Cover Mark Nicdao beside ‘Hommage to Eugene Delacroix’ by one of his favourite painters, Henry Fantin-Latour, at Musee d’Orsay in Paris (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
Mark Nicdao beside ‘Hommage to Eugene Delacroix’ by one of his favourite painters, Henry Fantin-Latour, at Musee d’Orsay in Paris (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
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Renowned photographer Mark Nicdao takes us behind the scenes of his artistic journey, revealing the captivating creative process behind the stunning works now part of the J Paul Getty Museum’s collection
Over his long, illustrious career, Mark Nicdao has celebrated numerous milestones. From mounting his first solo exhibition in 2022 to joining a diverse roster of contemporary visual artists at Asia Now Paris Art Fair and being selected as the portrait photographer at the royal wedding of Prince Abdul Mateen and Princess Anisha Rosnah of Brunei, he has brought Filipino portraiture to the forefront. For 2025, he adds another breakthrough to his impressive record—having his photographs shown by the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. “These are all huge milestones for me, and I couldn’t put any comparisons between them… They were products of pure hard work—being mostly quiet, delivering and enjoying it without trying too hard—and sheer luck,” he says.
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Above Nancy Castiglione, Makati 2008, print 2023 (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
Nancy Castiglione, Makati 2008, print 2023 (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
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Featuring five prominent Filipino figures dressed in Puey Quiñones and Patrice Ramos-Diaz, Nicdao’s prints were carefully selected by J Paul Getty Museum curator of photographs, Paul Martineau and recognised as some of his best. While these photos were taken in completely different contexts in 2008 and 2012, they all share a timeless theme—forever immortalised. “These photos mirror something inside the audience. It’s like getting lost in time, drawing your eyes in to see something special,” he quips.
Though these images may evoke certain emotions from viewers, Nicdao mentions that he subconsciously tries to convey a sense of nostalgia, even melancholia, derived from other mediums and personal experiences he has faced. “I can’t redirect people from seeing what they see. You’re allowed to have your own opinions about the work, but if you understand my vision, you won’t have any more questions,” he says. Nicdao looks back fondly at his shoots with these women, proudly exclaiming they’re “the best people you can shoot in front of the camera.”
Above Jo Ann Bitagcol, Antipolo 2008, print 2023, Unpublished (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
Jo Ann Bitagcol, Antipolo 2008, print 2023, Unpublished (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
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Ever the perfectionist, Nicdao mentions he was bent on having flawless photographs—leaving no room for blurred edges or imbalanced colours. A product of spontaneity and coincidence, Jo Ann Bitagcol’s portrait shot in Tanay, Rizal, was a happy accident. Initially an outdoor shoot, Nicdao’seye was drawn to a hand-painted wall inside an abandoned building. “When you enter these places, there’s not much light inside. We needed the right kind of balance for these scenes… I used swift light to capture every detail of the dress and movement. I wanted to be stark and sharp—my aperture was around 16, 18 or even more—it had to be almost frozen,” he shares. “It looked fuzzy and a bit grimy, but at the same time, it looked like a fresco. Jo Ann’s PatriceRamos Diaz dress, paired with her kabuki make-up and the backdrop, made it look painterly.”
Above Iza Calzado, Skull, Manila 2012, originally published in 2012 as Rogue magazine’s cover story (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
Iza Calzado, Skull, Manila 2012, originally published in 2012 as Rogue magazine’s cover story (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
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For Iza Calzado’s photo, Nicdao shares that he was playing around with the then-fantasy idea of robotics and the impossibility of things and was inspired by the 2011 film La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I Live In) and Garbage’s music video of The World Is Not Enough. “It was a cover shoot for Rogue magazine, and its senior art director Miguel Lugtucame from the hospital with his x-ray. I got curious, asked to see it, and immediately asked, ‘Can we use this? Let’s shoot Iza first with no makeup and styled hair, then I’ll shoot the X-ray and superimpose it over Iza to make her feel more robotic—a perfect being,” shares Nicdao. As if to predict the future with the rise and prominence of artificial intelligence technology, Calzado’s portrait concept is no more extended fantasy but something very real.
Above Nicdao’s photographs being printed out (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
Nicdao’s photographs being printed out (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
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Despite being a renowned photographer, Nicdao often struggles with time during his shoots. He highlights the importance of streamlining his ideas to be more decisive in using his flashes of inspiration. “You only have 30-40 minutes in a shoot, so you must concentrate to make things as simple as possible. You don’t want to lose the moment because of indecisiveness,” he shares.
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Above Queenmelo Esguerra, Makati 2008, print 2023 (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
Queenmelo Esguerra, Makati 2008, print 2023 (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
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To Nicdao, this milestone is an opportunity for photography to grow in the Philippines—believing that the medium isn’t entirely on par with how other nations view it. “This is a big win for all of us [the community]... I think it’s time for us to see photography as a big art medium. Being recognised by a museum like Getty is just the start for Filipinos to elevate their thinking, vision, and ideas on creating photographs—be it photojournalism, fashion, or advertising,” he says. However, this recognition reflects his evolution as a photographer while leaving his audience room for curiosity. “These [photographs] show that I didn’t change a lot. I have my way of doing things. This is the foundation of how I think, direct and compose—it’s always been the same… Evolution is a hard thing to explain, especially when I’m talking about my work… I think only keen observers can actually see that. I can’t speak for myself,” he adds.
Above KC Concepcion, Makati, Flow Series Show 2008, print 2023 (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
KC Concepcion, Makati, Flow Series Show 2008, print 2023 (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
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Looking back on his creative journey, Nicdao urges budding photographers to press on without losing sight of their vision. The scene is full of talent, and standing out is a real challenge, making dedication and perseverance all the more rewarding. “There are so many amazing people, artists and voices the world needs to hear. A lot of us don’t know where to start, but giving up is not a choice,” he says.
Above Nicdao poses for a photo (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
Nicdao poses for a photo (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Nicdao)
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As artists access more platforms for better self-marketing, he believes striking the perfect balance between earning a sustainable living and passion is crucial. “You have to work hard and enjoy everything. If you’re working and not enjoying it, I don’t know if it’s worth it… That makes me feel great about being an artist right now; everything’s just up in the air, and it’s up to you what you’ll grab,” Nicdao continues.
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
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A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
