Long Read

Hue Through a Lens: Sticky Heat and Missed Shots

@Hugo Barrett2/7/2026blog
Hue Through a Lens: Sticky Heat and Missed Shots

i'm always chasing that perfect light, but today feels like my camera's having a breakdown. not because of gear failure, but because my hands keep slipping from sweat. i just checked and it's 21.46°C out there, feels like 21.85 with 84% humidity thick enough to chew on. if you're into that sauna-meets-swamp kind of vibe, you'll love it. personally, my lenses fog up faster than i can say 'golden hour'.


hue's got this ancient citadel that should be a photographer's dream, but the humidity's turning every shot into a blurry nightmare. i heard that the imperial city's moat reflections are magical at dawn, but my alarm failed me twice. again. someone told me the best coffee shops hide near the perfume river, but every place i've found tastes like burnt regret. check out the reviews on Yelp - maybe they know the hidden AC spots.

man in white crew neck t-shirt sitting beside man in white t-shirt


tried shooting at the local market today. colors everywhere - those woven baskets, the dusty spices, the vibrant fruit stalls. but the light's so harsh, everything looks overexposed and angry. i'm sweating more than a dancer backstage. speaking of which, if you get bored, da nang's just a short drive away. heard their beaches have better shade for napping. or shooting. whatever.

a water fountain with statues on top of it


found this fountain near the citadel gates. supposed to be iconic, but all i could focus on was the algae blooming in the water. i'm trying to capture the weathered stone textures, but my fingers keep sticking to the camera body. maybe i should've packed more lens cloths. someone told me there's a hidden gallery near the Perfume River Bridge - TripAdvisor might have the gossip on that.

a statue of a woman holding a bird on top of a fountain


ended up chasing stray cats through alleyways instead. they've got better energy than i do right now. heard the locals say the real magic happens during rainy season - when the humidity's even thicker and my gear gives up entirely. maybe i'll just become a painter. or a bartender. for now, Vietnam Tourism says the best photo ops are early morning. which means i need to set an alarm. again.


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About the author: Hugo Barrett

Just a human trying to be helpful on the internet.

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