Photo Concept – Asia Beyond Siam Challenge: Live Photography Challenge in Bangkok’s Talat Noi

by | Sep 19, 2026 | Events

EVENT RECAP

Photo Concept – Asia Beyond Siam Challenge: Live Photography Challenge in Bangkok’s Talat Noi

📅 Saturday, September 5, 2026  ·  📍 Talat Noi, Bangkok

Shaolin kung fu martial artist in a yellow robe holding a sword at the red doorway of So Heng Tai Mansion during the Asia Beyond Siam photography challenge in Talat Noi, Bangkok

On Saturday, September 5, 2026, Photo Concept turned one of Bangkok’s most photogenic neighborhoods into a stage for our newest live photography challenge in Bangkok: Wandering Frames: Asia Beyond Siam.

The day had Shaolin kung fu martial artists, a striking model, a historic Chinese mansion, a race-against-the-clock editing sprint and a group photo exhibition opening. It was all in Talat Noi, and it was an absolute blast. Here’s how it went.

Shooting Kung Fu at So Heng Tai Mansion, Talat Noi

PhotoConcept wanted to follow the Photo-Hostel Exhibition opening’s theme: Asia Beyond Siam. So we chose to find an artistic venue with different origins. We thought the So Heng Tai Mansion was perfect. So the challenge started at So Heng Tai Mansion, a 19th-century Chinese courtyard house tucked into the historic Talat Noi district, a short distance from Bangkok’s Chinatown. Aged wood, ornamental lanterns and old-world architecture made it the perfect backdrop for a live photoshoot in Bangkok. Then the martial artists arrived. Kung fu practitioners from Shaolin Thailand put on a show inside the mansion, and the photographers went to work. Our model was incredible, striking powerful, precise poses that gave every photographer a different frame to chase. Some shot wide to capture the architecture, some went tight on movement and expression, and everyone had the same goal: come back with the one image that could win.
Shaolin kung fu model posing at So Heng Tai Mansion during the Asia Beyond Siam photography challenge in Talat Noi, Bangkok
Shaolin kung fu model posing at So Heng Tai Mansion during the Asia Beyond Siam photography challenge in Talat Noi, Bangkok
Photographer shooting the Shaolin kung fu model at So Heng Tai Mansion during the Asia Beyond Siam photography challenge in Talat Noi, Bangkok
Photographers, model and Shaolin Thailand team together at So Heng Tai Mansion during the Asia Beyond Siam photography challenge

Photographers, model and the Shaolin Thailand team at So Heng Tai Mansion

Live Photo Editing at Photo Hostel

Once the shutters stopped clicking, the whole group headed to Photo Hostel & Photo Café, a creative hub in Talat Noi, for the second half of the challenge: a timed live photo editing sprint.

Photographers picked their best frames, edited them on the clock and got them ready for the wall, with the rest of the room watching it happen. Live photo editing is where a challenge like this gets interesting. Everyone shoots the same subject in the same place, yet the finished images can look completely different.

The Wandering Frames Exhibition Opening

The day ended with the opening of our group photo exhibition, Wandering Frames: Asia Beyond Siam, curated by Pavel V. Khon. Guests browsed the final images, met the photographers behind them and voted for their favorite shot in this Bangkok photo exhibition.

The winning picture went to Vladimir Zubankov. See the winning image and every entry on the Asia Beyond Siam results page.

See the Full Gallery
Winning photograph by Vladimir Zubankov from the Asia Beyond Siam photography challenge in Talat Noi, Bangkok

🏆 Winning shot — Vladimir Zubankov

Meet the Photographers

Vladimir Zubankov — Winner 🏆

A Bangkok-based street photographer who shoots mostly in black and white and is drawn to the small, unscripted moments of city life.

Masashi Hashimoto

Japanese, in Bangkok since 2018, and happiest shooting after dark, from the Milky Way to Loy Krathong candlelight.

Julia Novikova

Her photography started in Siberia with old Canons and a film Zenit, and she brings a love of freezing time and inspiration.

Gerardo Simonetto

A Bangkok photographer and videographer who documents art events and live performances, and a friend of Photo Concept since day one.

Berry

A Bangkok filmmaker and content creator behind the YouTube series Thncookie. Follow him on Instagram @thnofcl.

Thank You to Our Partners

A huge thank you to Shaolin Thailand, an authentic Thai-Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu school in Bangkok led by Master Zhu Qiguo, for bringing real martial arts photography to the challenge. Thank you also to Photo Hostel & Photo Café for hosting the edit sprint and the exhibition, and to So Heng Tai Mansion for opening its doors.

Photo Concept is also proud to work with partners including Asia Pillars – Art Connection and Cinnamon Studio.

Join the Next Photo Concept Photography Event in Bangkok

Photo Concept runs live photography challenges and photography Battles and events in Bangkok where you shoot, edit and get scored in real time. If you missed this one, catch up on our earlier events, Beyond Sight (1st Edition) and the 2nd Edition. Check out our Tukme Challenge, follow @photo_concept_bkk on Instagram or contact us about a private event.

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FAQ

What is Asia Beyond Siam?
It’s a live photography challenge and group exhibition by Photo Concept, held on September 5, 2026 in Talat Noi, Bangkok, and curated by Pavel V. Khon.
Where did the event take place?
The photoshoot was at So Heng Tai Mansion in Talat Noi, and the live editing and exhibition were at Photo Hostel & Photo Café.
Who won the challenge?
Vladimir Zubankov’s photograph won the event.
How can I join the next Photo Concept challenge?
Subscribe for event updates on photoconcept.click or follow Photo Concept on Instagram.