OF CONCEPTS AND COSMOS

Manila Bulletin

Thursday, November 16, 2006
Yugel Losorata



He is one who thinks out of the box. He is someone who thinks about complexity. And he is a man diving down towards concepts and flying up into the cosmos. He is a conceptual photographer. And a name called Niccolo Cosme.

For this 26-year-old visual artist, there’s much to photography than clicking the camera shutter or earning from a well-exposed set of pretty but ordinary images. Photography for him is deep art, a medium wherein the mind may fly around, create, and produce. Like how the works of painting artists are valued, camera images are meaningful to life and to the soul.

This belief has transformed Niccolo into a conceptual artist – where everything starts from concept and feelings and ends into magnificent visual results of that concept. He shared, "Conceptual photography is basically a more complex and diverse way to showcase what I have in mind."

No wonder he is much into details, like a perfectionist musician scrutinizing every note in a song’s arrangement. "Details such as hand gestures, movements, colors, facial expressions give me a natural high; they’re really very addictive for me," he emphasized.

The son of premier TV show writer, Director, Caesar Cosme, Niccolo found his calling not with words but with images. It all began when his dad exposed him to photography at a tender age and which later led to a significant event in his young life. In school, he was asked to shoot something wherein he was armed with a press ID. He didn’t become a photojournalist but that was enough for him to pursue the field of photography.

A graduate of Communication Arts at the De La Salle University- Dasmariñas in Cavite, Niccolo believes that photography has given him the freedom to fully express himself and immortalize visualized pictures in his mind as inspired by emotions or significant life’s events. "My mind travels starting from conceptualization up to post- production. Pain and melancholy are my greatest inspirations when it comes to art, may it be visual or music."

Such statements simply explain why Niccolo’s shots combine elegance and depth, and complexity and surrealism. His exhibit last September entitled "La Magdalena" pictured his soft heart for Mary Magdalene, one of his subject-inspirations as an artist and in way a reflection of his Baroque and Renaissance influences. He’s coming up with another exhibit of a different concept early next year. And for the record, his dream subject, for whatever the reason, is ex-First Lady Imelda Marcos.

Brainstorming

Since conceptual photography is his cup of tea, Niccolo takes a lot of thinking during shoots, either alone or with a group. His style and intricacies have earned him clients from the clothing and events industry which have helped him a lot financially-wise. He related, "Since I do mostly conceptual, it takes a lot of brainstorming either alone or in a group. I usually spend time alone first, and this usually takes a lot of inspiration. I listen to a lot of songs, close my eyes and try to put these small images on my head like a puzzle; until I get a whole picture. Then I present that to clients, and we start a whole new brainstorming from there."

Also a singer for a band called "Said Sinelas," Niccolo dabbles with music, too – putting his ears to some Bjork’s music for some inspiration. His band is an advocate of his local dialect in Cavite, his hometown where Café Marcelo is located and his images will soon be displayed.

Asked if he is into joining photo contests or clubs, he admitted he has competed just twice, both of which produced good outcome, while he goes into networking through on-line forum. His image for the first contest found its way up the billboards while the other one in pillow casings.

If his dad has the pen which significantly helped ‘Bubble Gang’ still taste sweet after a decade of being chewed by televiewers, Niccolo has the eye to produce images that touch the senses and make artists say that the guy behind the camera is a comrade. For him, ‘the eye’ is really important because even if one has the most expensive tools, if he doesn’t have the eye, it really won’t work. He said, "I believe it’s either innate or it’s something you have to work on. Just like singing, it’s either you can really sing, or you really need to have voice lessons."

The Taurus man

If some people are happy to belong to Scorpio or Virgo signs, Niccolo, whose birthday falls on May 15, is a proud Taurus guy. Some astrological believers think of Taurus people as strong-willed, and he wants to believe he is one. "I have the same birthday with my dad," he revealed, "So we’re probably the same."

His philosophy in life shows he is raring to do things and not be afraid of failing. As a conceptual photographer, he is on the go to explore all the time. He hopes to showcase his talent in the international scene one day and just stay focus on his chosen endeavor. "You’ll get bruised, fall flat on your face and cry. But life is just like that, you should just always stand up and do it all over again… and if someone tells you that you are no good, tell them, ‘so what?’ and move on."

Niccolo will definitely move on, not because he had fallen but because he is on his way up higher.



One World, One Headshot
Article on the Project Headshot Clinic One WORLD

By Wanggo Gallaga
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Last updated 08:16pm (Mla time) 06/16/2008

MANILA, Philippines—On a busy Friday afternoon in May, the Makati club Government opened its doors at 4 p.m. but not to start the weekend revelries early. This was a special day. This was the day of the second Headshot Clinic—Headshot Clinic One World.

212 people had their headshots taken by the young and brilliant photographer Niccolo Cosme. These headshots would all carry a similar look, a visual treatment that Niccolo has made his own, and would be made available for their profile pictures in their social networking sites. A very popular term these days is cam-whoring, and this is cam-whoring on a whole new level.

The Headshot Clinic began last year as a little germ of an idea. Niccolo, a professional photographer, began to take notice how many of his friends had asked him to take their picture for their Facebook profile or their Multiply sites. So he sent an e-mail to a bunch of friends from different sectors of society and asked them if they wanted to participate in a little project. He took 62 pictures, 63 if you include the dog, that day. One day in January, everyone uploaded their new profile picture in Facebook, Multiply, Friendster and whatever else is there and caused quite a stir.

“Vanity is a pastime,” says Niccolo. “It’s a big thing in the global village—the internet, the social networking sites. I believe that our on-line profile pictures are actually on-line billboards of ourselves. It’s our way to promote ourselves.” He explains that this is something that is very much a part of our generation. And it’s true—camera phones and digital cameras have made everyone into their own little model in their own little photo shoots and the social networking sites is the platform of which they put their shots to be seen.

