Damien Lafon is a French documentary filmmaker, photographer, and writer who has spent more than fifteen years exploring Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia and Malaysia. His work focuses on the relationship between people, nature, and place, revealing the deep ties that connect communities to their landscapes. Through long term projects rooted in trust and collaboration, he brings forward stories shaped by culture, tradition, and the natural world.
Based in Bali for many years, Damien has documented the rapid transformations of the island and the resilience of its cultural identity. His books include Eyes on Bali, Bali From the Sky, and the pocket series dedicated to unique communities and landscapes. These projects combine fieldwork, photography, interviews, and on site research, offering readers and viewers a thoughtful perspective on heritage, memory, and change.
Damien also directs documentary films that explore both environmental and cultural themes. His works include Trunyan Village of Silent Souls, a twenty six minute film about one of Bali’s most unique ancestral traditions, and Under Pressure, a project documenting the lives of compressor divers in East Java. He is also developing Voices of Sarawak, a series created in collaboration with Kuching based filmmaker Bruce Teo, focusing on nature, identity, and the wisdom of local communities in Borneo.
Alongside his creative work, Damien leads Terra Cultura, an independent media platform dedicated to nature, culture, and environmental storytelling. Through articles, reports, interviews, and films, Terra Cultura aims to inform and inspire by highlighting the fragile balance between humans and the natural world. The platform supports long term field projects, community based initiatives, and independent productions that give visibility to voices often overlooked.
Damien’s approach is grounded in patience, observation, and respect. He spends extended periods in the field, learning from the people he photographs and filming with sensitivity to local contexts. His images are known for their calmness, depth, and sense of place, while his films combine immersive visuals with narratives shaped by real encounters and lived experience.
Over the years, Damien has collaborated with cultural institutions, scientists, local guides, anthropologists, and artists. He has worked with marine biologists, heritage specialists, and environmental organizations, integrating research into his visual storytelling. His passion for learning, exploring, and documenting continues to guide him toward new territories and new projects across the region.
Today, Damien divides his time between Bali and Sarawak, where he is developing a gallery and creative space dedicated to photography, documentary film, workshops, and explorations of nature and culture. His work continues to evolve through new encounters, new landscapes, and a deep commitment to independent storytelling.
