Lens Speak Asia Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/lens-speak-asia Conversations about Photography in Southeast Asia. Veejay Villafranca and Charlene Winfred talk to photographers from across the region about questions about the profession and what things are shaping it today. Each episode looks at documentary practice on the ground, the ethics of making images in complex situations, and the topic of representation: who tells which stories, how, and on whose terms. It's a space to think through what's changing. The rise of AI-generated imagery, shifting platforms and audiences, the economics of the profession, and the tools photographers actually use are all part of the conversation, alongside the disciplines of seeing, narratives, and sustaining a long-term practice. Lens Speak Asia is a continuation of an ongoing conversation on the new perspectives on photography and the vibrant community in Southeast Asia. * Veejay Villafranca is a photographer and visual language lecturer from the Philippines. His work has appeared internationally in AFP, AP, Reuters, World Picture News (WPN), Getty, and Bloomberg, covering topics such as the evolving Filipino cultural landscape, effects of displacement on local communities, and the underbelly of gangs and secret societies. Veejay was World Press Photo’s 2024 Southeast Asia jury chair, 2023 jury member, and 2021 Southeast Asia regional coordinator. Charlene Winfred is a photographer, writer and editor. Born and bred in Singapore, she has spent over two decades working in Australia, Europe, and the Middle East. She is passionate about community, and in her work as a producer and editor, has championed important social issues, supporting practitioners in the field to tell stories of those most in need, as well as those making an impact. @ 2026 Lens Speak Asia 807084af-2bbb-5a83-a698-de2771d4eb90 yes en Fri, 08 May 2026 15:06:18 +0800 Fri, 08 May 2026 15:07:22 +0800 https://img.transistorcdn.com/rgkQ4kSwvSt0tG3soPA6ZHbXRg9aMzSXw1Jf1i4YGVI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yNTVi/OTcyZjE2ZTYwODNk/YWI3MjRjNjYyZGNj/NGNjZS5qcGc.jpg Lens Speak Asia episodic Veejay Villafranca and Charlene Winfred Conversations about Photography in Southeast Asia. Veejay Villafranca and Charlene Winfred talk to photographers from across the region about questions about the profession and what things are shaping it today. Each episode looks at documentary practice on the ground, the ethics of making images in complex situations, and the topic of representation: who tells which stories, how, and on whose terms. It's a space to think through what's changing. The rise of AI-generated imagery, shifting platforms and audiences, the economics of the profession, and the tools photographers actually use are all part of the conversation, alongside the disciplines of seeing, narratives, and sustaining a long-term practice. Lens Speak Asia is a continuation of an ongoing conversation on the new perspectives on photography and the vibrant community in Southeast Asia. * Veejay Villafranca is a photographer and visual language lecturer from the Philippines. His work has appeared internationally in AFP, AP, Reuters, World Picture News (WPN), Getty, and Bloomberg, covering topics such as the evolving Filipino cultural landscape, effects of displacement on local communities, and the underbelly of gangs and secret societies. Veejay was World Press Photo’s 2024 Southeast Asia jury chair, 2023 jury member, and 2021 Southeast Asia regional coordinator. Charlene Winfred is a photographer, writer and editor. Born and bred in Singapore, she has spent over two decades working in Australia, Europe, and the Middle East. She is passionate about community, and in her work as a producer and editor, has championed important social issues, supporting practitioners in the field to tell stories of those most in need, as well as those making an impact. Conversations about Photography in Southeast Asia. photography, southeast asia, camera, documentary Veejay Villafranca and Charlene Winfred No No Tom White on photographic practice, and visual literacy training for all 3 3 Tom White on photographic practice, and visual literacy training for all full 6b7358ab-aa2c-43de-922d-5eebeb8120c6 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7405f3a5 Born (and very much still rooted in) Yorkshire, this episode’s guest Tom White has spent the last 15 years in Southeast Asia, where he works as a photographer, and in off camera hours, teaches photography. Tom has designed and delivered the Photojournalism & Documentary curriculum for Yale-NUS College in Singapore, and taught at the International Center of Photography and Columbia University in New York, in addition to instructing workshops and community-based social programs wherever he’s lived in the world. We chat about the process of documenting a story, why visual literacy training is more important than ever (for everyone, not just photographers), Parallax Photo Journal, and of course, cameras.

Tom
Website: tomwhitephotography.com
Instagram: @tomwhitephoto

Parallax Photo Journal
Website: https://parallax.asia
Instagram: @parallax.asia 

Thank you to Fujifilm Nordic for supporting this episode.

]]> Born (and very much still rooted in) Yorkshire, this episode’s guest Tom White has spent the last 15 years in Southeast Asia, where he works as a photographer, and in off camera hours, teaches photography. Tom has designed and delivered the Photojournalism & Documentary curriculum for Yale-NUS College in Singapore, and taught at the International Center of Photography and Columbia University in New York, in addition to instructing workshops and community-based social programs wherever he’s lived in the world. We chat about the process of documenting a story, why visual literacy training is more important than ever (for everyone, not just photographers), Parallax Photo Journal, and of course, cameras.

Tom
Website: tomwhitephotography.com
Instagram: @tomwhitephoto

Parallax Photo Journal
Website: https://parallax.asia
Instagram: @parallax.asia 

Thank you to Fujifilm Nordic for supporting this episode.

