Elderly
I have always enjoyed taking pictures of the old and the young, or “the immunocompromised” as I like to joke (sorry, doctor’s humor). As for the elderly, I am attracted by their frailty and resilience –their faces tell a history not only of their happiness and joys but also of their hardships and pain.
PRaying for the future
For as long as I can remember, I have seen this woman sit on the edge of the Hoan Kiem Lake selling water and chewing gum to passersby in Hanoi. As I approached her, I realized, for the first time, that she was blind. She is in her late 80’s but was not sure of her exact age. She has been a widow for 30 years and the sole breadwinner of her family while also caring for her handicapped child. Her mother also sold small items at the same spot before her. I now make sure to buy a bottle of water from her every time I see her.
#Hanoi #Vietnam #Olympus
Meager Offerings
Almost every neighborhood in Vietnam has at least one open air market selling everything from produce, to meat and fish, to household items and clothes. The atmosphere of these markets is incredibly colorful, vibrant and energetic.
#SunTay #Vietnam #ZeissIkon
Generations
The shadows of the leaves on the wall serendipitously appeared as another motorcycle happened to be passing by as I took the shot. One of my favorite pictures.
#DongHoi #Vietnam #Olympus
Remembering the ancestors
In Hoi An Ancient Town, candle paper lanterns are sold to tourists and locals alike. The lanterns are released on the river as an offering to worship people’s ancestors, as well as the God of the land.
#HoiAn #Vietnam #Olympus
Patched
“Nons”, or Vietnamese conical hats, are only one dollar each, new. The fact that she “fixed” hers only speaks of her extreme poverty.
#SunTay #Vietnam #Olympus
Toilet Toll
An elderly grandmother sits in front of a local public toilet collecting a couple of pennies in exchange for a couple of squares of toilet paper.
#HoChiMinhCity #Vietnam #Canon
Evicted
A portrait of a poor woman evicted from her apartment block that was soon to be demolished.
#HoChiMinhCity #Vietnam #Olympus
Sisyphus
Many people in Vietnam make a living scavenging for recyclable materials from the garbage. They usually amass mountains of these materials and transport them to recycling centers all over the city. Sadly, despite this massive workforce, Vietnam remains one of the top ten polluting countries in the world.
#HoChiMinhCity #Vietnam #Olympus
Choke
One of the local jesters of my neighborhood that often will pull a funny pose, much to the delight of onlookers.
#HoChiMinhCity #Vietnam #Canon
