"At Ellsworth/Lim, 2025 is already in full swing, and we are grateful for the incredible momentum the year has brought. We've been fortunate to collaborate with a diverse range of clients across both commercial and architectural sectors. Our recent work includes architectural and product photography for ALO, retail architecture for Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), and ongoing projects with celebrated design studios and interior designers globally.

Each assignment gives us the opportunity to continue telling compelling visual stories—whether it’s for a wellness brand, a luxury fashion house, or an internationally acclaimed design firm. We approach every project with a blend of creativity, technical precision, and a deep understanding of our clients’ brand narratives.

Looking ahead, we're excited to announce that we are slated to photograph a series of hotels and resorts for GHM in the Middle East. This multi-property project reinforces our commitment to capturing the spirit of luxury hospitality around the world and marks another exciting chapter in what is already shaping up to be a remarkable year."

Ralf Tooten, born in Rhineland, Germany, is a distinguished photographer specialising in architecture and portrait photography. He honed his skills under master photographer Clemens Hartzenbusch and contributed as a scene photographer to the Oscar-winning German film 'The Tin Drum.'

Tooten's notable works include ‘Eyes of Wisdom,’ a portrait collection that earned him the Hasselblad Master Award in 2002. In 2003, he relocated to Bangkok and documented the lives of Asian workers in the 'A.W.C.' series. His 2009 medical awareness campaign for Pfizer Inc. was exhibited globally. In 2018, he showcased his work at the Bangkok Art Biennale.

Ralf Tooten continues to innovate in the fields of architecture and hospitality photography across Asia and Oceania.

Welcome to the latest edition of Showcase Asia, which features the exceptional talent and services within the Asian commercial creative industry. This issue highlights the work of renowned photographers, directors, D.O.P.s and full service production companies.

In this edition, you will find a documentary on hearing-impaired children in Vietnam, produced for the Hear the World Foundation; architectural photography and videography that capture the soul of a place; industrial imagery for Asian and international Fortune 500 companies; and recent campaigns for Adidas, Samsung, Zara, and Apple, which took advantage of the professional services and talented creatives across the continent – and much more.

Our featured editorial, captured by Tarun Kalyani, is a stunning campaign shot for VG Jewellers, entitled 'Anantam'. Discover more outstanding creatives in our extensive Asia & Oceania Directory and past issues of Showcase Asia.

Engage with the vibrant cultural scene in Asian cities and check out some of those recommended events:

Hong Kong International Film Festival is a platform for filmmakers to showcase their latest work and for cinephiles to enjoy exceptional films from around the world. The 49th edition of the festival will take place from 10th to 21st April.

Jhaveri Contemporary in Mumbai presents Raghubir Singh: Rajasthan (1974 - 1998). Singh, a pioneer of colour street photography born into an aristocratic family in Rajasthan, captured the country’s rich and complex milieu. Although he left India in the 1970s, Rajasthan never ceased to captivate him or remain integral to his identity.

Ellsworth/Lim is a globally renowned creative duo specialising in commercial architectural photography. Based in Asia, Sven Ellsworth leads with visionary creative direction, while Sin Lim brings unmatched technical expertise in digital production, videography, and drone imagery. Together, they craft arresting visuals for luxury and high-end brands worldwide, including hotels, resorts, architects, interior designers, and publications.

Their expertise spans architectural and hospitality photography, interior design imagery, and cinematic videography. Sven’s talent for capturing the soul of a project is perfectly complemented by Sin’s mastery of advanced technologies, ensuring every detail is meticulously executed. From art direction and styling to seamless pre- and post-production, their work reflects each client’s unique identity and aspirations.

Whether capturing luxury resorts, iconic architecture, or editorial features, Ellsworth/Lim delivers visuals that inspire and elevate. Known for their warm, professional approach, they create timeless stories that resonate globally.

When asked what made him so fascinated with photography and what kind of photography he is most interested in, Ralf Tooten responds: "I’ve always been captivated by the action involved in photography, the way it pushes the photographer to their absolute physical and creative limits, always striving for the ultimate result. I believe I'm only as good as my last picture.

It’s also fascinating to collaborate with all these amazing people worldwide and to discover locations I had always dreamt of. I feel incredibly blessed to lead a life as an active photographer.”

