Prompted by my friend Minh’s invitation from the neighboring class, I joined Running: Youth & Hanoi as Head of Media. I led a five-member media team, guiding event photography and producing content for the race website and Facebook page. Under lead organizer Minh, the event drew 1,000+ participants and raised 52 million VND, all donated to “Rice with Meat” to improve meals and learning conditions for 200+ students in Vietnam’s mountainous regions.
A French word for “renew,” The Renovou Project renovates living spaces for isolated seniors in Hanoi to improve comfort and connection. Selling over 250 soy-wax candles, we raised money to donate furniture for Dien Hong Nursing Home and refurbished 3 rooms (furniture assembly, repainting) in the facility. Furthermore, Renovue partnered with the Nghe An Nursing Home for Disabled Veterans to deliver essentials to 25-plus seniors and shared educational posts on elder care and family values.
Xây Xưa is my brainchild. Developed together with my five best friend classmates, the project combines my love for LEGO with my passion for Vietnamese architecture. I designed five assembly models inspired by Hanoi’s landmarks, organized creative contests with the LEGO community, and led workshops that help students use LEGO for storytelling and cultural preservation. Through posts, tutorials, and events with key opinion leaders, I aim to bridge generational gaps around the “brick” culture and share the joy of building and creative design with more people in our community.
The Breakfast Aftermovie Gala: The Night We Met
A recap of the final event in The Breakfast 2024 welcoming juniors series.
Role: Director, Videographer, Editor
HSHK’s Camera Lens: “How to Study at Night Effectively?! /// 4 tips for hard-working night owls…”
(my first ever video project and most viewed one ^^)
A YouTube video reminds students that the high school entrance test is around the corner, and burning the midnight oil to drill practice sets feels almost inevitable.
Role: Screen Director, Videographer, Editor
A series exploring the history of the Fallen Church in Nam Dinh, Vietnam, through eight common visual patterns in photography
By Chu Quang Huy
The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Xuong Dien Parish), commonly known as the Hai Ly Fallen Church, was built in 1943 but abandoned in 1996 due to coastal erosion. What remains has become a symbol of resilience against the elements on Xuong Dien Beach, Nam Dinh.
Scale, a concept that evokes feelings of grandiosity, wonder, isolation, etc, all have to do with references and proportions. Humans, for example, are great references as viewers know the general size of how big they are. Photographers utilize this to compare surrounding elements to a familiar reference, helping viewers place themselves in the scene and grasp the sense of scale.
Despite the devastation from coastal erosion, the bell tower’s Gothic lines still lift proudly into the blue sky. Its pointed arches stand as a testament to the beauty that once was, defying the harshness of time.
Close-up pulls the viewer into details. It can be achieved by moving closer, zooming in, or cropping tightly into the subject. Each close-up challenges the photographer with understanding of composition, as each subtle camera angle adjustment matters. Used well, close-ups are a powerful way to create connection and intimacy.
The desolation of the ruined church is its fierce allure. Its weathered Gothic arches, instead of leading into a sanctuary, now open onto an endless sweep of sea and sky, inviting visitors to explore, reflect, and “frame” their journey with unique photographs.
Frames are elements that encapsulate subjects. It shows up in windows, leaf gaps, or any elements that naturally form a geometric shape. Incorporating frames in photography is a great way to remove distractions and introduce visual interest. Frames can be “framing” frames, creating a more dramatic effect and an interesting composition.
What history leaves behind is open space. The dome that once covered worshippers has fallen away, giving the sky their place. All that’s left is a wordless reminder of its former greatness and nature’s dominion.
Leading lines are elements that guide the viewer’s eyes through the form of lines. It is commonly used to anchor intention into the main subject that is placed high in the visual hierarchy. However, this is not always the case. This element can become the main subject, guiding the viewer smoothly through the composition. Leading lines are great for photographers to tell their stories naturally and an instructive tool for viewers to understand the images.