“I’ve seen a lot of bad and tasteless profile pictures,” he says. “So, I thought it would be a good idea to do this.”

Hit me with your best (head) shot

When people took note of the first Headshot Clinic, there was no doubt that the young photographer would be plagued with requests to do it again. When he realized how big the project is becoming, he knew it was time to bring it to the next level.

“I wanted something more profound, something deeper than vanity,” he explains getting into this year’s clinic. He saw this as an avenue to get a message across. “I wanted it to help promote peace and unity.” That’s how the concept of One World came to be. Realizing that the photos would be seen on social networking sites that can be viewed by everyone in the world who has their own account—he saw the potential for promoting an idea. “Demographically speaking and geographically speaking, it really is endless,” he says about the exposure one can get from the internet.

At the same time, friends from other countries have requested for him to go there and hold the clinic outside of Manila. The first Headshot Clinic was to be done in Melbourne, Australia as well by a friend there and now, he got a call from a friend in Vietnam. It was soon followed by a call from Hong Kong and Macau and Singapore and so on.

With all this coming together, One World was born. Niccolo wanted to promote the idea of peace and unity through these headshots. No matter where you are in the world, no matter who you are, we are all the same. We are all human beings. We all have social networking sites.

“This is a glorified beauty pageant,” Niccolo says with a laugh. “Everybody is a contestant. And beauty pageants are for promoting world peace.”

It’s all in your head (shot)

Niccolo has already shot Manila, Hong Kong, Macau, Cambodia and Vietnam and will be heading to Malaysia and Singapore on June 16 to continue the project there followed by trips to Thailand and Australia, the latter still tentative.

And what makes this even more amazing is that this is not at all profit earning for Niccolo. He’s doing this for the love of. The fees that he asked from people is to help pay for production costs. He and his dedicated staff won’t be seeing any of the money.

But that’s the power of a great and innovative idea. It wasn’t difficult for Niccolo to find people willing to help out for free. And to help alleviate production costs, friends sold the idea to sponsors and they managed to get Samsung and Police watches to jump on-board.

As post-production for the headshots already taken proceed, Niccolo continues to travel to add more countries into the mix. If Niccolo manages to maintain his timeline, the Manila participants can expect their new headshots sometime in the last week of June, with an exhibit at Glorietta’s Creativity Lounge and in various profiles in Friendster or Multiply or Facebook.

There is a plan for a huge exhibit on September, where all the headshots from all participating countries help promote the idea of unity through an exercise of vanity. “It goes beyond photography,” Niccolo says about the whole project. “It’s a personal experience.” After all, at it’s most basic, it’s self-promotion but at the same time, it’s a message. We are all the same, no matter how different we try to be. We all want a nice picture of ourselves and we want everyone to see it so we post it as our profile picture. Hopefully, it’s enough for us to come together. If not, at least the internet is a much better looking place to surf in.

To learn more about Niccolo Cosme and the Headshot Clinic visit www.headshotclinic.com and www.niccolocosme.com.


Niccolo Cosme CV
Conceptual / Fashion Photographer
Unit J 4064, Yague St. Makati City Business Numbers +639179171162 / 02-8964486

Full Name: Niccolo Sambile Cosme
Birthdate: May 15, 1980
Birthplace: Cavite City

Education:
Primary – Child Development and Guidance Center (Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite)
Secondary – San Sebastian College Recolletos – Cavite (Cavite City)
Tertiary – De La Salle University – Dasmarinas / BA Major in Communication

Work Experience:
News Patroler – Magic 89.9 (2001-2002)
Junior Project Manager – Saga Events (2001-2002)
Researcher / Segment Producer – GMA 7 (2002)
Script Writer / Comedy – GMA 7 (2003-2004)
Freelance Photographer (2002-Present)

Awards / Achievements:
1st Prize Special Awards / People’s choice awards – Fuji/Giftgate/Swatch
“Why Smile” photo contest 2004
4th Place – Fuji/Giftgate/Swatch “Year of the Dog” photo contest 2006
1st Prize- Fuji/Giftgate/Swatch “Year of the Pig” photo contest 2007
Commissioned by the De La Salle System to take photos for the 2006 President’s Annual Report


Exhibitions
La Magdalena 8 Series 2005 –St. Mary Magdalene Church Kawit, Cavite
La Magdalena 15 Series 2006 – DPI photo gallery, Astoria Plaza Ortigas
San Miguel Draft “In a Flash” Series – Piedra Restaurant and Bar – The Fort Pasig
Work showcase / exhibition – Ms. Libertine, Melbourne, Australia

Popular Works
The Giftgate series
“The Ally” Commissioned art work for Nissan
“Pagasa” from the “La Magdalena Series”
Maldita Billboards and in store display
Project Headshot Clinic


Clientèle
Summit Media (Preview Magazine, Cosmo Magazine)
Meg Magazine , Chalk Magazine , People Asia, Lifestyle Asia
Icon , GP Magazine
Philippine Daily Inquirer (Super), Philippine Star (Supreme), Manila Standard
Maldita (clothing)
Blacksheep (clothing)
Diego (clothing)
GMA 7 / Qtv 11
ABS-CBN (PBB/ PDA)
Sanctuario (spa)
Marie France / Facial Care


Endorser:
Marie France and Facial Care
Sykat Couture
Baileys
Diego

Has conducted talks on photography for:
DLSU-D Com-Arts students
DLSU-D Heraldo Filipino
DLSU-Manila
UP-Diliman Film Major students

Languages
English
Filipino
Literate in:
-Spanish
-Chavacano
-French
-Japanese