| Headshot Clinic - One World |
[Apr. 18th, 2008|09:39 pm] |
www.Headshotclinic.com
Manila, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Macau
www.headshotclinic.com
http://niccolocosme.multiply.com |
|
|
| Eroticism |
[Apr. 13th, 2008|08:47 pm] |
My 18-year old cousin was so excited to have her first beer. Coming from strict parents, she was never allowed to party, more so to drink, until she reached 18. We headed to a club in Makati. I let her decide which to drink. She chose Coors - the crap she's thinking- since it's the one that she was least aware of. Yes, curiosity got the best of her, so I let it be. Sadly, that same curiosity gave her a bitter first-beer experience. She didn't like it at all. For someone so excited and was expecting so much, it was indeed a terrible experience. "It tastes like piss!" Her exact words. I gave her another brand, the one that truly stood up to what "beer"means and gave her the best beer experience she can have.
On the other side of my world, another opportunity came knocking at my door the other day, and this is to be a part of a 320 page book about contemporary male photography to be produced by Bruno Gmünder in Germany. Key word, "Erotic", my expression, Wow. haha! I mean, shit, I really don't know if I have any existing works that I may be able to call as such, probably just about 2 or 3 works that I can still call "safe". But before I even get there, I asked myself, what is Eroticism? I started doing research, I am running out of time... I only have about 2 days to complete a number of photos to submit. According to some literature->
Eroticism is an aesthetic focus on sexual desire, especially the feelings of anticipation of sexual activity. It is not only the state of arousal and anticipation, but also the attempt through whatever means of representation to incite those feelings.
But how do I apply this in my work without them looking raw or raunchy, I am certainly scared that they might look like pornography, or anything that might be really really close to that. I have settled with the available photos that I have already, but I know deep within that they were lacking something...I needed a few more photos that I can be very confident with... As much as the publication did not want me to shoot further for the reason that there is no assurance as what photo from my series will end up in the book, I had told myself that I need to, so last night I called several brave souls whom I knew will bare everything for art's sake.
I was able to gather 2 brave soldiers last night, they both have not done anything like this and has given me their trust, although they had several restrictions and requests... no frontal, and no other people around but me. I asked myself if it's possible to call it erotic without frontal nudity as most that I have seen has the private part seen in its full glory. Upon hours of continuous mental masturbation, I have concluded, that for me, an erotic photo does not need to have frontal nudity, it is all about body language, facial expression, it is about the intention of the photograph. I told myself that if a certain photo I am looking at was able to arouse me, then it must be an erotic photograph. If it can convey the message of the anticipation of a sexual activity then I must be in the right track... will keep you guys posted! ;p |
|
|
| Pretending |
[Apr. 8th, 2008|09:09 pm] |
|
A friend of mine celebrated her birthday at Ascend. Loads of fun, familiar faces, the best food, and perfect ambiance. I was rolling my eyes for the drinks, and just when you can't be any unfortunate enough, the party served Coors. I don't like Coors. Period. But what can you do at a party that served it? Nothing. I pretended to drink one and just as I was trying to get my mind off it, I began overhearing people commenting on how bad Coors tastes. The party would've been perfect had my friend thought of serving a better brand; one that doesn't remind you of water. Again, great way to ruin a perfect night! |
|
|
| declare independence |
[Mar. 9th, 2008|09:04 pm] |
I have mentioned in my recent post that I will write more about Bjork's concert in HK, and I've just recently received news about her Shanghai's concert as having something to do with her chanting "Tibet, Tibet" after singing her song "Declare Independence".
To understand this entry better, you will have to be familiar with the song, here's the lyrics for everyone to read click- VOLTA - but if you are lazy to do that, it's okay as I will walk you through the song and try to attempt to walk through Bjork's mind. The song writer / singer wrote this song for Greenland which belongs to Denmark, though it sounds very political having phrases such as " damn colonists, ignore their patronizing, tear off their blindfold, open their eyes" has previously been used by Bjork to highlight other struggles for self-rule.