This was once a bustling fishing village. The fury of the waves swept everything away. Only the church remains, a tattered “ghost.” This photograph, with its blurred streaks, reads like a last attempt to hold on to a dissolving image of Xuong Dien Parish.
Tilt is a technique that creates imbalanced harmony. It can be achieved by skewing camera angles moderately to elicit subtle tension or significantly to create dramatic shock. The effect reframes a familiar scene into a fresher, more natural-feeling POV. Tilting is an element that evokes a sense of being deliberately unintentional.
Through the windows of the past, the present comes into view - bustling stalls and umbrellas everywhere. The ruins of the church now share their space with the rhythm of daily livelihood, where visitors pause to rest beside a fading witness to history.
Visual Hierarchy refers to the arrangement of elements that guides the viewer's eye through the images in a particular order. It typically starts with identifying the main subject in the images as the highest tier in the hierarchy. Then, elements such as foreground-background could be added to complement the main subject. Lower-tier subjects could also be incorporated in the picture for interaction between elements. The busier the image, the greater importance this concept became.
Standing amid the ruins, the boundary between real and unreal, between what remains and what is lost, blurs. Faith - Roman Catholicism, too, turns precarious and elusive, much like the streaks of light and shadow dissolving into one another.
Low Shutter transforms the tangible into the surreal. By lowering shutter speed, motion blur can be created. This effect is usually employed to create abstract images or show the viewers the sense of direction. Low shutter is an advanced technique: instead of adjusting angles in 3D space, photographers are thinking in 4D, adding time to the composition.
The image shows a sleek new restaurant sprouting next to the fallen church, rendered in a soft blur. The building appears as a “ghost of the present,” suggesting that today’s bustling commerce is just as fleeting as the very relic it leans on.
Zoom Burst is a technique that utilizes Low Shutter with a slight twist. Starting with a low shutter speed, click the shoot button and quickly adjust the lens focal length to zoom inward or outward during the processing phase. The result is a tunnel-like image that draws the viewer’s eyes to the center.
You can’t exactly put a bandage on a crumbling church, but you can definitely “patch up” your soul with a breezy photo series. Visit the Hai Ly Ruined Church, and you’ll not only take in a gigantic landmark battling the ocean, but you’ll also top up your creative batteries and enjoy the seafood by Xuong Dien Beach.
The last important tip is BE CAREFUL. Make sure to be aware of the surroundings and do not fall into the beach like myself ^^. These eight patterns are just the beginning, so mix and match freely and create new ones as you become fluent in your own visual language.
My highlighted photographs
After the Bell
Cầu Giấy Secondary School, Hanoi. Moments after the bell, the hallway’s cacophony settles into quiet melodies. Each student leaves a mark, together shaping the corridor’s character.
Lost in Shanghai Red
Shanghai, China. I didn’t plan to meet my club leader here, but Shanghai loves surprises. Under the glamorous city light, we wandered, ate, and talked until the night felt like ours. Some trips end, but this one lingers.
Catch the Frame
The track field of Hanoi National University of Education. As a promotion for Running: Youth & Hanoi’s main event, I captured my friend Linh in an unconventional camera angle, reminding viewers to break out of the frame and explore their potential.
Thousand day of sunshine
HNUE High School for Gifted Students, Hanoi. Made to congratulate and welcome new juniors after their entrance exam. Three years of high school pass by quickly, but there’s enough time to make friends and let small moments turn into memories.
Whisper of Áo Dài
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Hanoi. A narrow beam of light finds my best friend Banh in a blush áo dài. The fan becomes a veil. The wood behind her is a stage. Tradition speaks softly, and you lean in to hear it.
Pieces of Home
A friend's house, Hanoi. Family love feels fair when attention is shared. This pentaptych follows a father slowly coming to that realization.
Timeless Flow:
Wuzhen, China. Carried along by the crowd, I shot this picture in one shot, no review. It amazed me how many people come back to these weathered eaves by boat and by camera, rediscovering how old architecture can still hold a new day.