Exclusive Interview for the cover of EROTICCO MAGAZINE: the brand issue with Lope Navo.

1 – When did you start your career as a photographer and what was the master point for working with male models?

I started my career in photography when I moved to New York, where I shot all my biggest magazine covers and published my first photo book Stark (2009), when I was only in my late 20s. I remember the Photography Editor of Hercules Magazine in Spain writing the intro to my first book—“Lope Navo’s life and work is one big hot journey. This is just the beginning. Stark is a head-plunge into it, refreshing, sensual, sensory overloaded and with a big splash.»

For me I like working with male models because I prefer to look at masculine beauty… the simplicity, raw-ness, organic-ness, ruggedness, and that state of ‘uncomplicated-ness’ of men in general, compared to other genders, men are more natural-looking. Look at the Botox-infested faces of many Hollywood stars now, you won’t see that issue with most male celebrities. You can photograph men with any light you want, without any makeup, no photoshop, and they will surely look good. As a gay man, men have always been my ‘muse’. A muse is very important for any artist, since the invention of art itself.

2 – Have you felt the pressure in recent years to innovate or even reinvent yourself with your work?

Reinvention is good, but ‘consistency’ is key. Many photographers who kept changing styles, and god-forbid, erratic, usually gets lost in the digital noise of the internet. Only the artist with a clear voice, and conviction with their chosen art form, are the ones who have the staying power. They stick to their vision. Look at the works of masters. Innovation is good, changing is good, but for photography you need a structure or foundation of aesthetic that you love and really passionate about.

In life you have to stand for something or fall for anything as they say. I guess, it is the same with male photography.

3 – What is the positive and negative side of working with models in the digital age?

I try to look at the positive, there are more models now, there are thousands actually. Also in fashion there is a photographer and a model body-type for any client needs. Photography have become more democratic now, than led by the more ‘time-tested’ visual tastemakers who have the experience and education to back it up.

The negative thing is most photographs now are very ‘retouched’ or ‘too photoshopped’, the natural beauty per se, is now obviously in question. Are we looking at a ‘cartoon emoji’ or a real human being’s face?

4 – Is there any male model you still want to work with?

I love working with supermodels Tony Ward, to Marlon Teixeira for my magazine covers for Digital Photographer and L’Officiel Hommes, respectively. Also Rock Ji was great for my underwear billboard campaign for Bench, years ago. Supermodels makes your work easier, since modeling is their second nature. They have thousands of poses and looks in their pocket. Also men generally knows how to follow instructions, even if they are superstars, they mix their own style, with my direction.

I need to catch up reading GQ and VMan Magazine again and research, for there are thousands of male models now and countless supermodels. I always want to work with David Gandy especially when he was new to the industry… Jon Kortajarena, Andres Segura, Lucky Blue Smith, David Agbodji, Alexandre Cunha, Hao Yun Xiang, Evandro Soldati, Mathias Lauridsen, Will Chalker and Jhonattan Burjack. I met most of them in castings and backstage in fashion weeks in Milan, New York and Paris. I want to photograph them for my own magazine MAN-X.

5 – How was the creative process for launching your book?

This is my 5th book so far, my 6th book is due this month. ‘Two Massive Dogs’ (2023), my first book about urbanism, architecture, and male erotica, was planned many years ago. I always have organized many photo books that are different from each other. Since I have seen many photographers of men that publishes photo books every year but their themes and looks are just about the same, with a new title. A complete ‘re-hash’ of the same concept, only stretched-out. I like to make my photo books consistent with my photography style and subject, my books are thick from 200 to 352 pages big, but totally unique stories in every book, so the reader will have continuity.

I guess it is the fact that I am one of the few fashion photographers out there who have studied ‘Screenwriting’ in New York with the Director’s Guild of America, and ‘Creative Writing’ instructor from ‘The New York Times’. As another passion, I also write. So I try to build books that have more backstories, and well-researched themes that will excite everyone who buys it. Not just mere catalogues of pictures. One of my favorite photographer is the Brazillian Alair Gomes, he published many books, new stories in every book, not just naked photos of men. I have a big process with books myself, not simple to make, months and months, sometimes years of research and planning ahead. I wish I can reveal all my secrets here.

6 – What fascinates you most in the process of creating your work?

The creative process is the most rewarding. Completing something from A to Z, finishing something that you have started is very rewarding. For a gay man who lives a solitary life, making books and photography is my only companion. Many of my friends come and go, my photography and photo books stayed. It is one the consistent thing in my life.

Every shot I take, my work improves and my voice is more clear. It is fascinating to discover who you are. As many artist are lost, confused or easily distracted. You have to be strong-willed as many will empower you, many will try to do the opposite and disable you. Try to focus and keep your eyes on the road while you are driving, to go where you want to go. Have faith that one day what you will reach your destination. My 352-pages hardcover book ‘Exotiko!’ (2022) all started with an empty drawing board… months and years later, out of thin air, you’ll hold something more concrete in the palm of your hands.

