#45: Thanh Bach in New York – Part 2

Finally I am back after one month trip. To be honest, I do not ignore this blog, it is just writing in English takes more time and thoughts. But I will have to keep this blog active; I realized that not only those who speak Vietnamese want to read my stories, but those who don’t also want a fair benefit. Well, I will try I will try!

It is funny that someone sent me a comment saying why I am writing in English and that the American would not pay a damn attention to read these. That is one the most stupid comment I have ever received here. First, to get this clear, this is my English blog, so of course I will write in English, if someone wants to read in Vietnamese, just visit my Vietnamese blog (www.hakinkin.info). Second, I write in English because I want to practice English and to share with those who are non – Vietnamese but would like to enjoy stories behind my photos, it does not matter that is an American or Chinese or Nigerian. My English might sound silly but I am sure you fully understand what I am writing. Whoever you are, just think deep before making a comment here, or I will make you all spammers and put you into trash!

Just a little warning, here continues our entries.

The second part of Thanh Bach, the well known MC is now being continued as promised. I decided to add the photos and stories about him into my new coming book. The guy is too interesting to be missed. He has urged me to send him high quality – retouched photos to make his 2010 calendar. I wish I could be home so to see how the calendar would be like.

I could see his lessons affected me thoroughly after our meet. Well, as a photographer, you’re supposed to be active and…shameless. It is true that sometimes you have to ignore people’s attention to catch the right moments and angles, and sometimes you have to create the situations to make a difference. I remember taking photos for Thanh Bach, as we were walking on the street, I was some feet behind, he was posing, not like standing and smiling like a souvenir model but he created things, just to make the photos more special. If that had been me, I would not dare to jump up in the middle of the crowded street to sing and dance like an over-dosed man, I would not dare to ask a funny – looking stranger on the street to take a photo with me, I would not dare to dress some “different” outfits…..but he did all of these. And whatever I asked him to do he would not hesitate to do. In the end, it was me who was exhausted, he was still there smiling and jumping like a happy man ever on earth.

So that made me some different photos. Imagine he just stood and smiled like all other tourists, could we have such photos? That’s the greatest lesson I learnt, if we are not active, we are scared, we can not do different things than others.

The second lesson I learnt from him, that is the optimism. I knew he had been through so many difficulties in his life, aren’t that all these rumors and pressures would bring any human down? But he smiled, he told funny stories, he sang and danced, he said he loved life. He could, so why can’t I? (Well, honestly I love life like crazy too, hehe!)

So, well, welcome Thanh Bach to my new book. And…thank you for giving me some extreme intersting moments of my life!

On Brooklyn Bridge,

Funny looking fortune teller.

Now comes the Times Square,

Want to watch his funny music video. The song is composed by Thanh Bach.