Story of working in "Stormy Sea"

Truong Sa archipelago and DK1 platform are considered “stormy sea areas”. Because normally every year there are 10-15 storms and tornadoes passing through here or forming right in this sea area. To record photos, film footage, and interview characters in Truong Sa and DK1 platform, in addition to being “well-versed” in the profession and having good health, press reporters must have “specialized sensitivity” in their work.

Only then can we produce “unique” photos and special articles filled with emotions. In other words, journalistic works must be “written and photographed from a passion for the profession”. In 25 years of working as a journalist, I have always observed a thing that is considered “unchangeable”: “An excellent journalistic work must certainly be a genuine work”. That is, the author must write, photograph, and penetrate reality. Only writing and photographing in the field, in real circumstances can “produce” excellent journalistic works. The more difficult and arduous the place, the better the writing, the more beautiful and high-quality the photos.

Among the many places I have set foot on, Truong Sa and DK1 platform are the most special. It is not only the most sacred land of the Fatherland at the forefront of the wind and waves, but also the "embodiment" of national sovereignty, affirming and announcing to the world that: Truong Sa and Hoang Sa are forever sacred and inviolable territories of Vietnam, 15 DK1 platforms are "fortresses guarding national sovereignty at sea" guarding the exclusive economic zone of the Fatherland. On those fortresses is the military training place for officers and soldiers of DK1 platform of Naval Region 2.

Newspaper and radio reporters going to Truong Sa, DK1 always get priority to get on the first boat to work. Sitting on the boat, using the lens to "capture" hundreds of people dropping flowers to commemorate Truong Sa martyrs at Co Lin sea, an emotion of boundless pride that not every reporter is lucky enough to "seize" that opportunity.

The Truong Sa archipelago has 21 islands, island points/33 military posts. Each small island is located in a different special defense position and is associated with the history of fighting, liberation, construction and growth. Therefore, to choose a beautiful corner of the island to shoot, which character to interview?, the reporter already had a "plan" in mind.

As an officer of the DK1 platform, when I arrived at Truong Sa, I learned that: “You must take a “unique, strange” photo, and don’t forget to “find your fellow countrymen on the island”. The first question after shaking hands with the soldiers was “Where are you from? Are there any soldiers from the same hometown?”. And this was also the “first information” I “exploited from the soldiers at the forefront of the storm”.

25 years of journalism, although not yet considered a "veteran", but still have some experience working in difficult and arduous places. In addition to "unique" shooting angles, you must capture "panoramic, medium, close-up" shots. Especially, you must "capture the action" of the character. When the character is filled with emotions, you must capture tearful eyes. The act of parting cannot lack "tightening the arms" and "four eyes looking at each other", or "emotional shoulders". You must "depict" your emotions through the character's actions. You must "make" the character talk to you "through the method" of asking about your hometown, sharing, confiding in your hometown of Nghe An....

Working in Truong Sa is a “special job” with special island soldiers. Therefore, each reporter must “take pictures and write at all costs” vivid journalistic works imbued with the breath and vitality of Truong Sa. The message must be conveyed that Truong Sa, DK1 is the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland. In that faraway place, there are children who carry in their hearts and dedicate all their love to the sea and islands of the homeland Vietnam.

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