Photographer #272: Veejay Villafranca

Vicente Jaime Villafranca, 1982, better known as Veejay, is a photojournalist from the Republic of the Philippines. His work focuses primarily on youth culture and its progression and/or regression, on Filipino faith practices and fanaticism and on the concept of reserved space for ethnic tribes. With his story Marked he became the first Asian to receive the Ian Parry Scholarship grant in 2008. Marked tells the story of gang members in Manila who made a living with drugs, pickpocketing and theft. He follows the members in their attempt to find a life outside of crime, violence and drugs that have become a part of life in Baseco, one of the biggest slums in Manila. His work has been exhibited in various places in Europe and Asia. Veejay is represented by Getty Global Assignments. The following images come from the stories Marked, A Race Divided and Creatures of Habit.

Website: www.veejayvillafranca.com