VietNamNet Bridge – The reporter of Viet Nam News sits down with one of the country's most famous nature photographers, Nguyen Van Phuoc, to talk about art, people, nature and his work.


Artist: Nguyen Van Phuoc
Twenty-seven years ago when he began to earn a living by taking wedding photos, Phuoc "Khung" ("Crazy" Phuoc) never dreamed there would be a day he would start to create artistic photos.


In more than 20 years as a photographer, Phuoc "Khung" has created around 20 collections. Most of his photos depict the beauty of everyday life in the Central Highlands city of Da Lat, such as flowers, landscapes and insects.


People often think deeply to find the special meaning within his photos. Some try to impose their own ideas since his pictures provoke many feelings and images.

First days
His real name is Nguyen Van Phuoc but almost everyone calls him Phuoc "Khung" because he chose to be different by living and creating in his own way.


Phuoc's style of living is simple and even a bit slovenly. To him, photography is like a game which allows him to create anything he likes. He pays no attention to comments from other people.


When talking with him, it's hard to believe that he is over 50 years old. He talks like a child who has never faced any troubles in his life.


Phuoc says people began calling him "Khung" because they often see him simply wandering along the streets of romantic Da Lat City.


"When other adults are busy earning a living, I walk around. I go out to capture the close and simple things of life in my own city. Because of this, they started calling me ‘crazy' and it became my nick name," he said.


Phuoc says he'll never forget the first day he had the idea of taking photos.
"In 1983, I was poor and hungry. It was quite serious. I only earned VND32 per day at my job loading goods. On such a small wage, I could not afford to eat properly," he remembers.


"One day, I walked around and saw people taking pictures. They earned double the amount of money as I did. I went home and collected all of my money to buy a camera," he says, adding that it was a Japanese Peene camera. It was as small as a package of cigarettes.


Since that day, he has earned his living by taking photos.


"At first, the people who helped me print my photos insulted me because I did not know how to take a good picture. I learned a lot from these insults," Phuoc says.


The idea of taking artistic pictures came to Phuoc one day when he realised he was bored with his life. All he did was eat and drink.


"I will become big and fat if I sit around doing nothing," he remembers thinking, as he laughs loudly.


"So I raised my hand to the sky and took a picture. Surprisingly, the picture was really good and many people liked it. The most special thing, however, is that I recognised I could take artistic pictures," Phuoc recalls.


I asked myself why not earn money and raise people's spirits.


With this in mind, Phuoc started taking more photos.


Some of his collections have been exhibited in major cities such as Ha Noi, HCM City and Da Nang. One of his most acclaimed collections is the one about Ha Noi.


Deep love: Views of the romantic city of Da Lat
"The first time I went to Ha Noi was in 1997. For 10 days I walked along many streets to take pictures of the capital's flying leaves," he says.


"My second trip to the capital was 10 years later. Everything had changed rapidly. I could not find any old people or old landscapes. I felt sad and lost," he says.


However, he was found again when he had the chance to go to the To Lich River.


"Many people think the To Lich River is dirty, but to me, everything is different there," he says. "On the surface of the dirty black river, I saw the reflections of many houses."

"Suddenly, these houses seemed more splendid than ever. They looked like the subjects of a lacquer painting. I stopped everything immediately to take photos," he remembers.


Phuoc likes to take photos of Ha Noi because he wants to prove his abilities.


"Many people have said that I take beautiful photos because I live in Da Lat, which is a romantic and beautiful city. This kind of talk has forced me to find beauty in other cities," he says.


Phuoc's collections are all focused on nature, animals and flowers. He likes to tell the romantic stories of flowers, leaves, sky, wind, sun and insects.


"I don't dare to take pictures of people. People talk too much. They make so many requests that they become crazy. Meanwhile, nature doesn't say anything. It is silent. It doesn't ask for anything, it just gives," he explains.


Just by walking he says he can snap photos of the simple features of normal life in the city. To do this, modern technologies are not necessary, he adds.


Although Phuoc's photos have been highly praised, he cannot afford to organise as many as he would like.

Phuoc still earns a living by taking wedding photos and shots for advertising.


His collections can be viewed on his website at www.mpkdalat.com.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News