Saigon. Ho Chi Minh City. Two names, two constant contrasts.
Concrete crumbles in this city under the shadow of glass skyscrapers.
Sugar highs are served with bowls of salty noodle soup. Sticky iced teas, syrups infused with tea, and the sweetest bananas ever.
The sheets of rain are like a phantom, bringing a momentary relief before the sun strikes again with venom.
Young people meet at trendy cafes, which makes you wonder if you have really left Melbourne. The young and old mix at produce stalls on the sidewalk and in lanes lined up with produce. Scooters zoom by as all mix on the road.
Some live hard lives. They push food stalls and sell lottery tickets to passersby in order to scrape by. Some live in glass-walled towers and have the latest technology. They also shop at Europe’s best fashion houses.
As the vehicles continue to swerve, they honk and buzz. You’re never too far away from the many secluded streets that lead in every direction.
What could you find? What will you find? Stray cats or the next best coffee? You’re likely to see them all.
The heat in Saigon was unbearable. Traffic was a constant din. The chaos was overwhelming. The city was alive, and so was I.
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WITH FUJIFILM’S X100V
My Fujifilm X100V was my camera of choice for my third trip to this chaotic city.
No chunky camera. No long lenses. No tripod.
Every day, I took a compact camera with a 35mm lens.
The X100V was always at my fingertips with this low-key setup. Explore the hidden worlds behind narrow alleys. Search for secluded cafés by climbing switchback staircases.
I would sometimes find a striking facade or wall and then wait for someone to pass through the frame. (Or, more often, I’d wait for a scooter to pass by.)
Sometimes, I would meet someone’s eyes or watch them go about their work. In the past, I would stand back and take a picture from across the street. On this trip, however, I would exchange a friendly smile with them and ask them to take their picture. By ‘ask,’ I would point to my camera and give a tentative thumbs-up, then wait for a nod of approval.
The X100V’s retro design, small footprint, and low profile made it less noticeable than my Sony setup. It was my silent companion as I navigated through the streets and alleys. It never failed, even in the heat and humid conditions. It was ready in a blink to capture those fleeting moments and powered through the day with a single battery.
To my fellow photo geeks, I also shot in JPEG.
Fujifilm’s color science and the custom recipes that can be used to alter the appearance of an image are reason enough. But I also love the finality associated with JPEG.
I didn’t require the flexibility that RAW offers. Street photography is a fast-paced activity, so a white balance that’s off or an underexposed photo is common. It can also enhance the emotional feel of an image.
When I shoot the street, I don’t look for perfection.
I capture small moments and scenes as they pass by. This frictionless approach to taking, editing, and sharing photos was exactly what I wanted.