Tibet has tried to gain independence from China, and this has caused deaths, and disappearances of a great number of Tibetans, monks and nuns throughout the years, this triggered people to form groups in favor of freeing Tibet from the mainland. Richard Gere has lent his support and so is Bjork who had performed at a Free Tibet concert in San Francisco in 1996.
This is probably one of my most serious entries as what Bjork did is serious, she has hurt some people in her actions but sometimes it will have to hurt to get a message across. I see her more than just an artist, more than just a performer, she is a messenger...Her plea does not go to Tibet alone but for all the nation being raped by another nation or by it's own fucked up government...This is a plea to free oneself from selfishness, from greed for power and hatred, raise your flag, raise your identity, do not let anyone step on you or anyone around you, set your soul on fire, believe in yourself and stand up for what you believe in. Declare Independence!!!
Tara, Tatum, and I went to celebrate our friend having passed the boards. We went to a club in Makati. This night meant celebration, which easily translates to getting drunk. Apparently, the party only serves Coors beer. I instantly thought of one word - disaster. I knew that Coors would ruin a would-be-perfect night! And, true enough, it did. Drinking Coors is just like having a taste of your own piss, or worse, someone else's piss. It's about the dullest drink you can have, it won't take you anywhere, not even a single inch from where you are. The party that should have made every single person drunk, or at least tipsy, left everyone as sober and bright as the sunshine. Party means party: great company, good food, and hard-kicking beer! wooh!
|
|
|
| shoot me |
[Mar. 8th, 2008|08:55 pm] |
Behind the camera or In front? I have always been behind the lens capturing time and essence... But this year I have been finding myself in front of the cam for a number of times, do I like it? the answer is I am not so sure... hahaha! you have to understand that it is rather difficult to wait, to get your make up done... and to be dressed, and to pose. I remember when I posed for the Marie France campaign last year, I was asked to lay down on my back and lift my legs up? I was like what? and of course I was pretending to be stupid...Frank Hoefsmit (who is also my bestfriend took my shot then) although hard, the photo came out rather very interesting haha! although looking back at it I realized I was too thin and I kinda ressembled a dead grasshopper. This month I was photographed twice one for a major campaign (and this will remain a secret till its finally out) and another one for an exhibition, I have also been getting interviews here and there for works like the headshot clinic, the Maldita campaign and the Katrina Halili shoot.
I know I havent been blogging in a long time, and this is what I do when I'm not blogging, getting interviewed on cam... NOT! hahahahaha! I'm kidding! The new Maldita Campaign was launched last April 2 @ the Mall of Asia, I was invited to attend and got to see friends and clients and media people as well... these are events that are important for someone like me (who's freelance) to go to. Aside that, there is always free food! yuummmeyy! hahahaha!
That night at Alchemy, my friends dared me and Trish for a beer-drinking match. The one who finishes the most number of beer gets to go home without having to pay for anything that night. You get to choose your brand of choice. I chose Coors, Trish chose another brand. Why I chose it, you'll know in a bit.1 bottle, two, three, Trish's fourth and he was down. I was with my fifth bottle, ready for my sixth, when they declared me the winner. I'm not a heavy drinker but when you drink the closest thing to water, you can have more bottles than what you can usually take. I hated the taste, but what the hell, it made me win hahahha!! fun fun night!
|
|
|
| 4 adults only |
[Feb. 19th, 2008|09:10 pm] |
I cant believe that it's almost summer again? seems like it was just yesterday! wow! This probably means that I am enjoying things right now that I really dint feel that time has passed by ... so that's a check! lolz!
So what has been going on in my world?!? Let's just say that I have a few surprises for you guys, meaning, you cannot pester me about what it is because i just said it's a surprise haha! Shoots are coming in, I still have post headshot clinic shock haha! and yes, I am organizing the 2nd one which might happen late March so please watch out for that one so I dont get blamed for not being a part of it haha. I also had shoots that are bound to be published by mid year till end of this year and I am so fucking itching to post them... unfortunately I have to painstakingly wait...Patience is definitely a virtue... anything hard, is a virtue... so that means a hard ______ is a virtue... hahahaha! Sorry about that! this simply explains the title of this entry.
