{"id":5234,"date":"2017-10-17T14:07:25","date_gmt":"2017-10-17T07:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/matca.vn\/?p=5234"},"modified":"2020-03-24T16:17:15","modified_gmt":"2020-03-24T09:17:15","slug":"doi-thoai-voi-rehahn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/","title":{"rendered":"Rehahn&#8217;s Responses After The Critique On Matca"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\">[vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_col-xs-12&#8243;][vc_column_text]\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5706p\" data-offset-key=\"7e18b-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"7e18b-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"7e18b-0-0\">On October 10 2017, Vietnamese photography collective Matca published an opinion piece by Ha Dao entitled <a href=\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/phia-sau-nhung-nu-cuoi-an-giau\/\"><em><u>Smile for the Camera: Reconsider R\u00e9hahn&#8217;s Work.<\/u><\/em><\/a> In response, R\u00e9hahn reached out to open up a discussion about his work and to respond to Ha Dao&#8217;s criticism. Matca appreciated R\u00e9hahn&#8217;s outreach and confirmed an in-person interview on Sunday October 15, 2017. Matca&#8217;s representatives in Da Nang, Dat Vu and Dorothy Lutz, shared the question set below on October 13, 2017 to allow the time for R\u00e9hahn to reflect and to prepare answers. While the article focuses on R\u00e9hahn&#8217;s portrayal of Vietnamese ethnic minorities, Matca wants to use this occasion to ask the photographer about the questionable process behind contradicting accounts involving the image titled Best Friends after a reader sent a concerning source of information. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5706p\" data-offset-key=\"4h5mv-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"4h5mv-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"4h5mv-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"5706p\" data-offset-key=\"47fno-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"47fno-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"47fno-0-0\">After exchanging emails, both R\u00e9hahn and Matca looked forward to the opportunity for an in-person dialogue. However, at 21:00 on Saturday October 14, the evening before the interview, R\u00e9hahn\u2019s assistant, Ms. Dinh Giang abruptly cancelled the interview on R\u00e9hahn\u2019s behalf and shared R\u00e9hahn&#8217;s written responses which are said to have been reviewed by his attorney. Below are R\u00e9hahn&#8217;s words and the following question\/comment we wanted to ask were this a two-way conversation.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;40px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content_no_spaces&#8221; gap=&#8221;20&#8243; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;10\/12&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;5229&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; add_caption=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;20px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_col-xs-12&#8243;][vc_column_text]<strong>[Matca]\u00a0<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In an <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/escapology.eu\/2015\/04\/23\/interview-with-world-famous-travel-photographer-rehahn\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><u>interview<\/u><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with Escapology, you discussed your photograph \u201cBest Friends\u201d stating that \u201c<\/span><b>On the way back, just by chance, I came across this scene<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which became my most popular photograph. A huge elephant, accompanied by this little girl, Kim Luan, of the M\u2019Nong tribe. <\/span><b>I approached very slowly and started taking pictures.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The light was not very good during this time of the day, <\/span><b>I had to hurry, but the scene was magical<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8230;. The other thing is, that <\/span><b>members of the M\u2019Nong hardly wear their traditional dresses anymore but Kim that day did<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which made the picture even more special\u2026\u201d Can you provide your account of how you took this photograph?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>[R\u00e9hahn]\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I came across a little girl and an elephant while taking photographs of Lak lake in the Central Highlands and saw an opportunity to capture a moment which would illustrate how elephants are an important part of M\u2019nong culture. I knew that we could not take this photo without permission, so with the help of my Vietnamese friend we asked for consent from the little girl\u2019s parents. They agreed and we took photographs under the observation of an elephant trainer. This picture was taken to illustrate the respect between the M\u2019nong and the elephants of Dak Lak. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;40px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content_no_spaces&#8221; gap=&#8221;20&#8243; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;10\/12&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;5226&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; add_caption=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;20px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_col-xs-12&#8243;][vc_column_text]<strong>[Matca]\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/laodong.vn\/phong-su\/di-tim-nu-chua-rung-xanh-331847.bld\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><u>Vietnamese article<\/u><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, published in Lao \u0110\u1ed9ng newspaper, challenges the story of how \u201cBest Friends\u201d was staged. Reporter Nguy\u1ec5n Huy Minh visited L\u1eafk district in \u0110\u1eafk L\u1eafk province while reporting for the newspaper and cited the following claims<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>1.