7 – What are your professional goals in the coming years? Do you have any goals to reach yet?

The largest fashion house in the planet, LVMH, exhibited by photograph again that I shot in Brazil—‘Carnaval de Cores’—from December 2022 to May 2023 in MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART TOKYO during the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibitions. My work is exhibited alongside many legendary names in photography like Peter Lindbergh, Nan Goldin, Patrick Demarchelier and Bruce Weber, plus film director David Lynch.

I have many exhibition offers to launch my new books with a ‘solo gallery exhibitions’ this year as well. At my age, I am not in hurry anymore, time has always been at my side. I am probably one of the few photographers who have lived in most continents, regardless of the many socio-political issues I persevered. I am grateful and looking forward to publish more photo books this year. My second book this year is called “The Beefcake” (2023), in full color and b&w about male pinups that started in the 1920s with Rudolph Valentino, his torch was carried by Rock Hudson in 1950s, Burt Reynolds in the 1970s, Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1980s, to David Beckham and Justin Timberlake in the 2000s. The new book is my re-interpretation of this theme through my male photography. I am probably the only Filipino or Asian photographer now that have 6 photo books under my name. I plan to make hundreds of it, god-willing, it is something that hasn’t been done before, worth the Guinness World Records.

8 – Working with art and nudity is something very difficult to explore, what is the starting point to make a good professional creation in your opinion?

‘Nudity’ is still a taboo in many countries in this century. My Instagram have been morality police many times, especially when I post a photo in a ‘religious city’. I rarely post nudes, compared to many almost pornographic profile out there. I am sometimes surprised and confused on Instagram regulations. The social media is now becoming more and more like most religious countries… simply prude or ‘grandmotherly-like’.

‘Professionalism’ is very important as well, especially with the last Mario Testino and Bruce Weber sex-scandal, their career was now ruined. I am not a model myself, but I am now very careful these days. I also studied law to protect myself, since fashion models and women are not the only target of sexual harassment. A ‘good professional creation’ should be ‘professional’ in the first place, ‘accountable’ and ‘reliable’. Look at what happened to Harvey Weinstein. In my experience, there are many detractors in your peripherals, trolling around you, waiting for you to make a mistake, to try and destroy decades of hard work, that you slowly built from the ground up. With one small mistake and its all gone. That is their job, their very existence, is to literally destroy you. They are called ‘critics’ or ‘detractors’, we are now all walking on broken glass after these many sex-scandals. Anyone can file a lawsuit against anyone now. So better study the law to protect your name and many irreplaceable years of hard work.

9 – What advice would you give to photographers, art producers and male models who are starting to enter the market?

I advice them to work hard, be passionate, live the dream, pray, and like I said, be focused while you are driving, since there are many distractions. That is expected. Always surround yourself with people who believes in you, that is very self-explanatory.

Trust your gut. There are good and bad people everywhere and in any industry. Learn to respect other people’s boundaries and you can, more or less, expect that they will respect yours. Well, like I said, I have lived in almost all continents, from the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Most modern cities are educated, that is expected, I was born in Third World Manila, where ‘illiteracy’ is still an issue. You can’t argue with ‘illiterate people’, you can’t reason with illiterate people. You have to somehow educate yourself, avoid trouble, and watch Youtube videos to help you, or subscribe to MasterClass. Do your research. It is now a new world full of ‘new laws’ after this event. The Singaporization of the entire fashion world.

10 – Do you see more advantages or disadvantages in the digital market for exhibiting your works?

The digital market have paved way for many new interactive ‘3D Exhibition Tours’ and immersive ‘Virtual Reality’ experiences online. Many art galleries have literally upgraded their websites into this. Similar to what happened to the branch of Rizzoli New York bookshop that launched my first photo book Stark in 2009, they got shut down and relocated to a smaller venue. This bookstore is already an institution, and because of Amazon.com, where you can order everything online, many bookstores like this one closed. Last time I visited the many bookstores in Paulista Avenue in Sao Paolo, it was virtually empty, the streets in front, that was usually busy with people, is now a ghost town. Everyone’s at home watching Netflix, ordering iFood, locked themselves at work, at home. No one will leave their apartments anymore, or drive to work. Anything we need is within a click of the finger.

I also plan to write novels myself. I’m also a classically trained oil-painter that have sold mixed-media pop-arts. I don’t need to travel anymore to take pictures to publish books. Anything I need is online. Many photographers like myself ‘self-publish’ now too. My last books Raw (2021), Exotiko! (2022), including my new books this year — Two Massive Dogs (2023) and The Beefcake (2023) are all self-published direct to Amazon.com, and was few of the most bestselling books in the past years. I am grateful I have many form of self-expression, many don’t even have one.