Ong Asadawut

Ong Asadawut’s journey into photography began in an unexpected way. Originally working as a video editor, he discovered his passion for photojournalism in 2021 while documenting public protests. The experience of capturing crucial moments in real-time sparked a deep appreciation for storytelling through imagery—where a single frame could convey an entire narrative without the need for words.

As a photojournalist, Ong navigates fast-moving and unpredictable environments, relying on sharp observation and quick decision-making. Unlike studio photography, where subjects can be posed and lighting controlled, his process is about reading the scene, anticipating key moments, and framing them in a way that tells a compelling story. Sometimes, the context of a story allows for a more structured composition, but often, it’s about reacting in real time and capturing the essence of an event as it unfolds.

His technical approach is straightforward—using high shutter speeds to freeze decisive moments with clarity. More than just documentation, Ong’s images serve as historical records, preserving events that might otherwise fade with time. He believes that a strong news photograph should be able to stand on its own, telling a story without the need for captions.

Though he primarily works in digital formats, printing his work as Giclée prints offers an interesting perspective. The high fidelity of the medium ensures that each detail remains true to the original capture, preserving the integrity of the moment as it was first seen through his lens. In a world where news images often live fleetingly on screens, print gives them a tangible permanence—a lasting reminder of history as it was witnessed.

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