His name is Graham. Graham seems to be a very cautious person. He sent me all the information we needed in details, like locations, time… including photos and screen shots from Google.  Graham even called me in advance to make sure all the photos he saw on my website www.hakinkin.com were really mine.  I told him: “Absolutely”!

Proposing must be really exciting and nervous. Even a careful person like Graham made some mistakes on location and time when emailing me; he said he must be too nervous. That sounded more interesting to me though.  I only saw the surprise proposals on TV and in movies. Never saw them in real life!

Finally Graham figured out a good date to do the proposal. It was chilly and windy day in Central Park and he was in the suit shivering waiting for her to arrive. I and my brother had to be there 45 mins earlier to make sure everything and…he will be OK.  We were so excited for the outcome.

It was supposed that she would arrive around 5h30 but due to that traffic time, she could not be on time. Graham said he hired a Limousine to take her here from work. And to make sure she would not be suspicious about what he was doing, he called her and made her mad on the phone. Ah, that’s pretty cute!

We had to wait nearly one hour in the cold. I caught the cold but Graham should be more freezing, because he only had the suit on, not to include the excitement would make you ten times colder. There’s a big tree there so me and my brother would “hide” in case she approaches near him later. We definitely did not want her to see what was coming.

Finally she arrived; the sun was already gone so the exposure was a bit off.  We moved behind the tree so she wouldn’t notice. She had a rose in her hand. I wonder if she really knew anything.

So here we go, the story would go by stop motions actually. I wanted to make sure that I caught everything. I promised Graham that he was in very good hands! These are just highlights!

Preparing for the important moments:

OOh, he’s really freezing.

Graham’s grandmother’s ring which will be used to propose. That was a surprise proposal, so of course this should be a surprise ring.

Let’s tell the story in STOP MOTION

I love the way she’s looking at him, such a look of loving and filling with happiness.

Virginia is beautiful all years round, at least to me: because there are beautiful people living there!

I could not wait till the full cherry blossom due to a wedding contract in Dallas. I came here early while the flower-buds were still sleeping. And this time, I had my 5D mark II with me – that means I could do some motion pictures – my long time plan finally came into implementation.

It’s been over a half year since I met little Liam and Natalie. I saw them getting bigger and bigger. Liam could speak better in a very proper English style, and Natalie almost started her first walk. They are getting more beautiful and lovely. Aaah, my future kids dream!!!!

Again, we had wonderful time together. Liam and Natalie’s parents were going to work so they were kept by their grandparents. We did not go to the Pactomac river for the cherry blossom like every year. We went to the National Arboretum in DC. Despite the heavy rains days before and the flowers were not yet bloomed, we had great photos and VIDEOS!!!.

This is actually my first experiment on “moving photography” which you film and edit videos in photography styles. I had technical limits and I am still learning, but the video make all of us happy. There are moments which are beyond words or “technical things”.

The video was shot in full HD, so you should try to watch it in highest resolution your screen and computer can support. If the net line is slow, just press Play, then pause to wait for the buffer.

Ah, I sing in here too, hehe. Hope you won’t mind, haha!

There are some scenes with my face in it. I directed my brother to shoot, just some kind of curiosity, I wanted to see how my face is like on the screen, not bad hehe!

So, here it is:

And oh yeah, here comes the photos. Hope you will be happy or simply – feeling fresh looking at these photos!!!

The reason I am posting Autumn photos today. It is because I….did not post them last season, and they are too beautiful to be left out. Also, there is another reason, I will post spring photos right after this. What are the two topics having in common? They were taken in a same place, with same wonderful people: Virginia – where my “god parents” are living!!!

Last year – It was bad, very bad. But there was still one best thing happened to me: I met THEM – who are the kindest and the most wonderful people who I have ever met. Meeting them was one best thing to make up for my whole awful year! They are now my god parents, they care and love me as much as my parents do. Can not say how much I am lucky and happy!

I and my brother came to Virginia for the Autumn. Since I was little, I heard my teacher said: “Virginia is one of the most beautiful state in America. You must come here once, and you’d better come in the Fall”.  What he said marked steadily in my mind, that I decided I must go there whenever I have a chance. And I had – more than just come for a beautiful spring but to have two more people to love and care for you!

Things happened were just like a beautiful dream.

3 days staying there were one of the sweetest days of my life. When I am happy, I take beautiful photos. So here I am sharing with you, my beautiful happiness!

Early morning:

“My room”“

Natalie, little girl – who have been appeared to some people’s profile pictures ever since I posted her photos on:

So sorry for deserting this blog.  I have been working hard for my new book’s release and travelling like crazy. Been a while since I wrote something in English, so do not pay too much attention on my English, hehe, as long as you understand what I MEAN!!!

I will start writing about my breath-taking Jetblue trip right after this refreshing entry. Today, I am in the mood for telling you about someone really special, someone I love a lot. My 2 years old cousin!

