The award-winning photograph showcases the traditional process of sauce-making in Cu Da Village, Thanh Oai District, located on the outskirts of Hanoi. The captivating image, taken by Azim, captures two women engaged in the time-honored task.
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The photo taken by Azim captures two women engaged in the process of making soy sauce at Cu Da village in Thanh Oai District, on the outskirts of the capital. |
“Azim found himself fascinated by the dedication displayed by the cooks as they followed a recipe that has been passed down for over 400 years,” wrote the description of the photo.
Situated approximately 20 km southwest of Hanoi, Cu Da village in Thanh Oai district is renowned for its distinctive cultural heritage, characterized by well-preserved ancient Vietnamese-style houses and the traditional production of vermicelli and soy sauce.
The art of making soy sauce in Cu Da has been practiced for generations. The sauce is crafted from soybeans, sticky rice yeast, salt, and rainwater.
The process of making soy sauce requires meticulous attention and spans across various steps. Initially, the soybeans are roasted until they acquire a brown color. They are then ground into small pieces and soaked in boiled clean rainwater, along with sticky rice yeast, within a terra-cotta jar for one week.
Once the beans have fermented, a little salt and additional soybeans are added to the mixture, which is regularly stirred. The sauce must undergo a three-month fermentation process, preferably during sunny days.
Soy sauce is widely favored in the northern region of Vietnam and is particularly renowned as a key condiment in Vietnamese vegetarian meals, especially those prepared by Buddhist monks. Additionally, it is commonly used as a dipping sauce for dishes such as boiled water spinach (rau muong luoc) and spring rolls (goi cuon).
| Another impactful photo captured by Azim in the rural area of Vietnam. Photo source: www.all-about-photo.com |
The CEWE Photo Award 2021 received an overwhelming 606,289 entries from 170 countries. Submissions were conducted online, allowing each contestant to send up to 100 images. The competition was open to all photographers, ranging from professionals to hobbyists and amateurs.
A total of twelve talented photographers were honored for their exceptional work across ten categories, revolving around the theme ‘Our World is Beautiful,’ which encourages individuals to appreciate the positives during times of growing global conflicts.
Azim Khan Ronnie, the photographer behind this mesmerizing image, was born in Dhaka and raised in Bangladesh. He possesses an immense passion for photography, striving to capture life’s moments and immortalizing them in time. Azim has participated in numerous international photography contests, earning over 300 international photography awards, including the prestigious CEWE Photo Award.
