There are things that are very difficult to describe in words. The reverence on the faces of women in the offering ceremony, the brilliant colors of the traditional procession, or the moment people clasp their hands to pray in the sacred space of a folk festival. Just one look, viewers can feel the atmosphere, emotions and cultural values hidden within.
But press photos not only tell stories about culture. They also record slices of life that if there were no cameras, they could pass by and be forgotten. That is the image of young soldiers covered in mud during training in the rain on the training ground. A tense look, a teammate's hand wiping mud on each other's faces can say more than just numbers or reports about the training process. In that moment, viewers see hardship, will and comradeship with very direct feelings.
Press photos also have the ability to touch the most ordinary emotions. Images of workers and their families getting on Trade Union buses to return to their hometowns for Tet are not just information about a social security program. It is also a story about reunion, about the journey home after a year of hard work. A peach branch carefully wrapped, a mother's hand leading her child in the middle of the night, or the lights of the bus preparing to roll are all carrying emotions that many Vietnamese people can empathize with.
What makes the value of press photos is authenticity. It not only reflects what is happening but also preserves what society has experienced. Many years later, those photos will not simply be illustrations for a newspaper article. They become witnesses of the times, helping viewers understand how Vietnamese people today have lived, worked, fought, preserved culture and loved each other.
Therefore, press photos are not just a tool for transmitting information. It is memory by light.
Below are some press photos taken in two years 2025 - 2026 by 3 reporters of Lao Dong Newspaper with different slices of life.