Friday night, Tara, Tatum, and I headed to Alchemy for a much-awaited night out. After a week of hard work, we all deserve to have some fun: laugh, dance, drink, and just forget about the world. Some friends who were already there handed us beers - Coors beer to be exact. Disappointed as I was, I didn't finish my bottle and got another brand instead. Coors would taste just exactly like water hadn't been for the few drops of flavor it sadly has. Dull. Boring. Pointless. Those were the perfect words to describe Coors. And that was certainly the best way to ruin a night. |
|
|
| breath |
[Sep. 15th, 2006|01:46 pm] |
|
1.. 2..3... Breathe.... exhaling all i had to exhale... the negative energies around me has no space in my realms as of the moment... I want to be happy just for a little bit...
Finally, I’m done with the opening of “La Magdalena”, I have more time to relax from the whole month of preparations. I never fail to amuse myself, I can really get stressed from challenges such as preparing for an exhibition, there are sleepless nights with mind packed with thoughts wanting to explode like a tomato on a grill… fuck!… nights in the middle of my work when I had to get my car keys and drive my ass to my cousin’s café to drink and smoke… stress, stress, stress…wanting to scream, my lungs out, shred pieces of paper and throw them in the air, get a thong and catch every piece of it and make sure nothing touches the ground... chinga tu madre....But, amidst all of this…yo sabe- Yo Vivere… I will survive!!!… and I have survived… enamored by the beautiful aura my team has, I was inspired to do better than before, I got to gather myself and was able to save myself from the possible insanity… I would like to thank everyone who made La Magdalena 06 possible… ya’ll know who you are! Cheers to all of us!!!
After the long and exhausting month, I think I deserve a break… so I’m flying to Palawan
on Sunday with Icy… I’ve never been there before, and I think I’m going to love it… I deserve this right?? Do I?? I probably do.. ha ha ha!
I want to write more… I know I have the time… I’m just too fucking lazy… ha ha!
Exhibit runs till end of September! Pls visit www.niccolocosme.com for more details! |
|
|
| gone to soon... |
[Apr. 19th, 2005|02:30 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  sad | ] |
| [ | music |
| | gone to soon... | ] |
R.I.P. Genelyn "GQ" Quinain
I walked slowly as i entered the door, and gazed on familiar faces and reservedly smiled at them, i gazed to my left and to my right... two of my bestfriends walked with me as we approached a very dear friend, as i near her, everything freezes and turns to a slow motion... i have not seen her in months i tell myself, i wonder how she looks like, I wonder if she is happy... If she is smiling... I then laid my hands over her casket and looked at her with tears circling my eyes... at the very young age of 26, Lupus took her... Genelyn Quinain, GQ, or Chumenilyn Qua as we would jokingly call her sometimes lived her life to the fullest, she lived her life the way she wanted to inspite of her illness...
I am surprised that not a lot of people know about lupus, even when it is acutally the cause of death of the late former president Marcos. Lupus (SLE - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ...hard to say - harder to live with...) is an autoimmune disease that can affect virtually any system in the body. Think of it as a 'self-allergy' where the body attacks its own cells and tissues, causing inflammation, pain, and possible organ damage.
I first learned about Lupus through my cousin whom was diagnosed when she was quite young, she is from a wealthy family and had the means to sustain regular check ups and possibly medications, I am happy to see her well now, i recall that she would always have an umbrella over her head because the ultra violet rays of the sun could trigger her illness and could lead to something worst.
Today at the wake, as i was talking to my friends, i told them how GQ lived her life like she didnt have lupus, some never even knew she has it... she loved the beach, and loved the sun, she had a tatoo with the rest of her girlfriends, she had the usual night outs with the girls, movies, concerts and out of towns... she showed me a high spirited girl who loves to be around her friends... they are / we are her comfort zone... i had so much fond memories of her which i share with the rest of her friends... these memories shall last a lifetime and beyond... she lived her life to the fullest the way she wanted to, but she had to pay for it... hence, her life was taken quite so soon... but i thought, she wouldnt have had it any other way than the way she had it... and i believe that she had died as a happy and contented soul... her dreams, ambitions, happy thoughts had drifted in the shores of the lovely beaches she had been to... with the thoughts of a bright day, reggae music and the breeze, the waves splashing into the rocks and white crystal sand, shouting out her name... She is one with the creator... she is one with the world... and i sing... "She is dancing with the moon, she's dancing with the stars, she's one with the universe the gods would make her fly, she's flying, she's flying"...
