In this composite, I'm trying recapture my memory of learning to bike in Vietnam. I've only visited Vietnam about 4 times in my life so having a pivotal core memory of learning to ride a bike creates a sentimental bridge between the two things. In a way, it also connects me with my family since most of them are from or living in Vietnam.
For the photo, I used a street photo of Hanoi with a clear view of the Vietnamese flag and then I added the biker and tricycle to emphasize maturity and difference in level of biking. The modern aspect of the motorcycle brings us to the present while contrasting with the older elements of a wet plate collodion. For the frame, I utilized the edges from multiple pictures from the Library of Congress.
https://www.pexels.com/photo/street-vendor-in-hanoi-alley-with-vietnamese-flags-34124512/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/grayscale-photo-of-a-person-riding-a-bicycle-10569410/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-a-red-childrens-bike-by-a-road-5012902/
https://www.loc.gov/item/2018670507/
https://www.loc.gov/item/2018666343/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-grey-illustration-3377414/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-gray-surface-3377405/
The work I feel is the strongest is by Jimmy Truong. This work captures a childhood memory of learning to bike in Vietnam. The element of memory and nostalgia goes hand in hand with the collodion format by creating an old photo from a memory. But where the composition of this works so well with the concept is in the haziness and blur. The photo feels like it is fading and it has this glow that feels like a hazy memory. The border and vignette adds further to the feeling of a memory fading and just not feeling fully realized.
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