<\/strong> Hu\u1ef3nh Trung Lu\u00e2n, the director of the Center for Elephant Preservation in \u0110\u1eafk L\u1eafk, claimed that he was unaware of a child named \u201cKim Luan\u201d as the M&#8217;N\u00f4ng people do not typically name their children using the Kinh people\u2019s language. The journalist then identified the subject\u2019s parents, and he said that they reacted with surprise to hear that their daughter\u2019s name was \u201cKim Luan.\u201d Her parents, the Ma V\u01b0\u1ee3t family, said their daughter\u2019s name was Y C\u00fac. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>2.<\/strong> The journalist also writes that he interviewed local villagers who claimed to have witnessed the staging photograph. They claim that also the photograph was staged. This contradicts the claims that you \u201ccame across this scene while walking back<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>3.<\/strong> The journalist also said that he spoke directly to Y C\u00fac with her parents. He writes in the Lao \u0110\u1ed9ng article the following statement: \u201cY C\u00fac returned home. She looks thin and skinny, is dressed in messy clothing and has a shy face. I asked her \u2018Do you love elephants?\u2019 She answered, \u2018Yes, I do.\u2019 I asked \u201cAre you afraid of elephants?\u201d Answer: \u2018Yes I am.\u201d I sighed, if she is scared of an elephant, why did she get close to one? Mr. \u0110\u1ee9c [B\u00f9i V\u0103n \u0110\u1ee9c, the Chairman of the Tourism Cooperative of Jun Village] talked more with the parents, whose name is Ma V\u01b0\u1ee3t, and said that they [the photographer] borrowed traditional costume of the M\u2019N\u00f4ng people to put on the girl, asked her to stand close to the elephant for a picture with the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">qu\u1ea3n t\u01b0\u1ee3ng<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [elephant trainer] standing close by, to use for tourism advertisement imagery.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reporter Nguy\u1ec5n Huy Minh\u2019s claims suggest the photo was staged and contradict your published accounts. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Matca <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recognizes that these are serious allegations. How do you reconcile these contradicting accounts?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>[R\u00e9hahn]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1.\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I cannot comment on how the M\u2019nong usually do or do not name their children. All I know is that the girl was introduced to me as Kim Luan and I have always called her that. I only learned her real M\u2019nong name two years after taking my photograph Best Friends. However, her real M\u2019nong name is actually H\u2019C\u00fac Teh, not Y C\u00fac, as suggested by your source. If I had known her M\u2019nong name at the time of course I would have used it and it does actually appear in my new book The Collection. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Her parents names are Y\u2019Mik Buon Krong (father) and H\u2019Bem Teh (mother). I wonder if your journalist was talking to the right family.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>2.\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I cannot explain this claim. I am sure that apart from the elephant trainer and the little girl, there were no other locals around. The only time they would\u2019ve seen me is when we went to the village prior to taking my pictures, to ask permission from the parents of H C\u00fac Teh. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>3.<\/strong> Again I cannot comment on this reporters claims, all I know is that when I met H C\u00fac Teh and the elephant, she showed no signs of fear. What I can say is that when we went back to ask for permission to take the photo, this is when her mother put her into her traditional dress. I was very happy about this of course because I wanted to capture the beauty of the M\u2019nong costume. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I recognize that in my Escapology interview suggests that I took this picture straight away. I hope that you can understand that English is not my first language and that at times I cannot express exactly what I want to say. This scene was real and I really did come across H C\u00fac Teh and the elephant while taking landscape pictures in the Central Highlands but of course the best-selling picture was not taken until we had first asked permission, had spoken to an elephant trainer and had put H C\u00fac Teh in her traditional dress. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>[Matca&#8217;s responses]\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to the Escapology interview, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rehahnphotographer.com\/shop\/en\/pictures\/19-best-friends-5.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><u>R\u00e9hahn\u2019s website<\/u><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> presents another conflicting account of the story behind the photograph (taken October 15, 2017).