Mattia Baldi attended with full scholarship the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, graduating with top marks, and receiving a bachelor's degree in classical painting and photography in 2001.; followed a year later by his Master's in Studio Photography (Scuola Romana di Fotografia e Cinema).

Mattia decided to move to Asia in 2004. In Beijing, he shoots for clients like RDM, Microsoft, and Facebook. In 2015, he was asked to move to Bangkok, Thailand, to work for WPP on the client Ford (WPP). For several years, Mattia was in-house photographer for WPP advertising agencies (GTB-Prism-JWT) shooting many successful advertising campaigns.

In 2019, Mattia started his own photography studio business working in Bangkok, Milan and from this year, Paris, with clients like Colgate, Standard Chartered, Nokia, Pepsi, Shell, and Schneider Electric.

His extensive international agency experience combined with over 25 years of knowledge in making images guarantees that clients are always fully satisfied by his keen sense of planning, briefing and executing his assignments.

"At Aura Production and Management we elevate your creative vision to unparalleled heights. Established in 2011 by the visionary Taneshq, a seasoned producer with over 15 years of expertise in global fashion and lifestyle production, we have evolved into a premier production powerhouse spanning Thailand and India.

Affordability with unmatched value: at Aura, we pride ourselves on delivering the most affordable production services while ensuring the highest value for our clients. We understand the importance of cost-effective solutions without compromising on the quality that your project deserves.

Comprehensive services for global standards: our extensive suite of services covers every aspect of production, from meticulous consultation and shooting authorisations to seamless crew management, location scouting, equipment rental, casting, and efficient accommodation and transportation solutions. We are your one-stop solution for turning creative visions into reality, all crafted to meet and exceed the highest global standards.

As your global production partner, we have successfully collaborated on diverse projects worldwide. Our proven track record speaks volumes about our commitment to excellence and our ability to seamlessly integrate with creative teams to deliver outstanding results.

Aura Production and Management - where vision meets precision. Elevate your production experience with us."

Asked at which age he found out that he wanted to become a photographer, Ralf answers,” I was in my late teens when I met an architectural photographer and his assistant photographing a beautiful building in the city of cologne. At this times, photographer still used a huge technical cameras and had to cover the head with a black cloth, to be able to see the screen with the object. I got so impressed and interested of what he was doing, that I had to talk to them.” 

I learned that this photographer, as well as his wife, was dedicated architecture and portraits “masters” in photography. I was extremely lucky, that they gave me the chance to study and practice photography under their guidance during three years. Those years were very exciting and a perfect start into my lifelong journey as photographer."

These days, Ralf Tooten & Team is based in Bangkok and the most renowned luxury hotel groups, architecture companies and corporations around the world trust his expertise, his fresh and modern interpretation of the brand philosophy and visual materials for all channels.

Ralf Tooten is a multi-award winning photographer with more than 25 years of experience, based in Bangkok. The most renowned luxury hotels, resorts and corporations around the world trust his expertise and creativity, his creation of a fresh and modern brand philosophy and visual materials for all channels.

Apart from architectural photography, hotel and corporate images often rely on portraits. Ralf Tooten helps his models and protagonists – whether it is a chairman or a gardener – to feel at ease, which leads to stunningly beautiful and natural pictures. His attention to the smallest detail, his dedication to perfection while always keeping his client’s wish in mind plus the use of the most advanced technology guarantees smooth and seamless operations, unparalleled quality and breathtaking results.

The Tooten post production office in Bangkok takes utmost care of every single image to make sure the client is 100% satisfied with the results.

Clients include a variety of great brands, from luxury hotel groups to unique hotels such as Kamalaya Holistic Spa Retreat, Koh Samui.

"Hello world, my name is Michael V Piroon.

I picked up my first camera a little over three years ago and quickly grew into loving the limitless possibilities of the visuals we can create. My other passion since I can remember being here on earth has been cars, so I've put the two together and quickly found my own lane is sports cars and RGB light painting technique. 

What started as a hobby has turned into a full-time career, but now instead of creating visuals for customers, I'm creating art. I love where it has taken me and I'm excited to take it even further than I've imagined. There's so much I want to create and I'm ready to work on any car related project with any brand, anywhere around the world."