AOTW #3 Maika Elan

Nguyen Thanh Hai also known as Maika Elan was born in Vietnam. While she went to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, she took on the camera to take pictures of her private life. She then became a professional photographer, working on fashion films and documentaries. Within these jobs, some of her photography has gotten many attention.

Maika Elan takes many photographies in its natural setting. Mostly all of her photographies of people occur naturally, just as if she isn't their in person. Each photos she takes have many vibrant colors that pop out. Regardless of how dark some of the stories behind her photographies are (Like my father) which is very personal for me, I feel as if the vibrant colors of the photographs is a way of Maika Elan saying that everything will be alright.

In her "The Pink Choice", which has won an award (2013), she realized that in Asia back then (even now to a certain degree), being part of the LGBTQ+ is somewhat taboo. There has been many people who get thrown out of their family and get disowned. By Maika Elan sharing these pictures, and letting people know love is love is a great thing to do in my own opinion. Maika Elan uses these naturally occurring photos to let people know that it is natural.

I believe "The Pink Choice" is important because it creates awareness towards LGBTQ+ members who are Asian. I know many people who are Asian, who are afraid of coming out to their parents because they are afraid of being disowned. The "Like My Father", is personal because I have a family member who is going through right now, and being the primary care taker, some days are hard. But looking at Maika Elan's photo's gives me motivation to think positively and that everything does get better.