Posted by Paul Rowe 9 Oct 2020, HCMC.
Vietnam's first Panoramic photograph, 1866.
The first ever photographic panorama taken in Vietnam was captured in Saigon in 1866.
The photograph was taken by Saigon's first professional photographer, Emile Gsell.
Gsell was a young French man who travelled briefly across south east Asia, and then decided to settle in Saigon.
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Photography was still in its infancy in 1866. The first ever mass produced Kodak cameras were still 22 years away. Camera equipment was large, heavy, awkward and fragile. Photo developing was time consuming and expensive.
In spite of those challenges, Emile Gsell set about recording early French Saigon and its residents.
One of his famous photographs is his panorama of early Saigon.
The photograph was taken by Saigon's first professional photographer, Emile Gsell.
Gsell was a young French man who travelled briefly across south east Asia, and then decided to settle in Saigon.
*
Photography was still in its infancy in 1866. The first ever mass produced Kodak cameras were still 22 years away. Camera equipment was large, heavy, awkward and fragile. Photo developing was time consuming and expensive.
In spite of those challenges, Emile Gsell set about recording early French Saigon and its residents.
One of his famous photographs is his panorama of early Saigon.
I came across the above photo in a recent Phuong Dong magazine in a nearby coffee shop. I was impressed with the accuracy of the difficult shot, and intrigued as to where Emile would have taken the photo. There were not many tall buildings in Saigon in 1866. Those were still very early days.
The French and Spanish had seized Saigon only seven years previously.
This part of the world was not known as 'Vietnam' anymore (or yet).
In 1862 it was "inaugurated as the French Cochinchina." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochinchina)
The French and Spanish had seized Saigon only seven years previously.
This part of the world was not known as 'Vietnam' anymore (or yet).
In 1862 it was "inaugurated as the French Cochinchina." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochinchina)
Initially I thought the Nguyen dynasty South Fort might provide the height for the photo. Google Earth and some dates provided another answer.
Nha Rong wharf appears to offer the correct height and position.
The wharf was built by the French in 1862-3. Three years later Emile must have set up his camera on the upper verandah of the building.
In the 154 year old panorama we can see a tall flag pole. The flag pole was erected in 1865 and is still in use today.
The centre of the panorama was viewing approximately NNW, and it recorded what we now refer to as old Saigon within District One. Just prior to the French invasion it was Ben Nghe and Gia Dinh.
Nha Rong wharf appears to offer the correct height and position.
The wharf was built by the French in 1862-3. Three years later Emile must have set up his camera on the upper verandah of the building.
In the 154 year old panorama we can see a tall flag pole. The flag pole was erected in 1865 and is still in use today.
The centre of the panorama was viewing approximately NNW, and it recorded what we now refer to as old Saigon within District One. Just prior to the French invasion it was Ben Nghe and Gia Dinh.
Thanks Emile. One and a half centuries after you captured ye olde French Saigon's first panoramic photograph, people are still appreciating your skill and foresight.
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