Born in Hung Yen , he grew up and has been attached to Thai Nguyen since the 1950s of the last century. This industrial land, full of the scent of tea and the smoke of steel, has become the greatest source of inspiration in his photography journey. During his 40 years of holding the camera, this artist has not chosen a luxurious place, not pursued brilliant trends or elaborate arrangements, but has quietly gone and captured the most genuine things.

It is the image of a worker in the middle of a shift with drops of sweat on his cheeks, a pair of disabled hands still skillfully weaving fan ribs, or a girl with a radiant smile on the production line. To him, they are the silent but noble “main characters” of life, the people who create the lasting beauty of the era.

Photographer Do Anh Tuan introduces works associated with his creative journey.

From craftsman to photographer

In his younger years, when he was an auto repairman and also held the role of Secretary of the Youth Union of the Auto Transport Company No. 10 (Auto Transport Department, Ministry of Transport - formerly), people saw a worker repairing cars during the day, and in the evening carrying a camera wandering around Thai Nguyen to "capture" everyday moments. "I still remember the early days, in addition to working hours, on my days off, I often cycled to neighboring districts to take photos to earn extra income. At the same time, I also took photos to serve the movement and sent photos to the press," he recalled, his eyes shining with a small joy that he still holds to this day. Because he used to be a worker, he deeply understands the lives of workers, their hardships, their toil, and their very ordinary joys.

Outstanding among his works is the portrait of a worker standing in front of a steel furnace, his eyes focused on controlling the temperature, the light from the furnace shining on his face, sweat still on his cheeks, his eyes highly focused, all creating a composition full of depth and emotion.

Besides the image of workers working hard in the production cycle, Mr. Tuan also has a silent but profound love for the green tea hills. The tea fields stretching along the hillsides, sparkling with morning dew or shining in the afternoon sunlight, are always present with inspiration in the lens of that artist. Mr. Tuan has quietly set foot many times on farms, cooperatives, and famous tea regions such as Tan Cuong, Phu Luong, Dai Tu, Dong Hy... as a way to return to the land that nurtured his soul.

As a member of the Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Workers Club, Mr. Tuan had the opportunity to work directly inside the factory, where the red flames and salty sweat have become part of the memories of many generations of workers. Every year, together with the club, he contributes to organizing photo exhibitions as a way to express gratitude and honor the people who are silently keeping the fire burning for the iron and steel industry.

The photography style that Mr. Tuan pursues is as consistent as he is, almost original reality. Most of his works have very little post-production intervention. He shared that the most important thing is to "stalk" the right moment, each look, smile, posture or a typical action at work. To do that, he always takes the time to observe and carefully study the characteristics of the character's profession, from the hands of industrial workers to the movements of tea pickers on the hills. Each photo is not simply a record of an image, but a deep empathy, a way for him to understand and appreciate each person he encounters.

After many years of traveling all over the country, his lens does not stop at the Iron and Steel Industrial Zone or the sunny and windy tea plantations. He once quietly pressed the shutter when children ran around with pigeons at Nui Coc Lake, and recorded the powerful eyes of a young woman at a highland market... The photos he cherished and recounted were like vivid memories, they were slices of everyday life that he kept with respect and deep emotion for people and life. Although he never attended a formal photography school, thanks to his self-study spirit and passion for composition and light, he created a unique style, full of life but no less artistic.

“Take pictures until you can't hold the camera anymore.”

Now, at the age of 76, NSNA Do Anh Tuan still diligently takes photos as part of his life. For him, each photo is a wordless dialogue between the worker and the viewer, where light, scenery and action replace words.

During his time as the Head of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Photography Association, he organized many professional activities, helping the association to be considered one of the most active units. In addition, he regularly organized collective creation sessions, shared professional experiences with the younger generation, and at the same time acted as a bridge to bring local artists closer to large-scale art playgrounds.

His first solo exhibition, “Going Through Time,” was held in May 2025 as a milestone marking his nearly 40-year journey of silence. More than 50 photos were displayed, each one a slice of memory, a moment he cherished among the countless frames he had taken. To get these works, he had to carefully select from thousands of photos, the photos had to have soul, beautiful composition and bring emotions. He said: “As long as viewers stop to look at a few seconds and like a few photos, I am satisfied.”

Even though he has spent nearly half a century holding a camera, he still hopes that the next generations can keep their passion for photography. He does not hesitate to share: “To take beautiful photos, you must have passion and patience. Moments come very quickly, if you are not persistent, you will miss them. Discovering beauty in seemingly ordinary things is precious. Pressing the shutter is easy, but not everyone can choose the right time and angle.”

For Mr. Tuan, the greatest reward after 40 years of working in photography is not the title or material things, but the spiritual values ​​he receives from life. “The most precious thing to me is the joy that photography brings. There are times when I meet people whose weddings or family photos I took, they thank me because those moments are still intact. That is the greatest reward,” he shared.

For photographer Do Anh Tuan, photography is a way to live beautifully, usefully and sincerely. It is also his way to repay life with quiet but touching photos like himself, which are humble, simple but shining with humanity.

Article and photos: BAO NGOC

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/ky-su/nghe-si-nhiep-anh-do-anh-tuan-hanh-trinh-40-nam-ghi-lai-ve-dep-tham-lang-cua-nguoi-lao-dong-836544