Artistic photography is one of the quite effective "channels" to promote the culture, landscape, people, cuisine... of regions, areas, and localities. Promoting this strength, in recent years, professional and amateur photographers (NSNA) of the province and across the country have taken and introduced many beautiful photos of the landscape, craft villages, cuisine, cultural activities... of Ha Nam, thereby spreading the beauty, culture, and traditions of the land of Doi Mountain and Chau River to a large number of people in the country and international friends.

In a conversation, when talking about the photo "Buffalo Painting Contest in the Tich Dien Festival" by author Dang Thanh (Hanoi) - the photo won the First Prize of the 2nd Ha Nam Tourism Photo Contest organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Artist Ngan Lien (member of the International Federation of Photographic Art FIAP; member of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists, Head of the Vietnam Association of Photographers in Ha Nam, and also a member of the Jury of the contest) said: It's really excellent! Drawing buffaloes at the Tich Dien Festival has been taken by many artists from many different angles, and there have been many beautiful photos. The topic seems old, boring, and difficult to exploit new things. But Dang Thanh lowered the lens, capturing the most wonderful and vivid moment, both in terms of the subject's movements as well as the light to most impressively depict the "buffalo" and the female artist to have a photo full of emotions. The gentle eyes of the buffalo, the movement of rolling the tongue and licking the nose are extremely lively and natural. Then the extremely focused and delighted expression and the curls of hair flying in the spring breeze of the painter, the hands and the movements of the brush, all are lively, natural, full of sublime emotions. A big festival takes place in a large space, with many activities, but just a small "slice" and the art of photography, the talent of the artist has created an impression for the viewer about the Tich Dien Festival as well as the homeland of Ha Nam.

The photo of the Buffalo Painting Contest during the Tich Dien Festival was enlarged and placed next to Highway 1A to promote the beauty of Ha Nam.

Or like the photo "Vu Dai Village Braised Fish" by NSNA Ngan Lien, the work awarded 2 international Gold Medals is also a truly interesting and impressive "slice" in the vast, diverse and profound cultural color of the rice paddy land. The photo captures the scene of fish braised in Hoa Hau (Ly Nhan) with a longan wood stove glowing with the red light of the fire, pots of fish steaming, and a woman in tight protective clothing concentrating on her work. Besides the artistic elements such as composition, light, color, ... the photo is highly appreciated for its uniqueness and authenticity. International judges were not only convinced by the artistry of the photo, but also attracted by a unique and interesting activity in the life of people in a rural area of ​​Vietnam and further, deeper behind is a brilliant, profound and rare rice paddy culture. One photo but has spread a lot of values, conveying many messages to viewers and international friends.

 Artist Ngan Lien said that in terms of landscape, Ha Nam does not have large landscapes that show majestic beauty like many other localities. However, Ha Nam has many beautiful landscapes imbued with the identity of the delta, with a rich and unique culture. Artists have known how to select and cut small slices to have impressive photos promoting the culture, people, traditions, and beautiful landscapes of Ha Nam to domestic and international friends. These artistic "slices" are so vivid and brilliant!

Regarding the landscape, many places are frequently visited by NSNAs such as Doi mountain, three rivers (Chau river, Day river, Nhue river); Kem Trong; Do Xa iron bridge; Chau Giang bridge, Lanh Giang temple; the system of communal house, pagoda, Lac Nhue ancient village; Cat Tuong memorial area... and recently there are places such as Lam Ha spiritual area; Tam Chuc, Dia Tang Phi Lai pagoda... Craft villages have: Doi Tam drum, Thanh Ha embroidery, Quyet Thanh pottery, Nha Xa silk... Cuisine has: Hoa Hau braised fish, Phu Ly rolled rice rolls with fan... Community cultural activities, destinations are festivals, recently there is a walking street in Phu Ly city, Duy Tien town...

The work "Vu Dai Village Braised Fish" by artist Ngan Lien won 2 international Gold Medals.

To promote the creative movement, the Provincial Literature and Arts Association annually organizes or coordinates the organization of photography competitions or exhibitions of professional and non-professional artists in the province. Provincial photographers also regularly participate in regional, national and international photography competitions and exhibitions.

In recent years, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has coordinated with the Literature and Arts Association to maintain the organization of the Ha Nam Tourism Photo Contest, attracting many photographers inside and outside the province to exploit and introduce the beauty of Ha Nam. The excellent photos of the contest were selected as images to serve the work of promoting and promoting tourism: enlarged prints were hung along National Highway 1A, the section running through Phu Ly city, to introduce to tourists when passing through Ha Nam. Through the contests and exhibitions, it has contributed to promoting the movement of creating artistic photos in the province, attracting photographers across the country to Ha Nam to admire the beautiful scenery, unique cultural customs and record photos for promotion.

Although it has achieved initial results in promoting the beauty and culture of Ha Nam through artistic photos, according to some artists, more attention is needed to motivate artists and promote the development of the creative movement. Some people think that the province needs to commend and reward authors whose photos have won regional and international awards, and promote these works widely to promote the value of the photos.

Currently, the authors and works that have won international awards are mainly known only to those in the profession. After the competitions, the works fall into the state of being "in the warehouse" of the authors, which is a waste. In addition, it is necessary to organize larger-scale art photography competitions, invite many artists from many regions and need to have support to create conditions for artists during the creation process in the province (for example, arrange accommodation, take artists to some tourist spots, craft villages, etc. and have arrangements and preparations in advance to facilitate their creation). Thereby, promoting the advantages of photography in spreading beauty to serve the tourism development of Ha Nam.

Source: baohanam.com.vn