Photos of umbrellas in the rain and construction workers have won top honours at the 26th National Art Photography Exhibition that opened in HCM City yesterday.

Duoi Mua (In the Rain) by Mai Thanh Chuong of Quang Nam Province captures a bird's-eye view of several people with burgundy-coloured umbrellas, and won the gold medal in the colour photos category.

Tiem Nang Kinh Te (Economic Potential) by Vo Thi Bach Yen of Ben Tre Province, the winner in the black-and-white category, is all angles and planes as it shows a factory being built by workers.

On display at the exhibition are 263 photos shot since last year capturing contemporary life, landscapes, and traditional culture. They were chosen from 6,839 entries sent by 1,155 photographers.

Vu Quoc Khanh, chairman of the Viet Nam Artistic Photography Association (VAPA) and head of the jury, said the exhibition has many images of agriculture, tourism, and rural customs that would be attractive to foreigners and help them understand the country.

The high quality on display shows the progress being made by local photographers, he said.

The biennial exhibition is being organised by the Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition Department and VAPA at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum, 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street, District 1. It will go on until October 17.