Continuing from where I left off in the previous post I’ll transition into the rest of Hanoi.
The image line-up as follows:
Part 1: Places and cases
Part 2: Faces
Part 3: Misc and wall spaces
I’m putting part 3 in another post I decided. I’ll keep it in this post just for the rhyme.
Part 1: Places and cases
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/160 second
Aperture: F/4.0
Focal Length: 120 mm
ISO Speed: 250
Date Taken: Oct 14, 2009, 4:43:29 PM
I pulled this shot off a train bridge, a place I got my first view of the Hanoi skyline.
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/250 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 95 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Taken: Oct 12, 2009, 3:03:02 PM
This is a common sight here; the blue containers are actually full of soup. I’m not sure if they are leftovers – it’s best not to know.
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/80 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Taken: Oct 13, 2009, 11:11:01 AM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/320 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Taken: Oct 12, 2009, 1:53:31 PM
Hanoi has some of the coolest alleys you’ll ever see. You usually find their entrances in a withdrawn area wide enough for a couple motorcycles. They will branch, fork, and weave until you find yourself in this labyrinth of 3 – 5 foot wide “tunnels,” that seem to be crammed with just about everything imaginable.
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/320 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Taken: Oct 13, 2009, 12:06:42 PM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/30 second
Aperture: F/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Taken: Oct 13, 2009, 12:41:11 PM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/320 second
Aperture: F/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Taken: Oct 13, 2009, 12:43:03 PM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/320 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Date Taken: Oct 12, 2009, 2:16:37 PM
There is absolutely no shortage of old school bikes here. And I can say with full confidence they get used and abused.
Part 2: Faces
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/160 second
Aperture: F/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Taken: Oct 13, 2009, 12:29:37 PM
To start out the faces I’ll warm up the images with this guy.
While milling about the alleys and shooting photos he saw me papping away at his teapot. He apparently wanted in on the action so he came over and grabbed his teapot to do some poses. I had the wrong lens on for “portrait” work (this being in an extremely tight alley) I did manage to snag this one. He even gave me his address so I could send him a copy… I’ll have to do that when I get some time.
The reason I put him in is because this was far from the only occurrence. At every turn people were pulling us aside for drinks, photos or in one case karaoke. Sometimes it was just to chat, others times to watch a foreigner try something new. Whether it be sitting down at a restaurant and being joined by random folks or walking down the road and being flagged over by people sitting around. Vietnamese people have been extremely friendly, especially by American standards. I can’t recall one instance in the states of being called over by random people, that I don’t know, to come join them drinking tea. Sure it happens… but definitely not as often as in Vietnam
NIKON CORPORATION
NIKON D3X
1/125 second
F/1.8
50 mm
1600
Oct 13, 2009, 12:26:56 PM
The precursor to this image was a riot. We found these people deep in one of the labyrinths when they flagged us down to come join them. Long story short they wanted us to eat, and of course drink – all on the house. None of them spoke English but it appeared we were drinking rice moonshine. We passed on the food as we had just eaten prior. I’m not sure how long we were there, but it was one of those “experiences.”
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/40 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 1250
Date Taken: Oct 14, 2009, 5:13:39 PM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/40 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 1250
Date Taken: Oct 14, 2009, 5:13:45 PM
Then there is this. At first I was a little confused as to why pipes were sitting out at just about every tea stop on the street. It turns out it is pure tobacco they are smoking and they definitely enjoy it. They are also more than excited to have you take a pull. I knew I was in trouble when I sat down for my try. The lungs weren’t very happy with me to say the least. He kept showing us how to smoke it and when I tried I ended up swallowing smoke that resulted in me briefly being unable to speak. This of course was of great delight to the guy as he chatted away. You’d swear there is something else in the pipe when you smoke it because you get a dizzy light and airy feeling you can read more at the wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuoc_lao
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/640 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Taken: Oct 12, 2009, 11:52:59 AM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/250 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Taken: Oct 12, 2009, 12:01:18 PM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/100 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Taken: Oct 12, 2009, 2:44:18 PM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/160 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Date Taken: Oct 12, 2009, 1:48:45 PM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/250 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Date Taken: Oct 12, 2009, 2:25:37 PM
In Hanoi everything seems to take place on the sidewalk. You’ll see full shops for welding or sewing – whatever it might be. Instead of doing the work inside their shops as most others would choose; they usually opt for the middle of the sidewalk. This situation presents a unique experience when you find yourself walking in the road because the sidewalk is “closed” down with blockages. It really means you get to play frogger with the battalion of scooters honking away at you.
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/50 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Taken: Oct 13, 2009, 11:09:56 AM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/60 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Taken: Oct 12, 2009, 4:30:26 PM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/60 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Date Taken: Oct 14, 2009, 2:27:58 PM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/125 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Taken: Oct 14, 2009, 4:20:34 PM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/25 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 24 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Date Taken: Oct 14, 2009, 3:34:06 PM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/30 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 14 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Date Taken: Oct 14, 2009, 3:34:40 PM
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3X
Shutter Speed: 1/100 second
Aperture: F/2.8
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 640
Date Taken: Oct 14, 2009, 2:29:51 PM
This is a good image to transition to the next post. The scene is actually a fairly common one. I was pondering a trim myself until I was able to do it on my own. Say a special prayer to my old USA clippers that met their demise in a burst of destruction via the 220v electricity.
