Obviously the world-winning album about the life of homosexual couples by Maika Elan, “The Pink Choice”, has influenced and inspired a lot of Vietnamese photographers to start following documentary photography.
And recently there’s a new project going viral on Vietnamese media, which is a photo set by photographer Do Manh Cuong about the daily life of these special twin brothers who are suffering from albinism.
Do Manh Cuong is a 3rd year student at Theatre and Cinema University, major Television Cinematography. He started shooting in 2009 and currently pursuing his personal projects with a desire to approach as much as possible to the diversity of his homeland Vietnam, through the camera.
And “Twins” is Cuong’s documentary photography project which looks closely into the life of twin albino brothers – Huy and Hung. Born in 2002 from a poor family with five children in Ha Linh, Ha Tinh province, Vietnam, the twins have to face a lot of difficulty, and especially a feeling of being inferior due to their differences. And up to now they have not received any medical treatment for albinism.
With permission from the twins’ family and school, Cuong spent time with them, ate with them, amused and played with them like a close friend, and with his camera, shared the same view as them, which is a different view to the world.
Huy and Hung are twin albino brothers in Ha Tinh province – Central Vietnam.Due to poor eyesight, they spend most of their time watching TV and playing on their own bed.Born few minutes earlier, Huy is the elder brother and few centimeters taller.Despite being genetically identical, they have different personalities. Huy seems to be more determined while Hung is more emotional.Sometimes they go out to play when the sun goes down.Enjoy singing and dancing along with characters on TVAs an elder brother, Huy is always protective and caring.There is no other source of pure water in their village, so people use water from wells. Their home has no bathroom, and they like to have bath in the open air, next to the well.If dad and brother are at home, they will get water for the twins, but if they aren’t, no need to bathe!Huy and Hung usually wake up early in the morning and go to school before sunrise, the other school children often come 2 hours early before class to hang out.Having no alarm clock, they will watch TV if waking up too early.Despite their poor eyesight, they ride a bicycle to school. The road is bad and challenging, which makes their trip become a dangerous bike ride. Fortunately, the bicycle can’t be used now.Twins can be both alike and differentHung has blue eyes while Huy’s is pink.They hardly have conflict or fight, just over kidding and hurt each other.Their hobbies and interests are different partly.The family received some charity support to build the new house. It is located in a flood zone so lots of money was spent on the foundation of the houseTheir father and brothers are away so they cook meals themselves.It was long time ago since the last circus troupe came to this town, so just a cycling monkey attracted the attention of all the children here.The convenient store on the way to the stadium for the circus showThey can hardly see things on the blackboard, so try to read the notebook.It is exciting to know that, thanks to the teachers, their classmates are not scared or discriminate 2 brothers. Especially, they love Huy and Hung because of their friendliness.The two pinwheels purchased last night at the circus was cut and cropped to become a cross.Play soap – bubbles with brotherAt school, there is a small wall slot where students lean against one side and climb up. To Huy and Hung, because of their long limbs, they can’t play this game, so they just stand and watch.
I agree – this series needs wider coverage. What a quality collection of emotionally resonant and sensitive photographs. Do Manh Cuong is surely one to watch.
Really beautiful photographs. Colour and composition rich and beautiful, and the photographer treats the albinism of these boys with a warmth and humanity where others would consider it at best a curiousity and at worst a deformity.
Surprising that there are no comments on this really strong and interesting body of work.
It’s very, very nice and I hope this photographer continues making powerful and striking images like these.
Bravo!
Those pics are so emotional and equally inspirational! Thank you photographer!
I agree – this series needs wider coverage. What a quality collection of emotionally resonant and sensitive photographs. Do Manh Cuong is surely one to watch.
Really beautiful photographs. Colour and composition rich and beautiful, and the photographer treats the albinism of these boys with a warmth and humanity where others would consider it at best a curiousity and at worst a deformity.
Exceptional photos of this endearing and lively duo. My favorite has got to be one with them playing with the cross.