Bun Song Than – A Masterpiece Made from Mung Beans and Sunshine

If there’s one ingredient that can “glow” in the sun, it’s Song Thằn vermicelli. Made from pure mung beans, the vermicelli has a characteristic translucent and bluish-white hue. During the trips…photo tour In Binh Dinh, the land of martial arts, An Thai noodle village has always been one of the stops for photographers seeking iconic images that capture the essence of the region.

The name “Song Thằn” (meaning two parallel threads) inherently suggests symmetry – a golden rule in…photographyThe image of skillful hands shaping the noodles into pairs and spreading them evenly on a bamboo tray creates a captivating visual rhythm.

Inspiration from Transparency

Unlike regular rice noodles, which are opaque white, Song Thằn noodles are translucent. When dried under the bright sunshine of Binh Dinh, thousands of noodles become thousands of tiny lenses, focusing the sunlight and emitting a soft yet elegant glow. This is the beauty of refinement, cleanliness, and the pride of the village artisans.

Advanced Photography Techniques: Mastering “Translucent Light”

To fully capture the beauty of this “aristocratic” type of noodle, you should apply the following techniques:

• – Backlighting (Contre-jour):This is a crucial technique when photographing Song Than vermicelli. When the sunlight is behind the tray of vermicelli, the mung bean vermicelli strands will glow, revealing even the smallest details and creating a shimmering rim light around the subject.
• – Texture Exploitation:Use a macro or telephoto lens to capture close-ups of the interwoven rice noodles. The repetition of the noodles against the rustic bamboo background creates an artistic abstract photograph.
• – Color contrast:The bluish-white color of the rice noodles stands out beautifully against the brown bamboo tray or the sun-tanned skin of the salt workers/noodle makers. Set the Picture Style parameter to a moderate saturation to maintain the pure white color.
• – Creative camera angles:Besides eye-level angles, try a flat lay shot to see the geometric arrangement of the noodle trays stacked next to each other on the drying rack.

A beautiful photograph requires not only good technique but also an understanding of cultural values. Let your camera tell the story of the resilient mung beans enduring the sun and wind to become the pristine white “fishing line” of everyday life.