This little angel was born after his older sister 20 years, and to his older brother 12 years.  So here comes a funny story:  His sister who is now already 22 years old – a tall pretty girl – had been chased after by a guy for several years, then he gave up and went away.

One day, he came back home. He saw his dream lover holding a little baby in her arms. And he thought to himself: “That’s it, she is married, she has baby. My life is done!”.

He called her and told her how desperate he was. At first, my cousin (the girl) thought she must clear this misunderstanding, but then thinking of how crazy he was standing in front of her house in all these years had changed her mind. “Oh, yeah, that is my son, is there anything wrong? You should go marry someone and have one too, bleeh!!!”.

Oh yeah, the world welcomed a new broken – hearted young man! Totally broken- hearted!

I am the oldest grandchild of my grandparents and he is the youngest. Somehow among all the cousins, I have the most chemical connection with him. Since the day he was born, I felt something special, I love that feeling, and I use it every time I need inspiration.

“Chi Ha, Chi Ha , wake up wake up”. That is what he called me every morning. He would jump on me and give me a kiss on my cheek, then whispers again: “wake up wake up”. Can you imagine that is a 2 years old boy?

He rarely cries and does not ask for his mom or dad all the time. If you tell him not to touch something, well, he…still touch, but then he would smile and cover his face as if he knows he is wrong, no one would bother give him any punishment.

He loves camera. When I pointed my camera to him, he gave me wonderful smiles. He would smile and pose till he became numb. He is THE BEST model of mine until now.  Too bad I did not have much time photographing him when I was at home. But even if I had 15 mins with him, I already had tons of beautiful photos.

It is my best moment to ask him to dance with me. I must bend down my knees and hold his arms. Then we sang and moved together. I imagine one day, he would be much much taller than me, then it is him who would bend down to hold my arms to dance. Well, time flies, we’ll see…

When I said goodbye to him. He was sad, but then he put his palm to his mouth and blew me a kiss. “Bye bye chi Ha, bye bye chi…”

Him- some months old

HIM – NOW

He is asking for a candy

In memory of our grandfather. We love you so much!

I go, I fly, I do things, I forget things, and I forget people….I feel bad sometimes, but…for sure there are some will forever stays in my heart, though I don’t see or talk to them often.

Surprisingly, some understands me so well, knows what I think or what I like despite my absent mind and my laziness of keeping in touch with them.  So, can you believe it? We don’t meet everyday, we’re always far away from each other, but she is my best friend – for 15 years.

Just like me, she comes and is gone just in a minute. Today she is with me in New York, tomorrow she is back to Vietnam, and next week, she is back with me again…..but if we have chance to meet, we would have dead fun: gossiping about people, taking photos, and….bringing me surprises.

Just wrote her a very long blog in Vietnamese. It would be great if you understand Vietnamese. Amazing things happened between me and her – they are all told there!

http://www.hakinkin.info/2009/11/25/208-b%E1%BB%91n-mua-c%E1%BB%A7a-h%E1%BA%A1nh/#comments

And today is her birthday – December 20^th – HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DEAREST FRIEND.  I always forget things, forget people and their….birthdays. But this year, I don’t forget you, hihihihi.

No need to wish anything I think – because she knows what I want best for her!

Been taking photos for her every time we had a chance to meet. She comes and goes, and one day, I realized I have four seasons of her in my gallery!

SPRING….

SUMMER – IN ÁO DÀI…

AUTUMN – GOING WITH HER FOR THE WHOLE DAY IN CENTRAL PARK – WE TALKED ENDLESSLY….SHE STILL REMEMBERED ALL THOSE THINGS WE HAD BEEN THROUGH IN THE PAST - IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE AUTUMN!

WINTER – WILL BE IN HANOI – JUST WAIT…..

You can call this guy “Kevin” ; Kevin Quan. Kevin is pretty well known by being the first male belly dancer in Vietnam.  At the time, belly dancing was still considered something “sexy”, “immoral”, “not good”…. It is heavily criticized from those old fashioned people and dumb husbands. And when belly dance mostly indicates to women, it is so weird to see a guy in this dance. And that made the name for Kevin.

Even belly dance recently has become a new wave and is widely accepted all over Vietnam. The story about Kevin is still always something pretty interesting.

Kevin was a student from Institute for International Relations, the university where I had attended but he is some years behind me. This is a high – rank and privileged university of Vietnam, lot of people were trying hard to attend to be a student here. But guess what, Kevin quitted the school when he was in second or third year, just because he did not feel like the place “is right” for him.

He started to do things that he really loved, he entered a fashion institute, and he fell deeply in love with belly dance. Despite the fact that being male belly dancer would be so weird and hardly accepted, he just did things he wanted to do.

