The Association of Finnish Camera Club announced the list of award-winning photographers attending the first Finland International Digital Circuit 2009. The photographer Dao Tien Dat won seven medals and a PSA Honorable Mention when joining the event with eight photos. He has reaped 81 prizes in 17 countries and territories since early this year. He is also one of large monochrome print exhibitors honored by Photographic Society of America (PSA).

Khat (thirsty), one of Dat’s photos.

Great achievements

Photos sent to join the first Finland International Digital Circuit were classified into three sections, including general (the subject is free), nature, and travel.

The photographer Dao Tien Dat entered the contest with eight works for general and travel sections.

His four photos, including Khat (thirsty), Buoc ngoat so 3 (Turning point 3), Bat bo tot so 3 (Catching the gayal 3), and Giac mo doi nguoi (Dream of a lifetime), won the international federation of photographic art (FIAP) gold medal in five salons for the best entry circuit and a PSA gold medal.

Also, his photo “Turning point 3” was awarded two FIAP gold medals and one AFCC gold. In the travel section, “Catching the gayal 1” and “Praying for good fortune” won one FIAP gold each. His photo entitled Hoa cat (Sand flower) was granted the FIAP Honorable Mention.

Two of eight photos were taken in France when Dat was visiting the country in mid-June at the invitation of Image Sans Frontiere Chairman, Marie F. Delattre.

Together with other famous photographers, such as Amleto Bocci, Ulrich Fischer, and David Wheeler, Dat sent his photo to the contest taking place in Finland.

When receiving the report card from the organization board, Dat thought they made a mistake, but I was really happy as soon as seeing the result formally announced on the AFCC’s website.

Turning point, human being, and dream

“I was born in My Chanh, a place suffering losses in the war,” Dat said. “I worked many jobs to earn my living. I felt hopeless sometimes but my family and friends helped me overcome all difficulties.”

“As far as I’m concerned, any failure or success I experienced gives me a lesson,” he added. “All success requires all-out efforts and inquiring mind.”

Dat admitted that it was his destiny to choose photography as his career and it has changed his “fate” since then. PSA listed him in the top 25 large monochrome print exhibitors in four successive years, from 2004 to 2007.

Winning 81 international prizes since early this year, but the figure may not be the last one. Results of some photo contests haven’t been announced and no one knows whether he will win more.

Choosing photography as his career is simply his “dream of a lifetime”. “Human being” is always his favorite theme when taking any photo.

Dat said the human being’s biggest ambition was an everlasting life; however, no one, both the nobility and commoners, could avoid the law of time.

Below are some his award-winning photos at the first Finland International Digital Circuit 2009:

• Source: TT&VH