Style Narratives: The artist called NAVO

I have once dreamed of becoming a fashion photographer but destiny led me to something else. Started collecting magazines since1986 until I finally gave them all up at the start of this year ( I distributed all of them to my kids). My collection included almost all the major international titles and having a library of them was so difficult to keep.  Name it, I had it even some of the titles which no longer exist. These magazines were my roots in fashion and I was always thrilled reading every single one of them page by page from front to back cover.

Great fashion photographers have been one of my soulful inspirations. Names such Avedon, Herb Ritts, Ellen Von Unwerth, Peter Lindberg,Craig McDean, Nick Knight, Steven Klein, Steven Meisel, Mario Testino, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, Solve Sundsbo, Mert Allas and Marcus Piggott, David Sims, Greg Kadel, Camilla Akrans and Mario Sorrenti have brought out the life of fashion in me. Their masterful works as seen through their brilliant eyes and talent are visual stimulations igniting the magic of creativity.

In the Philippines, astounding works of Jun De Leon, Neil Oshima, Wig Tysman, Lita Puyat, Ronnie Salvacion, Ricky Villabona, Raymund Isaac, Raymond Lontok,Toto Labrador, Francis Abraham, Lilen Uy, Xander Angeles and Erik Llongoren filled the pages of glossies when the magazine publishing empires were in its infantile stage adding color and life to their pages. Almost a decade after came the rise of the new wave of talented fashion photographers namely Sara Black, Mark Nicdao, Joan Bitagcol, Paolo Pineda, Jake Versoza, Pat Dy, Tommy Zablan and Kai Huang. Photography at the time was rising in popularity and as a result became one of the more lucrative profession among the young. Thus paving the way for a new breed of photographers and one of them is Lope Navo.

Almost 5 years ago I met Navo through a good friend and renowned stylist Noel Manapat. He just started taking pictures and came back to Manila from working in Singapore and Dubai as a graphic designer. Armed with a beginners portfolio, as creative director of Metro magazine back then,we decided to give his talent a shot. Impressed by his work, he had quite a stint with the magazine doing fashion editorials and special features. In a short time, everyone was already putting a face to the name and soon he was working for most of the top glossies in Manila. But Lope had bigger goal in mind, to try it out in the international market so he decided to pack his bags and left for the US.

Fast forward to today, its been four years since he's left and back with him is an extensive portfolio of his works in the international arena. Still making a name for himself, the artist is known for his sexy imagery of both men and women. His works display a certain point of view with a mood and feel that's refreshing to the eye. His expertise lies in capturing the human anatomy is sculpture like appeal.  After shooting for campaigns, fashion editorials, magazine covers, lookbooks, model's portfolios, catalogues, and coming out with an international book entitled "Stark", he's now back for a brief stay in Manila. Lope Navo is humbled by his exposure and opportunities to work in the global scene. He admits he still has a long way to go and is challenged to face whatever's instore fo him. Thinking big, the artist is starting his second book entitled "exotica" which hopefully comes out next year. Proud of his roots, Navo is dead set to follow his dreams and make a name for Filipinos in the world of fashion photography.  No doubt in his own little way,  the artist will make his country proud.

   His first international book entitled "STARK" by LOPE NAVO.