<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regarding the subject&#8217;s name, R\u00e9hahn\u2019s photograph was taken in October 2014 and the above statement says he learned his subject&#8217;s name \u201ctwo years later\u201d. The gallery was opened on <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/anyarena.com\/en\/art\/precious-heritage-gallery-museum-by-rehahn-opens-in-hoi-an_13413\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><u>December 29 2016<\/u><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. As of October 15 2017, why do all gallery texts refer to the subject in this image as \u201cKim Luan\u201d?\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;40px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content_no_spaces&#8221; gap=&#8221;20&#8243; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;4\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;5228&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; add_caption=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;20px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_col-xs-12&#8243;][vc_column_text]<strong>[Matca]\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your philosophy is to preserve and to promote the cultures of minority ethnic communities in Vietnam that \u201cmight soon be lost forever.\u201d What data sources do you use to backup the claims that the culture of these ethnic groups may be \u201clost forever\u201d apart from anecdotal observation? Are you working with any local experts such as anthropologists, economists, or sociologists to learn more about cultural degradation across these communities? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>[R\u00e9hahn]\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I have been travelling around Vietnam for almost six years photographing landscapes, light and people. People are what I find most interesting. I am lucky enough to have a Vietnamese friend who accompanies me on my travels and helps me to communicate with local ethnic people. Over the course of my career, I have personally witnessed the loss of cultural heritage in many of the ethnic minorities I have photographed. I have built great relationships with some of my models and would consider many of them my close friends. Sometimes when I return to a village to visit them, even one or two years later, much will have changed. Sometimes I will go to visit a tribe and they will all be in traditional dress and then two years later they have sold these costumes and are wearing something more modern. I like to ask these people directly about how their lives are changing. I am obviously not an anthropologist, economist or sociologist, however, for the most part I like to get my information directly from my models because their opinions are most important to me. I ask them about their music, their costumes and their lives and I have more than twelve interviews with them on video. I am not pretending to be an expert on Vietnamese ethnic culture, I am just a photographer who has fallen in love with Vietnam and has decided to dedicate my life\u2019s work to capturing images of the people and places that inspire me and bring me joy. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>[Matca&#8217;s response]<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A placard at the entrance to the Precious Heritage Museum, as of October 15 2017, reads the following: \u201cthe most efficient way to preserve their tribal culture is to value it outside their community, to create a sense of pride for their heritage and ancient customs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The above text highlights how Precious Heritage Gallery and Museum are framed as sites of cultural preservation, in addition to hosting an art gallery. Further, the gallery and museum describe Rehahn\u2019s work as \u201cdocumentating\u201d and cite his \u201cresearch\u201d. Is the role of R\u00e9hahn &#8220;just a photographer&#8221; here?<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;40px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content_no_spaces&#8221; gap=&#8221;20&#8243; content_placement=&#8221;top&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;5231&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; add_caption=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;5230&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; add_caption=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;20px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_col-xs-12&#8243;][vc_column_text]<strong>[Matca]\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In your book <\/span><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rehahnphotographer.com\/shop\/fr\/livres\/52--vietnam-mosaic-of-contrasts-vol2.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><u>Vietnam: Mosaic of Contrasts VOL II<\/u><\/span><\/a><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>,<\/em>\u00a0many of your subjects are women and children from &#8220;the most secluded mountains and villages&#8221;. How did you establish relationships with these communities? It is also written that \u201cThe children with such pure and innocent face, the elders with their wrinkle face, rough hands are what R\u00e9hahn wants everyone to see what so different about his view of Vietnam compare to the other photographers.\u201d<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What do you think about such representations done by other photographers? Which other photographers are you referring to specifically?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>[R\u00e9hahn]<\/strong> I establish relationships by talking to people, joking with them, drinking tea and listening to their stories. I take my bike and I go and see them. I build normal human connections when I visit these groups. Sometimes language is a problem but I am lucky enough to have a great Vietnamese team working with me to make communication a little easier.