GQ, we will miss you... you will forever be in my heart... in our hearts... i know you hear me, i know you are with us still... you have lived your life to the fullest, the way you wanted it to... and as we say goodbye, we will do it how you've asked it to be... I know i should have visited you when you were still with us, but you have always refused that we'd do... and now, we have all gathered to be with you... to comemorate all those times that you have spent with us... I love you GQ! here's a butterfly for you... hope you like it... mwah!
-niccolo
|
|
|
| The Virgin Awakes! |
[Apr. 14th, 2005|03:39 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  ecstatic | ] |
| [ | music |
| | ave maria | ] |
Beyond the Virgin : Conceiving the Madonna
Finally! After long sleepless nights, Beyond the Virgin photo exhibit finally accomodated! just spoke with M Cafe owner Martin last night, who happens to be Icy's friend and he is just sooo cool, and at the moment, my savior... he saved me from sanity and from almost hitting my head on the wall intentionally. As we were driving to M Cafe i prayed to the virgin, asking her to help me, i said, "I know that anybody who asks for your help shall never be left unaided" and she heard me!!! obviously... alright, so that would be around 2nd week of May, i will be discussing with my fellow photographers about it, and also with Martin... so let's get the ball rollin! Hail to the Virgin! and to all that is! (woops that excludes me... and ummm... you? YeS YOU! ha ha! |
|
|
| Santo Subito!!! |
[Apr. 11th, 2005|03:34 am] |
 Model: Maryanne Sansano Title: The Elevation of Magdalene Shot: April 5, 2005
Saints are made to serve as guides... it's like a "how to bake a cake" or a much more complicated "how to assemble a house out of straw" manual, you read it carefully and try to absorb it, it's either you follow what's written or just simply pretend genius and do it yourself even w/o finishing the whole manual... most often in life, we do that... we skip things we should have paid more attention to and just guess... and voila! you are fucked up! ha ha ha!
The recent event about the Pope's death seen on TV has brought tears to my eyes and to millions of souls that this true man of God has touched... am talking about the coolest pope I've known! duh, as if ive known so many popes. I recall about 6 years ago, there were text messages that spread like fire saying that the pope has died, and i just fell down on my knees and cried... i was then in Baguio with friends, apparently having so much fun... I found out that it was a hoax, i swear, who ever did that will die a bitter death... then recently, the Pope passed away, i was then again in Baguio, coincidently... but this time around it was all true. I really dont know why i feel so strong about this man, the charisma that he has is just overwhelming... the first time i saw him upclose was in 1995, I'm quite sure a lot of people have experienced that when he came for the world youth day... but i wasnt contented, so i went to see him again in 2000 this time around in Rome... I spent about a month there and saw him several times... and it was one of the most joyous moments of my life... i wanted and tried to get closer to this man, and maybe to just be able to touch the tip of his white habit i would be so much contented... but none of that will ever happen... the most maybe is to put my hands over the stone where his body lies... he has moved me like no other man did, he has illuminated my soul and a million more, an ocean of souls that stretches far beyond my eyes can see... I may not have seen Christ in flesh, but i truly felt him in this man, and that's how saints should be....At this point i already consider the late Pope a saint, canonized or not... Santo Subito! Sainthood Now!
About the photo: It isnt really intentionally shot for the title, but it kinda looked so appropriate for it. lol... the subject is in the center, in between darkness and light... she points to the light, perhaps as a path going to something like salvation perhaps but she is gazing towards darkness... looking down to sinners, telling them that this is the way to everlasting life.
 This is me, drinking water infront of St. Peter's Basilica... how cheesy! lol! : p
|
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| [ |
go |
| |
earlier |
] |
| |
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.2){kind=small}
hungryredskunk's journal
