Following the awards ceremony, he spoke with Bac Ninh Newspaper about his artistic journey and the role of photography in preserving cultural heritage.

Photographer Nguyen Trong Hieu.

What inspired you to pursue cultural heritage as a subject in your artistic photography, particularly the traditional cultural values of your hometown of Bac Ninh?

I was born and raised in Bac Ninh and have been involved in photography for nearly 30 years. Throughout this journey, I have focused mainly on capturing moments of everyday life, as well as the landscapes and people of Bac Ninh.

Nguyen Trong Hieu's photo series Quan ho Kinh Bac and But Thap Pagoda won a silver medal at the Heritage Photography Awards – Heritage Journey 2025.

For me, photography is not simply a passion but also a way to express my love for my homeland and my sense of responsibility towards the preservation of the nation's cultural heritage.

Which of your works are you most proud of?

Many of my works feature Quan ho folk singing, a cultural heritage closely associated with my hometown of Bac Ninh.

Among them, my photo series “Quan ho Kinh Bac and But Thap Pagoda” won a silver medal at the Heritage Photography Awards – Heritage Journey 2025, as well as an A Prize at the Literature and Arts Awards 2025 presented by the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations.

“Symphony of Mud”, by Nguyen Trong Hieu, won a silver medal at the Vietnam Artistic Photography Contest 2026.

The series brings together the cultural values of Quan ho folk singing and the time-honoured architectural setting of But Thap Pagoda, creating images rich in the distinctive cultural identity of the Kinh Bac region.

This is also a project to which I devoted considerable time and effort, with thorough preparation.

In October 2026, my photograph “Symphony of Mud” won a silver medal at the Vietnam Artistic Photography Contest 2026, organised by the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists and other organisations.

Other notable works include “Nurturing Life”, which received an honourable mention at the 12th International Artistic Photography Contest in Vietnam in 2023, and “A Rural Landscape Painting”, which won a consolation prize at the 26th Red River Delta Artistic Photography Festival in 2024.

The latter was also featured in the third edition of the exhibition “Vietnam Through the Lens of International Photographers” in 2025.

Your photograph “Symphony of Mud” stood out among numerous entries to win a major award. How did you capture it?

It is a work that holds special meaning for me. The traditional water ball wrestling festival in Van village attracted hundreds of photographers, all seeking fresh and distinctive perspectives.

I kept changing focal lengths, switching from a telephoto lens to a fisheye lens. In my haste, I slung my camera bag over my shoulder without remembering to zip it up.

When I heard a sudden thud and felt the bag become noticeably lighter, my heart sank as I saw my equipment lying on the ground.

The five minutes I spent checking the equipment felt extremely tense. Fortunately, the lens had only sustained minor dents, and its main functions remained intact.

Just as mud and water erupted into the air, with spectators and young men from the village's competing teams cheering enthusiastically around the arena, I raised my camera and started shooting.

“Dance of Light”, a photograph by Nguyen Trong Hieu.

I was filled with excitement and exhilaration, along with a strong sense that the photograph would capture something special.

To me, the success of “Symphony of Mud” was not a matter of luck, but the result of persistent exploration and an aspiration to create a photograph that truly captured the spirit of that festival season.

The award recognises the work while giving me further motivation to continue exploring cultural and heritage themes.

However, I always believe that awards are not the ultimate destination.

What matters more is whether an artist can continue creating meaningful works that are capable of touching the audience’s emotions and making a tangible contribution to cultural life.

Thank you very much!

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