A few Saturday afternoons ago, my friend Etienne and I headed out in search of something to shoot, following a lead on a peanut processing factory a little outside of Hoi An. Once inside, we watched the action for a minute, before getting the cameras out and starting to figure out where the good angles and images might be hiding.
Being a bit of an obsessive peanut eater, I was in awe at just how many kilos were laying around, the ladies telling me the were roasting 50kgs at a time. I could have probably eaten myself into a protein coma in there!
We stayed and shot for 30 minutes or so, until we were out of ideas and could tell the same processes were repeating themselves, and there were likely not many new shots to be had. They were supposed to be making peanut oil here as well, but that part of the shop wasn’t operating today. A bit bummed and bored now, we moved on.
Some minutes later as we were driving a bit aimlessly in search of something to shoot, a wiff in the air caught our attention. Sure enough, it was another place making peanut oil, with a whole new range of scenes we hadn’t captured yet. We played there for a bit, talking and joking with the people working and standing around, and had a few new images to add to the story.
So, a few images below of what I saw and captured on a hot and peanut-y afternoon in Hoi An!
About the Photographer:
Quinn Ryan Mattingly is an American photographer based in Vietnam since 2007. With nearly two decades of experience documenting life across Southeast Asia, his work blends editorial storytelling with fine art sensibility. Specializing in travel, hospitality, and documentary photography, Quinn is passionate about capturing honest, human moments that reflect the spirit of place. His images have appeared in international publications and exhibitions, and he continues to tell stories from behind the lens across Vietnam and beyond.
This post is part of an ongoing blog series exploring Vietnam through Quinn’s lens—highlighting local life, culture, and community from north to south.
