John Minihan, known for his photos of the Nobel laureate winning writer Samuel Beckett (1906-1989), is in HCM City to attend a Beckett exhibition.

Writer Beckett in Minihan’s photo.

Minihan said a friendship with the famous writer was struck up when Beckett saw pictures he had taken of a funeral. It meant he was able to take many pictures of the writer.

He said that he has never used a digital camera in his life. He prefers an old one, using black and white film.

Besides Beckett, Minihan took photos of three other Nobel laureate winning writers in Dublin, including G. Bernard Shaw, W.B. Yeats and Seamus Heaney.

Photographer John Minihan.

Asking Minihan why he loved taking photos of writers, he said: “I like reading and love spiritual values. Famous stars will eventually be forgotten but valuable literature will be around forever. Theatres in Europe and US still perform Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot”.

In this, his first time in Vietnam, the photographer is staying at the Rex Hotel in HCM City. His room looks out to President Ho Chi Minh’s statue in front of the HCM City People’s Committee.

Minihan said that he read many documents about Vietnam and for him, President Ho Chi Minh is a very special person and the beauty of old Saigon is a very interesting topic.

VietNamNet/Tuoi Tre