Glenn Yong 楊智文 / 阿文

Glenn Yong 楊智文 / 阿文 This is Glenn Yong's official page. And it has been Glenn's dream to photograph and explore Asia through his eyes and lens.

It has been Glenn's dream to create awareness of the climate change, socio-political struggles and war stories through his photography. He wanted to create a visual document that is real, close to the heart sincere and the beauty and horrors of the world we live in. Inspired by the talents of Steve Mccurry, Mike Yamash*ta, and several other famous and talented documentary photographers. All he wan

ted was to create visuals that is real, the moment, and unorchestrated visuals. Since 2012, Glenn Yong has been travelling around Asia to photograph some of the most famous political struggles in Asia for his assignment, and also documenting various tourism destination in Indonesia, Philippines, the Pacifics and even part of South East Asia. On his journeys he is continuously witnessing the change in quality of destinations, and while some suffered erosion in their cultures, he witnessed several proud tribes in which they fought hard to maintain and upkeep their proud cultures and traditions. And after years of travelling, his scuba equipment and cameras are his unique and yet perfect tool for making contact, and making intimate connections with people around the World. Glenn is not a scientist, nor a biologist, but he is well-read, informed and possess a unique foresight on current issues. He is a photographer, a designer, an explorer and a storyteller. What started out to be a naive conquest in self-discovery has led him to one assignment to another. The thirst for new and more knowledge will never stop luring him to explore deeper, acquire new knowledge and meeting new people. Where there are challenges, the need for his presence, there will always be solutions and he will be there to deliver the result. He has come to appreciate the little things in life, his ever supporting team, and to stand by values of life such as Integrity, Honesty and last and foremost Loyalty. All these provides the much needed inspiration, confidence, and strength to take on the toughest assignments in the toughest of terrain. Glenn is currently the Ambassador for ZEISS Camera Lenses, RGBlue Underwater Lighting Systems, and the founding owner of PLATFORM Asia, Extreme Ocean Labs.

Sustainable food sourcing. Fishing by baskets. Eastern Flores, 2018En route from Komodo, we sailed out of Labuan Bajo he...
22/08/2025

Sustainable food sourcing. Fishing by baskets.
Eastern Flores, 2018

En route from Komodo, we sailed out of Labuan Bajo heading east, with a few stops before reaching Ambon. Along the way, I spotted some freshly placed fishing baskets in shallow waters.

I waited for a while and soon saw the boat dropping more baskets. I quickly finned over, waited for the fisherman to dive in, and managed to capture the process on camera.

He even struck a pose for a couple of shots 😄. Incredible to witness this firsthand—not a staged moment for TV, but the real thing.

เขายังแอบโพสท่าให้กล้องถ่ายไว้ 1-2 ช็อตด้วย 😄 เป็นประสบการณ์ที่น่าเหลือเชื่อจริงๆ ที่ได้เห็นกับตา ไม่ใช่การจัดฉากเพื่อถ่ายทำโทรทัศน์ แต่เป็นเหตุการณ์จริงทั้งหมด

Life onboard the BagansPapua, 2018 One of the highlights of my travels was sailing into Papua and spending time with the...
22/08/2025

Life onboard the Bagans
Papua, 2018

One of the highlights of my travels was sailing into Papua and spending time with the folks on the Bagan. It was inspiring to see how much care and effort they put into protecting whale sharks—understanding that these magnificent creatures are worth far more alive than dead.

Despite poachers hunting them for the fin trade, the locals worked hard to keep them safe. (from nets and poachers)
The sail into Papua wasn’t easy—long days at sea and some tough encounters with certain villages—but the journey was unforgettable.

A true adventure and an experience of a lifetime.

หนึ่งในช่วงเวลาที่น่าประทับใจที่สุดของการเดินทางของผม คือการแล่นเรือเข้าสู่ปาปัวและได้ใช้เวลากับผู้คนบนบากัน มันน่าประทับใจมากที่ได้เห็นถึงความใส่ใจและความพยายามของพวกเขาในการปกป้องฉลามวาฬ—เพราะเข้าใจว่ามหาสัตว์เหล่านี้มีค่ามากกว่าหากยังมีชีวิตอยู่ ไม่ใช่ตายลง แม้จะมีพรานล่าที่ไล่ล่ามันเพื่อนำครีบไปขาย แต่ชาวบ้านก็พยายามอย่างหนักที่จะปกป้องมันไว้

การแล่นเรือไปปาปัวไม่ใช่เรื่องง่าย—หลายวันในทะเลและบางครั้งก็ต้องเผชิญกับความท้าทายจากหมู่บ้านบางแห่ง—แต่การเดินทางครั้งนี้เป็นสิ่งที่ไม่มีวันลืมได้เลย การผจญภัยที่แท้จริงและเป็นประสบการณ์ครั้งหนึ่งในชีวิต

From the streets of Hong Kong during the Democracy Movement 1.0, to the quiet corners of Eastern Flores, and even into t...
20/08/2025

From the streets of Hong Kong during the Democracy Movement 1.0, to the quiet corners of Eastern Flores, and even into the depths of the sea — photography has given me countless opportunities to witness, capture, and share key moments across Asia.

