time to explore and photograph this lively city.

Saigon Shooter Files-22

But for now, here’s 33 photos that I was able to capture during my time in Saigon…

[Read more…] about 33 Street Photography Photos from Three Months in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Written by f.d. walker · Categorized: 33 Street Photos, Featured File, Files, Ho Chi Minh City, Photos, Saigon, Shooter Files Series, Street Photography, Travel Photography, Vietnam

Oct 02 2016

Street Shot Sundays
Photo of the Week:
“Window Dust”

Saigon Shooter Files-4

Street Shot Sundays Story & Stats

Story:

This Sunday’s Street Shot of the Week was taken by Nguyen Hue Street in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Also called Walking Street, Nguyen Hue is the first pedestrian-only street in Ho Chi Minh City. The French colonial styled City Hall and Ho Chi Minh statue sit here, which brings tourists during the day, but at night is when it gets busy. Especially on weekend nights, it becomes a gathering place for young locals, tourists, and street performers.

In addition to the activity Nguyen Hue Street attracts, the area is lined with restaurants and cafes. I was a block away from Walking Street, just as the the sun was about to set, when I saw how the low light was hitting this restaurant. The bright red chairs against the black shadow first caught my eye, with the subtle reflection of the buildings in the string curtains, but then this lady holding a colorful duster started cleaning the window sill. I took a few photos, but liked this one where she shortly glanced at me the best. 

Stats:

  • Camera: Fujifilm Xpro1
  • Lens: Fujinon XF 18mm 
  • Focal Length: 18mm (27mm full frame equivalent)
  • Aperture: f/11
  • Shutter Speed: 1/500
  • ISO: 800

Saigon Shooter Files-4

Written by f.d. walker · Categorized: Files, Ho Chi Minh City, Shooter Files Series, Street Photography, Street Shot Sundays, Vietnam

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