A slum in Hanoi, a photo from Ha Noi, Red River Delta

Photographer's Note

The Red River - which waters rise and fall with the rains. It snakes through Hanoi - the city towards the west and north. The Red River is nearby a few blocks from the modern heart of the city. On one bank is a slum, where people live below the official poverty line of under US$1 a day. Here drugs, crime and prostitution flourish. Some men, with families to feed, scrape a living as pedicab drivers.
But there is frenzied activity in its alleys. Women are busy cutting bamboo sticks for sale, minding small stalls of fruit, and gutting fish from plastic buckets on the ground. Men hurry along carrying scrap metal to sell, or to repair the flimsy shacks they live in. The river stinks, with a sickly smell of human waste and rotting vegetation. Inside the huts old men and women sit or lie still on narrow bunks. The river water often breaks its banks and floods this area, especially during the summer rainy season, leaving a layer of mud that breeds disease.
And here you can see how do they live, the photo is taken inside a slum in Hanoi.
We are still happy with our life, aren't we?

Vagabond, Galeota, thanhdk, Fixfocus, pridel, Hai_Thanh, KevRyan, dolin has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Vagabond (5848) 2005-07-27 10:25

Very good report. A pity to be a bit dark (the real light, of course ..). Difficult conditions for everyone - people and the photographer. Very good notes ..

Galeota (10352) 2005-07-27 10:26

I do like your photograph and also your note as a matter of fact. I do also agree with your last sentence (how couldn't I?), because it is indeed comfortable, for us able to focus on how our photography will progress and able to comment on it through a shining new computer, to go through the life we were given without the distress many people are living around the world.

I actually wonder how YOU live it..you, who don't seem to have the means of a privileged vietnamese, but radically, of an westerner privileged (as far as the average wealth standards is concerned). These questions arise in me as I see the diversity of photo equipment with which you're working, and which, as you know, require several lives of work to those you're portraying here. There's no critique or moral judgement in my observation, so please don't misunderstand me. Just a curiosity. Cheers. Good photograph.

[3] +

the_amateur (105) 2005-07-27 11:27 [Comment]

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sohrab (7439) 2005-07-27 12:02

this is an incredible photograph ireland..
one of the best i've seen in recent times..
and it's very very evocative..
i hope you continue to post such photographs
take care :)

pridel (233) 2005-07-27 12:55

Hi
Undoubtedly an extraordinary photograph.
for the quality of the photograph it even but especially for the subject.
decency and respect play with the light and the shade.
TFS
Pascal

Hai_Thanh (49) 2005-07-27 14:07

Absolutely amazing ! How can i tell a bout this dayly-life pic. Great ! i like the way you see things and life. Come on, guy !!!

KevRyan (22956) 2005-07-27 14:56

People often resort to black and white at this point to show gritty realism - I'm glad that you didn't - there's enough here with this dark social image - a great piece of Phototext journalism Ireland.

I like the filmic sense of the image and frame -

excellent - kev

tongapup (0) 2005-07-27 17:09

Amaaazing. I especially think you made a good decision to have such a horizontal format, it really complements the subject matter and looks great compositionally. The lighting and DOF are perfect here. I wish I could see a nice big print of this! Great work, congratulations.

Furachan (0) 2005-07-28 3:23

Extraordinary shot, quite uniqyue, Ireland. You did well to keep the drakness drak, as we gradually make out shape in the gloom, which forces us to "experience" their dwelling. May I commend you also on the excellence and power of your note. Bravo! Francis

cobraphil8 (84) 2005-07-28 3:43

Imposing photograph, one feels all the atmosphere which reigns in this dormitory, impressive. I will look at your gallery with more details afterwards.

Philippe

dolin (7369) 2005-07-28 4:12

Ohhhhh a very nice shot.
I like this atmosphere in this dark compo.
Excellent game of light-shades.
A beautiful life scene.
Thank's for this excellent photograph.
Fred

(I come back for the smile)

Fixfocus (9385) 2005-07-28 5:36

This is a great documentary shot,Ireland!
I like the dark lightmood here very much.
Your fisheye lense offers a great view
and the eye can discover lots of interesting details.
great note too!
hermann

fixed (3836) 2005-07-28 11:55

Hello Ireland,
Incredible picture !
Thank you for your note and show hard condition's life for somebody in Vietnam ...
take care ;)
Arnaud

TBasco (143) 2005-07-29 11:14

a very sensitive take on a people's human condition ...i can say much about the technical/aesthetics (center figure looking directly at your cam while the rest are oblivious, light and shade, the almost panoramic format you opted for, composition, etc) but all these take backseat to the story that is shared.

Luko (14000) 2005-07-29 19:29

fantastic shot.. but hey... is he smoking what I think he is? that pipe has a very familiar shape to my eye( in fact, I collect them ;) ). is that were they live or where they actually gather to "socialize" around their ... ahem... "hobby"... looks like many of them have smoked before the take.

I love the light but will object about the movie frames you put above and below your pic. These unwanted artefacts make your image look like made up for a movie... not bad but putting us too much away from reality ... I sspect many readers have thought : "yes, y'know, all made up, just a film..."

DaTrang (60) 2005-07-29 19:57 [Comment]

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nygus (8178) 2005-07-31 11:14

amazing, the light, wide frame, looks like a screenshot from a movie, congratulations

rbcy1974 (20758) 2005-08-30 4:49

Hi Ireland,
I just discovered this photo, even though its a bit dark, I find it like a fascinating trip of discovery. The point of view is fantastic as is the way you have caputred the living arrangements. I think this photo speaks with an almost diceksnian voice.
I will be back
Cheers
Daniel

JMcDowell (655) 2005-09-17 14:23

Sicily,
I'm a big fan of this photo and am wondering why it's hidden behind the final version- although it's a totally different picture. Can you seperate the two? I think this one has a lot more character because it shows people in their habitat. It's maybe a little dark but...it's supposed to be. I respect you taking pictures like this. It's real life!