Some Minimalist Views of Vietnam

Apart from India and Japan, I haven’t spent any significant time in Asia. Much of that has to do with the weather — I don’t like heat, humidity, and, frankly, the chaos. I know I should visit more countries in Asia, considering how much I like Southeast Asian cuisine. Food is my primary reason to travel. Photography is a close second.

Vietnam was one of those countries that had been high on my list to visit. It was sheer luck that earlier this year, I ended up in Hanoi and Hoi An. The sea and fishing are integral parts of Vietnam and its people. Not only did I enjoy their delicious delicacies, I spent a few days visiting fish markets and, more importantly, got to see the fishermen working.

I visited a couple of fishing villages. The weather wasn’t ideal — hot, humid, and overcast. None of that mattered because I almost always aim to create high-key photos. I had the new Leica SL3 along with the reliable SL Vario 24-90 lens to help me achieve the look.

By putting the camera in “highlight priority,” I exposed to the right as much as possible without risking overexposure. I then used Adobe Camera Raw to apply my custom high-key presets. I used Photoshop to help create visual depth. These images are my interpretation of what I experienced.

I particularly enjoyed the visit to Ha Long Bay. The black-and-white photography allowed me to reduce the landscape to empty spaces and shapes. Many shades of gray helped give the photos depth. Given my experience in the country, I am looking forward to going back — perhaps for a longer stint and preferably in cooler months.

I have included a small video with this email. It was made with clips I captured on an iPhone 16 Pro Max, and my friend Felix Uribe Jr. helped put it together. If you’re in the Bay Area, you should hire him for your next event.

Some of these photos were featured on Leica’s Instagram feed. I occasionally share my photos on Glass.photo. The full set of images is available for viewing on my SmugMug page, where you can buy a print if you like any particular photo.