<\/p>\n<p>I do not wish to speak publicly or criticize any other photographers. I will leave that to the art and photography critics.<\/p>\n<p><strong>[Matca]\u00a0<\/strong>How do you receive ethical consent from subjects, especially children? (1)?<\/p>\n<p><strong>[R\u00e9hahn]<\/strong> I always ask permission when I can. I always share the photos I have taken with my models and normally get a great response. Usually, people are flattered to be photographed. It is always in my best interest to find the parents before photographing a child, it makes me, the parents and the child more comfortable and allows me to take better pictures.<\/p>\n<p><strong>[Matca]<\/strong> Your website explains the\u00a0<em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rehahnphotographer.com\/project\/giving-back-project\/\"><u>Giving Back<\/u><\/a>\u00a0<\/em>project in the context of Karma. The \u201ccircle\u201d is as follows: you take a photo of a subject, sell the images of the subject, and later, return to the subject to provide material help. The circle is \u201copened\u201d and then \u201cclosed.\u201d You describe the giving back process as a \u201ccircle\u201d that is completed. Yet, after the \u201ccircle\u201d is \u201cclosed,\u201d you retain the rights to the images and can continue to profit from the sales. In this context, when does the circle \u201cclose\u201d?<\/p>\n<p><strong>[R\u00e9hahn]\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Giving Back Project is my way of helping and contributing to the improvement of my models standard of living. The circle is a metaphor. When I take a photograph of someone and when I am faced directly by their poverty I feel inclined to help. I can use some of the revenues from my work to positively impact the lives of the people I have met. So far I have paid for tuition fees, cows, travel expenses, a boat and even a funeral. I like to ask my models what they need and then give them that. You will notice that most of these things provide long term, sustainable benefits. Additionally, entry into my Precious Heritage Museum is free, so everyone can enjoy the costumes and artifacts that these ethnic groups have gifted me. It is by selling my images that I can raise money to continue the Giving Back project and to keep my museum free for all. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;40px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content_no_spaces&#8221; gap=&#8221;20&#8243; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;10\/12&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;5232&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; add_caption=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;20px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_col-xs-12&#8243;][vc_column_text]<strong>[Matca]\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In her article, Ha points to the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/isee.org.vn\/en\">iSEE<\/a>\u00a0<\/u><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as an organization that uses photography to \u201cgive back\u201d to minority communities through empowering individuals to tell their stories. How do you respond to this model of cultural preservation? How do you compare your actual approach, in which an outsider dictates what is being shown, to iSEE\u2019s approach, in which community members have the autonomy to decide what is shown?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>[R\u00e9hahn]\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is more than one way to help people. I appreciate any organization who is trying to help ethnic people in Vietnam. I do not claim that my model of giving back is perfect but I do what I can. I have actually been planning to donate cameras to an orphanage in Buon Ma Thuot for some time now, I think it\u2019s a great idea. Thank you for bringing the iSEE project it to my attention. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>[Matca]\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ha Dao\u2019s piece cites criticism of Steve McCurry\u2019s work. In a piece for the New York Times, \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2016\/04\/03\/magazine\/a-too-perfect-picture.html?_r=0\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><u>A Too Perfect Picture<\/u><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u201d art critic Teju Cole writes the following: \u201cHow do we know when a photographer caters to life and not to some previous prejudice? One clue is when the picture evades compositional cliche. But there is also the question of what the photograph is for, what role it plays within the economic circulation of images.\u201d How do you think your work contributes to the economic circulation of images about Vietnam? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>[R\u00e9hahn]\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I am not familiar with the term \u2018economic circulation of images\u2019 or any other economic theories. I will finish by saying that there are many sides to Vietnam. I cannot photograph and show everything, this is not my aim. What I show is my experience of Vietnam. Photography is vast and it is subjective, it is art and you are free to interpret my art however you see fit. This does not mean that your interpretation aligns with mine. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I would like to thank you directly for the opportunity to respond to your article. I am affected when I see the culture of so many people I have met disappearing. I am just a photographer who fell in love with this country who is trying to explore, capture and help. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(1)<\/span> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Matca <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">defines ethical consent from children as meeting all conditions of UNICEF\u2019s published framework: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/eca\/media_1482.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><u>\u201cEthical Guidelines: Principles for Ethical Reporting on Children\u201d<\/u><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. <\/em><\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_col-xs-12&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;40px&#8221;][vc_separator][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;20px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<em><u><a href=\"http:\/\/www.datvu.xyz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dat Vu<\/a><\/u>\u00a0is a Vietnamese born photographer. He received his BA from Wesleyan University in 2015. Currently he is living and working in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam for a year as a Mortimer Hays-Brandeis Traveling Fellow.<br \/>\nFollow him on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/iamdat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Facebook<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/foto_muses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Instagram<\/u><\/a>..<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Dorothy Lutz is an American based in Da Nang, Vietnam working in foreign policy and can be reached at\u00a0<u>lutz.dorothy@gmail.com<\/u>.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_col-xs-12&#8243;][vc_column_text] On October 10 2017, Vietnamese photography collective Matca published an opinion piece by Ha Dao entitled Smile for the Camera: Reconsider R\u00e9hahn&#8217;s Work. In response, R\u00e9hahn reached out to open up a discussion about his work and to respond to Ha Dao&#8217;s criticism. Matca appreciated R\u00e9hahn&#8217;s outreach and confirmed an in-person interview on Sunday October 15, 2017. Matca&#8217;s representatives in Da Nang, Dat Vu and Dorothy Lutz, shared the question set below on October [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5229,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[36,108],"tags":[894,898,916,893],"class_list":["post-5234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-journal","tag-interview-en","tag-opinion-en","tag-portrait-en","tag-vietnam-en"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Rehahn&#039;s Responses After The Critique On Matca - Matca<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Rehahn&#039;s Responses After The Critique On Matca - Matca\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs&#8221;][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243; offset=&#8221;vc_col-xs-12&#8243;][vc_column_text] On October 10 2017, Vietnamese photography collective Matca published an opinion piece by Ha Dao entitled Smile for the Camera: Reconsider R\u00e9hahn&#8217;s Work. In response, R\u00e9hahn reached out to open up a discussion about his work and to respond to Ha Dao&#8217;s criticism. Matca appreciated R\u00e9hahn&#8217;s outreach and confirmed an in-person interview on Sunday October 15, 2017. Matca&#8217;s representatives in Da Nang, Dat Vu and Dorothy Lutz, shared the question set below on October [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Matca\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/matca.vn\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/matca.vn\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-10-17T07:07:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-03-24T09:17:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC_6760.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"matca\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@matcavn\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@matcavn\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"matca\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"16 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"matca\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/6741faaba57d18f48a70e3a220fe30a3\"},\"headline\":\"Rehahn&#8217;s Responses After The Critique On Matca\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-10-17T07:07:25+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-03-24T09:17:15+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/\"},\"wordCount\":3314,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC_6760.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"interview\",\"opinion\",\"portrait\",\"vietnam\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Features\",\"Journal\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/\",\"name\":\"Rehahn's Responses After The Critique On Matca - Matca\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC_6760.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-10-17T07:07:25+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-03-24T09:17:15+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/6741faaba57d18f48a70e3a220fe30a3\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC_6760.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC_6760.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":800,\"caption\":\"Scene at Precious Heritage by R\u00e9hahn. \u00a9 Dat Vu\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/doi-thoai-voi-rehahn\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Rehahn&#8217;s Responses After The Critique On Matca\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/matca.vn\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Matca\",\"description\":\"A gathering space for photographers &amp; 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