Vietnam Loop: About the Portfolio
Vietnam Loop is a novel and a photography project created by Francisco Espregueira, blending two motorcycle trips through the mythical Ho Chi Minh Road that connects Saigon to Hanoi, in Vietnam - in 2014 from the South to the North and in 2018 from the North to the South, completing a cycle in his personal life, fictionalized in the book.
After the war with the U.S.A. the Ho Chi Minh Road was built parallel to the Ho Chi Minh Trail, used by North Vietnamese troops during the conflict that profoundly marked the country.
The Ho Chi Minh Road is a special and scenic route that runs along the mountainous spine of Vietnam, known as the Trường Sơn Range.
This portfolio of photography encompasses the highlights of his project, featuring twenty black and white photgraphs that represent the creator’s outlook and experience.
Vietnam Loop is divided in two series of ten photographs. The Lost Faces Series focuses on circumstantial encounters with locals, portraying singular moments of their daily lives. The On The Road Series is the result of intentional encounters with loneliness, rendering special places throughout the roads of Vietnam.
The main camera used in this project is a Pentax Spotmatic from the ‘60s, similar to the ones used in the Vietnam War.
Some shots were taken with a DSLR, the Canon 300D.
The films used in the Pentax Spotmatic were the HP5 Plus 400 and the XP2 Super 400. Both made by Ilford. Both black and white.
Based in Porto, Francisco is a Law graduate from the Catholic University of Porto. Subsequently he specialized in Strategic Communication through ISCSP in the University of Lisbon, having worked as Marketing & Communications Specialist in the tech sector.
Like many young people of his generation, Francisco enjoyed the opportunity that his parents did not have: backpacking through different countries, different continents over the years, developing his art as a photographer and as a writer.
He’s also the creator of the platform O Sótão (osotao.com), presenting on a daily basis new artists / projects that stand out in the world of underground music - with special focus on the genres of jazz, electronic and hip hop.
General enquiries:
f.espregueira@gmail.com
O Sótão
Youtube
Soundcloud
Address:
Avenida do Brasil, 312, 1º Esq, 4150-152, Porto, Portugal