]]> Fri, 08 May 2026 05:28:02 +0800 Veejay Villafranca and Charlene Winfred Veejay Villafranca and Charlene Winfred 2390 Born (and very much still rooted in) Yorkshire, this episode’s guest Tom White has spent the last 15 years in Southeast Asia, where he works as a photographer, and in off camera hours, teaches photography. Tom has designed and delivered the Photojournalism & Documentary curriculum for Yale-NUS College in Singapore, and taught at the International Center of Photography and Columbia University in New York, in addition to instructing workshops and community-based social programs wherever he’s lived in the world. We chat about the process of documenting a story, why visual literacy training is more important than ever (for everyone, not just photographers), Parallax Photo Journal, and of course, cameras.

Tom
Website: tomwhitephotography.com
Instagram: @tomwhitephoto

Parallax Photo Journal
Website: https://parallax.asia
Instagram: @parallax.asia 

Thank you to Fujifilm Nordic for supporting this episode.

]]> photography, southeast asia, camera, documentary No Geela Garcia on the documentary process 2 2 Geela Garcia on the documentary process full 49cc70a2-71d4-4305-8a50-b168e69ff428 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9f2793f7 Geela Garcia is a distinguished Manila-based documentary photographer focused on socio-political issues on women, food sovereignty and climate issues. She takes us through the shifts in her professional path, her vision in visual storytelling and democratized media platforms and her personal pursuit in promoting alternative voices in photojournalism. We chat about the changes in the industry, and gear… of course! Geela also shares her favourite women photographers, how their ways of working are as important as the images that they’ve made, and the process of her own award winning work on the artisanal salt makers of the Philippines: Tubig Alat.

Geela
Website: geelagarcia.com

On Instagram: @geelagarcia

Thank you to Fujifilm Nordic for supporting this episode.

]]> Geela Garcia is a distinguished Manila-based documentary photographer focused on socio-political issues on women, food sovereignty and climate issues. She takes us through the shifts in her professional path, her vision in visual storytelling and democratized media platforms and her personal pursuit in promoting alternative voices in photojournalism. We chat about the changes in the industry, and gear… of course! Geela also shares her favourite women photographers, how their ways of working are as important as the images that they’ve made, and the process of her own award winning work on the artisanal salt makers of the Philippines: Tubig Alat.

Geela
Website: geelagarcia.com

On Instagram: @geelagarcia

Thank you to Fujifilm Nordic for supporting this episode.

]]> Fri, 08 May 2026 00:45:52 +0800 Veejay Villafranca and Charlene Winfred Veejay Villafranca and Charlene Winfred 2287 Geela Garcia is a distinguished Manila-based documentary photographer focused on socio-political issues on women, food sovereignty and climate issues. She takes us through the shifts in her professional path, her vision in visual storytelling and democratized media platforms and her personal pursuit in promoting alternative voices in photojournalism. We chat about the changes in the industry, and gear… of course! Geela also shares her favourite women photographers, how their ways of working are as important as the images that they’ve made, and the process of her own award winning work on the artisanal salt makers of the Philippines: Tubig Alat.

Geela
Website: geelagarcia.com

On Instagram: @geelagarcia

Thank you to Fujifilm Nordic for supporting this episode.

]]> photography, southeast asia, camera, documentary No Natthaya Thaidecha on overcoming loss, photography and community 1 1 Natthaya Thaidecha on overcoming loss, photography and community full 4e3c64d6-01fe-4fe7-98b2-326bc0a43fcc https://share.transistor.fm/s/4876b35c A film production graduate who is based in Thailand, Natthaya (Mai) Thaidecha weaves the method of cinema and the practice of photography in her personal work. Fueled by tragedy and personal loss, she shares in this episode how the greed and corruption that affected her life became the impetus to process the emotional turmoil with photography, resulting in the shadowed, evocative imagery that is so prominent across her work. But it’s not all darkness. Mai chats with us about the brighter spots - and inevitable challenges! - of building the Bad Eyes community - and the rewards of championing local voices.

Mai
Website: natthayathaidecha.com
Instagram: @maiheartandsoul

Bad Eyes Collective

Website: badeyes.org 

Instagram for the collective @badeyes.collective and publishing arm @publishedbybadeyes

Thank you to Fujifilm Nordic for supporting this episode.


]]> A film production graduate who is based in Thailand, Natthaya (Mai) Thaidecha weaves the method of cinema and the practice of photography in her personal work. Fueled by tragedy and personal loss, she shares in this episode how the greed and corruption that affected her life became the impetus to process the emotional turmoil with photography, resulting in the shadowed, evocative imagery that is so prominent across her work. But it’s not all darkness. Mai chats with us about the brighter spots - and inevitable challenges! - of building the Bad Eyes community - and the rewards of championing local voices.

Mai
Website: natthayathaidecha.com
Instagram: @maiheartandsoul

Bad Eyes Collective

Website: badeyes.org 

Instagram for the collective @badeyes.collective and publishing arm @publishedbybadeyes

Thank you to Fujifilm Nordic for supporting this episode.


]]> Fri, 08 May 2026 00:11:32 +0800 Veejay Villafranca and Charlene Winfred Veejay Villafranca and Charlene Winfred 2404 A film production graduate who is based in Thailand, Natthaya (Mai) Thaidecha weaves the method of cinema and the practice of photography in her personal work. Fueled by tragedy and personal loss, she shares in this episode how the greed and corruption that affected her life became the impetus to process the emotional turmoil with photography, resulting in the shadowed, evocative imagery that is so prominent across her work. But it’s not all darkness. Mai chats with us about the brighter spots - and inevitable challenges! - of building the Bad Eyes community - and the rewards of championing local voices.

Mai
Website: natthayathaidecha.com
Instagram: @maiheartandsoul

Bad Eyes Collective

Website: badeyes.org 

Instagram for the collective @badeyes.collective and publishing arm @publishedbybadeyes

Thank you to Fujifilm Nordic for supporting this episode.


]]> photography, southeast asia, camera, documentary No