At first, people screamed and got goose-bumps seeing him dance. What a ridiculous image of a guy: dressing in dress and in half shirt, shaking his boos and hip, eyes winking to the audience. Some thought this would create scandals, so they taped him dance, spread on the internet included with very ill – intended comments. People thought of him as a beast.

So, that is how he became “famous”, famous from being infamous first.  Even they did not like him, they still knew about him, and more and more people came to see how this “weird boy” dancing.  The thing is that, he did not pay damn attention about bad things people talked out there. He did what he liked, that’s all!

When something keeps happening, even if it was once considered “weird”, “unacceptable”, people start to enjoy and discover beauty in what they are experiencing. Kevin had been invited to big shows by then, he was on newspaper around with positive comments. Until one day, it is no more surprised seeing a male belly dancer. Let say, he changed people.

Kevin is good looking and pretty smart. Rumors spread that he is gay. (Well, gay is still “strange” and creates lot of gossiping all the time).  And well, indeed, he is.

And he shows: I’m gay, so what?

Tell you what, I love gay people, they are so talented and kind once they really love you. And I understand gay people quite well, since I have lot of experience with them.

Kevin once was my friend. Well, he was, it is hurt to say. We used to hang out, eat food on street and gossip a lot. He always showed like he knew a lot of people, he had a lot of friends, but I felt something that is not so comfortable being with him for long term, and I knew for sure: deep inside, he is so lonely, very lonely.

The song is titled: Dark Corner. Composed and sung by Nguyễn Hải Phong.

I know one thing about gay people, perhaps is not applied to everyone, but is mostly right best of time. It is that they always want to show  everyone they are really good, or better, they can use over – behaviors or even violence in order to be attracted by people/person they like – or just among a crowd. This also explains why there are amazing – talented gay people; they try hard to show off what they really have.

Kevin talked a lot, he met my “famous” friends, and he would talk bad things right in front of their faces or about other people, just to show he is really “special”. Sometimes he talked so much and the talked things without thinking about any consequences. He thought it was fun, he did not know that bothered people and, well, one day, he angered me extremely. He did not realize that he did something so terrible just by his words and he hurt other people real bad. I knew he was thoughtless, I knew he was still immature.  But he had to pay for what he had done! I could not be his friend anymore! Having him around is like carrying a bomb that can be exploded anytime.

He lost me, he lost my friends. He still said bad things behind my back, I knew. But I understand for him,  people understand for him. When he is really grown up, he will be different. One day, he will realize why he is so lonely; he will learn to respect what he is having.

I admit I admire his talents, his strong will. He can do and show things he has and he is without being scared of what other people say.

But no one is perfect. The more talented you are, the sicker you are as well!

I did this set in a bar located in an old house of Hanoi. The place is pretty; Kevin had a good relationship with the owner here, so we decided to carry out this set at this location.

I had no lights so the set was taken  in very bad exposures.  Indoor – some low bulb lights and hand held.  But then I liked it, because that was for no fashion or commercial purposes, it is nothing for something fancy but to show some dark corners of a lonely “star” –  indeed – a very lonely person.  He accepted this fact!

He was willing to take off all of his clothes so there are more shocking photos but I don’t show them. Just pick out some favorites from the set!

This is also a pure black and white set!

I had never thought I would be friend with any famous person. I thought they are in different worlds, they have different lifestyles and. I am a person of close friendships (which it is rare for famous people), also, this may surprise you, but I hate crowds and noise. Famous people – they have all!

But this is always right, you never know how something really is until it arrives.  All these time, I started to make friends with some of these “famous” people so naturally that I did not even aware of their fames.

With Khue, it was even harder to believe we would be friends. But we did, and good, good friends. I was so surprised to discover her; things were totally different of what I used to think.

I met her on my ex-job. I had to do some video shootings with some well known artists for a TV program and Khue was one of the guests. As I looked at her name, I really hesitated to call, but well, I had to. Her “sour” and  “chilly” voice on the phone sounded exactly when she sings. Well, she was friendly, not that scary at all!

Then I met her in person, we did the video but I did not talk to her much, she looked no so different on TV, or even prettier. By the end, I decided to give her my book as a little gift. (I gave out my books to some of the guests that I thought they might read). My first impression about Khue was that, she had great sense of humor, kind of smarty humor, not the dumb one!

Well, but that was it. Always a goodbye to the guests and would never intend to call them again for any personal purposes.

4 days later, my cell rang, Khue was on the line (I rarely delete people’s contacts on my phone once they are registered in there). My heart thumbed! What? She still kept my phone number? What did she want?

_ Hi Kin, I’m Khue, remember me?

-          Sure I do, hi Khue.

-          Hey, I just finished reading your book, and I LOVE IT, I want to see you again so much. I will have a video shooting tomorrow for the TV, want to hang out with me???

