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Composer Quốc Bảo Joins Paper Shoot Vietnam’s Treasure The Moments 2020 Photo Contest as a Special Guest Judge
Updated: 8 hours ago
Meet the Judges of #TreasureTheMoments2020
Composer Quốc Bảo — An Artistic Soul with a Passion for Photography
Composer Quốc Bảo, whose full name is Bùi Quốc Bảo, is known for heartfelt, contemporary songs loved by young audiences, including Em Về Tinh Khôi, Tóc Nâu Môi Trầm, Ngồi Hát Ca Bềnh Bồng, Bình Yên, and Giấc Mơ Tuyết Trắng. As an artistic advisor, he has also contributed to the success of artists such as Ngô Thanh Vân, Mỹ Tâm, and Nguyên Hà. Beyond songwriting, arranging, and music production, he is a commentator, the author of seven books, and a passionate photographer.
He is frequently invited to test and review new camera equipment. As an independent photographer, he explores portraiture, abstract photography, fashion, and artistic nudes. His photographs have appeared in the French magazine PHOTO.
Photographs taken by Quốc Bảo with a Paper Shoot camera.
Having worked as a cultural and arts journalist before 2000, Quốc Bảo has a strong understanding of photographic techniques. For him, balance is essential: a compelling photograph needs harmony in its colors, contrast, and composition. Breaking the rules occasionally can be rewarding, but people are often drawn to beauty that feels harmonious and balanced.
For an artist whose life is devoted to creative expression, every photograph holds a story. Its deeper meaning unfolds through the photographer’s intention and the viewer’s understanding of the image. These reflections also find their way into his books, contributing to Vietnam’s artistic landscape.
Photography and Storytelling in Saigon của tôi
Quốc Bảo writes “Saigon” rather than “Sài Gòn,” a habit influenced by the French spelling, “Saïgon.” His book is structured like a musical suite in three movements.
The first chapter interweaves photographs and prose, as though neither alone could fully convey his love for the city and his experience of urban life. The second consists entirely of photographs, expressing emotions that have reached a point beyond words. The final chapter considers writing and photography side by side—two practices through which the author cultivates his inner life.
Through Saigon của tôi (My Saigon), readers encounter stories and images that have inhabited Quốc Bảo’s dreams, from childhood into his fifties. Each is closely woven into his life.
“I’m not dead yet! Music, literature, photography, and painting are all ‘skillful means’ of finding happiness! … You cannot keep writing in the same way or saying things in the same manner forever. Nor does looking cheerful necessarily mean happiness, or being contemplative mean unhappiness. There are many stories to tell, and many ways to tell them.”— Composer Quốc Bảo.
Joining the Treasure The Moments 2020 Judging Panel
We are honored to welcome an artist who continually explores different forms of creative expression. Quốc Bảo joins the judging panel for the Treasure The Moments 2020 photo contest, accepting entries on Facebook from December 1–14, 2020, through #TreasureTheMoments2020.
Learn more about the contest co-organized by Paper Shoot Vietnam and TheFace Magazine Vietnam at www.papershoot.vn/photo-contest-2020.
Born in 1967, Quốc Bảo is the composer behind songs including Em Về Tinh Khôi, Bài Tình Cho Giai Nhân, Em Về Tóc Xanh, Ngồi Hát Ca Bềnh Bồng, Còn Ta Với Nồng Nàn, and Bình Yên. In June 2019, he released a book about singer Mỹ Tâm.
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