College undergrad who took odd jobs in Manila now an award-winning Dubai photographer

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A college undergrad who did the rounds of odd jobs in Manila is now a celebrated photographer here.

From working as a construction worker, janitor and burger chain service crew, 43-year-old Mark Anthony Agtay now has bragging rights to close to a hundred awards and commendations from various competitions held over the years in the UAE, Philippines, Japan, the United Kingdom, Poland, Russia, Oman, Taiwan and elsewhere around the world.

Agtay, whose work is currently on display along with that of other selected photographers' at an event in Abu Dhabi, said he didn't know much about photography to begin with; nor did he have the money to buy a camera, borrowing a friend's credit card instead, to get one and paying him later in installment.

"Kaya salamat po sa Diyos, sa talent ng pinahiram niya at nakapagbibigay ako ng karangalan sa bansa namin at nakapagbibigay inspiration sa kapwa ko mga artists," Agtay tells GMA News Online. 

(And so, I thank God for the talent he lent me with which I am able to give honor to our country and inspiration to my fellow artists.)

The Spectrum Exhibition, being held at Manarat Al Saadiyat in UAE's capital city and organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism’s (DCT), opened on June 20 this year and will run until September 3, 2024.

From working as a construction worker, janitor and burger chain service crew, 43-year-old Mark Anthony Agtay now has bragging rights to close to a hundred awards and commendations from various competitions all over the world. Contributed photo

Agtay, who took up computer engineering at Rizal Technological University (RTU) but had to quit to support his parents and siblings, said photography came one day to him in a very unexpected way at work.

"Na-start kong ma-discover ang hilig ko sa photography noong 2011 nang makahawak ako ng DSLR camera na binili ng kasama ko sa work," Agtay, the eldest of four siblings, said.

"Then, nag-ask ako sa isang ka-work ko na kung puwede ako makagamit ng credit card niya para makabili rin ako at huhulugan ko sa kanya ang bayad. Buti pumayag siya kaya't ayun, nakabili ako at nagpraktis lalo na kumuha ng mga litrato."

(I discovered my passion for photography in 2011, when I got hold of a DSLR camera that a co-worker bought. I then asked another co-worker if I could use his credit card so I could buy one for myself, too, and pay him back in installments. Fortunately, he obliged, so I got myself a camera and I started practicing.)

Agtay said he learned by himself, attending workshops and joining photography groups, which Dubai has no shortage of, to gain more understanding of the craft.

Competitions

Agtay started joining competitions around 2015, where he bagged the grand prize at the "Abu Dhabi Through Your Eyes" photo contest. He would be raking in more awards in the coming years, including from an international tilt in Russia in 2018; another international photo contest, this time in Poland, a year later; Tokyo International Foto Awards in 2020; and a coveted Travel Photographer of the Year in the UK also in 2020. He has also won cash prizes.

Agtay was likewise an Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honor) awardee in 2021. The event was organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in the Philippines. He uses Fujifilm and Nikon cameras. 

Agtay arrived in Dubai 16 years ago and started work as medical records clerk. "Mahirap sa una ang naging buhay ko dito sa UAE kasi maliit lang 'yung suweldo ko tapos malayo pa sa family ko. Pero kinaya naman,” he said. 

(My life was hard back then because I was not making much, plus, I am away from my family. But I managed.) —KBK, GMA Integrated News