Through the lens, I’ve been exposed to diverse cultures and people, learning to see life from different perspectives, and to appreciate the little things that make our tiny red dot so special.

Photography has been more than just a craft for me — it has been a teacher of life lessons, a bridge across borders, and a reminder of how far we’ve come back home. From hopping across countries to reveal the hidden beauty of Asia, to island-hopping journeys filled with discovery, every frame has been a chapter of growth.

On 19 August, World Photography Day, we celebrate the storytellers who freeze time and give us the gift of perspective. Photographers are a rare breed of creators — able to see beyond the ordinary, and turn fleeting moments into timeless stories.
Here’s to every photographer who continues to chase light, moments, and meaning. Kudos to all of you who believe in the power of visual storytelling. I look forward to the day I once again pick up my camera, ready for the next adventure.

The Straits Times tribute to World Photography Day
https://www.straitstimes.com/.../world.../index.html

Hello old friend… It has been a while since you saw any action… and the last time you touched the sea was years ago when...
21/07/2025

Hello old friend…

It has been a while since you saw any action… and the last time you touched the sea was years ago when we were deployed in Australia…

Maybe it’s time. 😅

LOMBOKI first visited Lombok years ago, drawn by whispers that it was what Bali had been two decades earlier — a place w...
27/04/2025

LOMBOK

I first visited Lombok years ago, drawn by whispers that it was what Bali had been two decades earlier — a place where small pockets of lively towns dotted an island still largely untouched, peaceful, and serene. What I found was exactly that: an island bursting with potential, yet held back by a lack of resources — or perhaps a quiet fear that too much development might steal its magic.

The people were warm and welcoming, their smiles genuine, and the cuisine offered a refreshing twist from the familiar flavors of Bali — a subtle reminder of how close yet different these islands are. I fell in love with the tranquility Lombok offered, and even now, I often find myself wondering: how much has changed since then?

🎥📸 Throwback to one of the proudest moments in my creative journey. Putting an Asian face on the global stage. 😆Years ag...
23/04/2025

🎥📸 Throwback to one of the proudest moments in my creative journey. Putting an Asian face on the global stage. 😆

Years ago, I had the incredible privilege of being one of the Asian faces of ZEISS Camera Lenses as part of their global Creative Consultants team. 🌍✨

I was exploring how ZEISS lenses could be adapted for travel photography, underwater adventures, and so much more. The best part? I had the creative freedom to chase what I loved—backed by the world’s finest optics. 🔍🌊🏞️

Truly one of those good ol’ days I’ll never forget. 🙌

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me about the diving community. ADEX 2025 has been incredibly rewarding—not just...
06/04/2025

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me about the diving community. ADEX 2025 has been incredibly rewarding—not just for me, but also for my friends at Panunee Liveaboard and Cocotinos.

I've begun conversations with a few close friends, and we're excited about contributing more meaningfully to the scuba diving community. I'm especially glad that we're all aligned in our commitment to making continuous and lasting contributions.

Stay tuned—we’ve got some exciting activities lined up in the coming weeks!

The thing about shooting underwater is the ability to see colours and life where the blue dominates the viewfinder. To i...
19/11/2023

The thing about shooting underwater is the ability to see colours and life where the blue dominates the viewfinder. To imagine how reefs can be better presented, how colours can be recreated and how stories can be shared.

There is so much that the camera can see, and we are limited by the fact that we have limited air, time, and energy.

Much to explore. To share, and to hopefully inspire people to be aware and conscious that nature is beautiful, and we should all learn to appreciate it and protect it.

A place that is very close to my heart, both personally and professionally. Manado remains one of the top choices of pla...
31/12/2022

A place that is very close to my heart, both personally and professionally. Manado remains one of the top choices of places I'd return to for the fantastic macro opportunities and, of course, the reef and turtles at Bunaken.

Lembeh remains the undisputed "King of Macro" for its ease of diving and the dive guide's impressive talent in spotting critters.
I came here as soon as doors were opened for tourists to enter Manado, and I am indeed impressed with the sites, given that there wasn't really a "queue system" enforced due to the low numbers of divers here.

A tip for fellow photographers: make sure your group consists of divers with excellent buoyancy; you will be spending a hell of a lot of time waiting for the sand/sediment to settle while waiting for the shot!
Lembeh and Bunaken. Always top on the lists of my "to return for photos/work list", I'm sure those who have followed me on trips to Lembeh and Bunaken clearly understood why.

The long-awaited return to Raja Ampat was top on my list, and indeed I was impressed with the reefs as usual and getting...
31/12/2022

The long-awaited return to Raja Ampat was top on my list, and indeed I was impressed with the reefs as usual and getting used to my gear.

Having all those equipment prepared and ready in a brief period is no mean feat, and I need to be better prepared in the future. The new gears are outstanding. But I was just out of the water for too damn long! So 2022 is an excellent start for all the diving I haven't done since 2018...

I am grateful for many things in 2022, which I will probably write about in a while. But clearing the backlog of captures is paramount.

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