Feature Picture!

A camera has always been a part of Vj Villafranca’s family life. Being raised by a father who is a photojournalist, its inevitable omnipresence permeated all the facets of his adolescence from birthdays, family days in school, track & field competition, school plays and even the occasional projects. Not withstanding its invaluable documentary value, his interest in photography did not develop beyond the fact that it strengthened his faith in his father’s provisional ability through the craft.

In advertising school, faith transformed to fate. As he was exposed to photography’s broader horizons since it was an integral part of their curriculum. At 20 and a senior in advertising, fate began to take charge in his life and an opportunity opened for him to work as a staff photojournalist for a local news publication, The Philippine Graphic.

As luck would have it, his baptism of fire was being assigned in the presidential beat providing him a chance to cover events, ranging from mere diplomatic functions and provincial sorties to religious conflicts in the Southern provinces of Zamboanga & Sulu and insurgencies in the upland province of Benguet and the Cordillera mountain range. He was fortunate to have covered the official visit of U.S. President George W. Bush in 2004. The national elections campaign gave him a glimpse of Philippine politics as he covered both administration and opposition candidates. And for over a year now he has been an occasional stringer for wire agencies such as Agence France-Presse, Associated Press and Reuters news agency.

Through all this, VJ has been exposed to the country’s diverse cultural and ethnic communities, both of which he has grown to deeper understand. Side from photojournalism he has also focused on documentary photography as another outlet of expression of my craft. VJ has started personal documentaries on indigenous culture and its evolution and development in the Philippines. Additionally he has also documented the country’s festivals that transcend their rich cultural heritage.

Finally, he was also part of the recently concluded Angkor Photo festival held in Siem Reap in Cambodia. He was under the tutelage of master war photographer Patrick Chauvel and documentary photographer Sarah Caron. Being assigned to shoot the local dance of the Khmers, VJ furthermore honed his skills in visual reportage completing the assignment in a limited amount of time and limited resources. This strengthened his ability to produce stunning visuals that would tell the story.

Back to back exhibitions in Malate, Manila: Gangs of Baseco & No room for Grieving: Aftermath of Cyclone Nargis

Hi Everyone! I would like to invite everyone to the opening reception of my two upcoming shows in Manila. On October 23, 2008 in Penguin gallery in remedios st., Malate - opening of MARKED: The gangs of Baseco exhibition.... more

Previous blog entries:
Oct 21	-	MARKED: The gangs of Baseco photo exhibition
Sep 24	-	My Website is up!
Mar 16	-	Manoocher Deghati talks