American female photographer teaches photography through General Giap’s portraits

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Catherine Karnow sharing experiences about photography skills during her presentation at American Center.

During her presentation themed "Photographing People" at American Center (Hanoi), Catherine Karnow shared with participants about amazing stories behind her photos as well as analyzed the techniques which she used in each case. Particularly, with General Giap's portrait "Snow-covered volcano", she emphasized that photographers should attach importance to natural light and emotion of subject.

Providing tips for photographing people, Catherine said: “The most important thing is to emit a positive vibe and approach your subject as a person, not as a camera. Let their first impression be your smiling face, not a big fat lens. And ask permission to shoot when you feel that is appropriate”.

American photographer Catherine Karnow has been shooting in Vietnam since 1990.

With her experiences, she suggested that when travelling to foreign countries, photographers should learn to say a few positive words like beautiful and wonderful. “Continue to speak encouraging words to make them feel good while you are photographing them”, said Catherine.

To erase the barrier between photographer and subject, photographers should not use a long lens from across the street. Just sit down to make friends with people, hang out. If you socialize with people, your subjects will be at ease.

General Giap greets villagers, photo by Catherine Karnow in 1994.

In 2013, she was the only foreigner to photograph up close the funeral and burial of General Giap. "BURIAL OF GENERAL VO NGUYEN GIAP, 2013 – General Giap's coffin is transported to the burial site in Quang Binh province, chosen not because it was his birthplace, but because the site was deemed auspicious, beautiful and fated correct".

One of Catherine's favorite photos that she took in Vietnam. "WOMAN ON THE TRAIN, 1990 – In Central Vietnam, Tran Thi Diep, a schoolteacher from Hanoi, rides the Ho Chi Minh City-Hanoi train, also known as the Reunification Express".

“Additionally, show them the photos on the back of the screen and get someone else to photograph you and them together or let them photograph you. Later, email them the photos. If they don’t do email, send them prints. Maybe this last step seems like a huge hassle, but it is worth it. It can make someone so very happy”, shared Catherine.

Sending a message to young Vietnamese people who love photography, Catherine underscored: “Just follow your passion but don’t forget the business side of it. Equipment is secondary, it is important that you always learn and improve yourself, enjoy and exert all-out efforts with your passion”.

Catherine Karnow is following a project called "Agent Orange", with the aim of raising American people's awareness of humanitarian assistance to people affected by the past war in Vietnam.

She loves travelling around Vietnam. "FISHING JUNK, HA LONG BAY, 1994 – Photographed in 1995, the traditional fishing junk no longer exists. Amongst Halong Bay's 2,000 islands — a UNESCO world heritage site — a fisherman plies the waters in an early morning fog. With a 3,800 kilometer coastline, fishing is a major industry in Vietnam, and the Vietnamese have always been daring and productive fishermen".

She took this photo in 1994. "VIETNAM AIRLINES, NEW STEWARDESS SCHOOL, 1994 – Anticipating an influx in tourism and business travel, Vietnam Airlines opens up new routes and a school for flight attendants".

Born and raised in Hong Kong, the daughter of an American journalist, San Francisco-based photographer National Geographic photographer Catherine Karnow seems destined to have travel and photo-journalism at the center of her life.

She studied photography in high school, and graduated Brown University with honors degrees in Comparative Literature and Semiotics. After a brief career as a filmmaker – her film Brooklyn Bridge premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 1984 – she turned her attention to photography full time in 1986.

She has been shooting in Vietnam since 1990. In 1994, she was the only non-Vietnamese photo-journalist to accompany General Giap on his historic first return to the forest encampment in the northern Vietnam highlands from which he plotted the battle of Dien Bien Phu. In 2013, she was the only foreigner to photograph up close the funeral and burial of General Giap.