(I was thinking: Oh man, she READ the book…well, she is really….different).

-          I have to go to work, though I would love to.

-          Come on, take the day off, I gotta see you!

-          Ok, I’ll try, I will call you back!

I had to be honest; my heart thumbed hard just like a guy I like gave me a call. I was confused going with her or not. First, I was…lazy, second;  I was not really sure how to “treat” this famous person;  third, it was hard to ask for a day off this late.

But then, I decided to go. Meeting such a person would be interesting whether it turns out good or bad in the end!

And guess how she treated me. She asked for my address and drove her own car to my place to pick me up. We started to discover about each other. She said: She found herself and her mind in my book, she knew I would be the one she had been looking for a long time, and she knew we would be great friends of each other. And I said I did not know anything about her but her songs, but I was thinking inside, if she really liked and had good feelings for my book, she was really “my style”.  The stories went on, I laughed to dead with her funny stories and jokes.

When I came home, I was simply happy. I had a new friend, a very “special one”.

Famous people – well they are just…people. They can be stars high in the sky, but they can be so close just like one of us.

Ever since, we have been hanging out, telling jokes and getting closer and closer. I love her more and more everyday, sometimes I even had the feeling she was just so “perfect” for me:  talent, smart, funny….and always was there when I was in need. She called me her “best friend” though I never called her that way (because I did not want people to think I wanted to show off the relationship with famous people).

But now, finally I admit, she is one of my best friends. And these entries are my love for her, for a friend I love, not for a well known person!

And thanks to my book: “New York love stories” – it brought me so much, how can I thank it now?

I took photos for another family this time. It was a birthday party of a little girl and they had the party at the beach. It took me over 2 hours to be there, I have no talents in finding the correct roads, so it is always a serious problem to reach any destination on time.

Again, bad time, extremely bad time and location to take photos, not just because the sun was too harsh, but it is because the shoot carried out at the beach where there was absolutely no shadow, and if there was some trees, that would create very complicated exposures!

And you know that taking children photos is not an easy job. They run, they hide, they cry, but once you catch a smile, no other types of photo can be compared! But again, it is not an easy job!

These people are Spanish; I guessed they were Puerto Rican and later I was confirmed by this information.  Spanish kids have beautiful wide eyes that will always be the focal points in my images.

In the early Weekend Photos Entry I posted, I have the photos of a handsome little boy who is mixed with Japanese and black. Even at a very little age, he shows his handsomeness and manly look, anticipating a lady killer in the future.

But this time I caught a little girl and I saw her pretty interesting. Just like what I have described the boy, she shows her feminine manner in a very cute and natural way. Well, I don’t need to say clearly how, just look at the photos and they will say all.

I just remembered about myself, I had never been a velvet girl since I was born until one day, I realized, I need to be soften down in order to attract a guy, haha, but still I am not sure I could do that. So, being an attractive woman (or a man), it’s must be in the gene or developed since someone is little. Well, it can be trained as well, but I do believe only those who have this “natural ability” since they were unconscious  of what the heck “man”, “woman” or “sex” is – are the “real” ones, haha!

The little girl who was the most important person of the party has extremely beautiful eyes, she did not show her “feminine attraction” but she showed what a lovely beautiful kid really is!

I gave the photos to the little girl’s mommy later and she seemed to be disappointed for some whiles, due to the bad exposures which I could not avoid. Well, but I encouraged her that all can be healed with PS. Well, they are not bad, do you think?

Tried to call mommy several times but she did not pick the phone to get these photos, don’t know why!

This day – Nina is 3 years old!

Seeing a mixed person is always something interesting to me. Most of the time I see mixed people are so beautiful and I really wish I could have some as my children in the future.

We rarely see Black-Asian mixed people, but whatever they are, they are beautiful.

I remembered first receiving an email from the lady; I learnt that she must be Japanese. We had to cancel the shooting several times due to bad weather. Nearly 2 months passed by and finally we had a date to meet.

It was a wonderful day, except again, it was a bad time to take photos. Taking children photos have never been so easy as well. They are always in motion and unstable moods!

I was surprised to see them, she is really Japanese but her husband is not, not even a Caucasian as I usually see on street. And look at theỉr boy, oh my god, he has very interesting features;  he gets all the best from his parents. He does not look black, a little bit of Asian, but well, if I see him on street without parents, I would think he is Latin American. But the best is, he looks freaky handsome. This kid is going to be a lady killer in coming future!

What was a challenge to me on this shooting is that: each member of the family has a distinguished color skin. Husband and wife are really in great contrast tones, and if the whole family is standing together, I must think of some ways to balance the exposure. This, indeed, to me: was an interesting experience!

I asked the family if I can post some of their happy and beautiful family photos on my gallery and they agreed!

The next weekend photos, we’ll talk about mixed beautiful girls, ukie?