b. 1982, HCMC

Born in 1982 in Hanoi, Phạm Tuấn Ngọc is a Vietnamese photographic artist and the founder of Noirfoto, the only open-access, professionally-equipped darkroom in Vietnam. In the burgeoning photography scene of Ho Chi Minh City, Tuan Ngoc spearheads the local photographic community through a holistic, scientific approach to photography and arts education.

Ngoc’s personal artistic practice came to fruition in Sweden in 2006, while interning at a local photography studio. Thanks to the robust understanding of darkroom processes, he shot and developed work prolifically. Devoted to experimentation with traditional techniques; for Ngoc, the act of meticulously crafting each image is integral to the final work. From conception to completion, his process is slow and tangible, demanding absolute participation and attention to detail. The resulting images are unique prints of the highest quality, emblematic of the system which led to their creation.

Much like his photographic work, Noirfoto stands as a working embodiment of Ngoc’s unfaltering passion for the arts—the airy studio, leafy garden and professionally equipped darkroom serving a creative community dedicated to slow-craft. Going forwards, he hopes that Noirfoto will be a place  where anyone can come, create, share and be inspired.