Pinoy photographer's take on Christian icons earns him int'l award

With highly stylized photos, including one depicting a crucified Christ with sculpted abs, a Cavite-born photographer recently bagged the top prize in a prestigious Asia Pacific photography competition.

Niccolo Cosme, a 30-year-old Filipino fashion and commercial photographer, beat more than 500 entries from Japan, Korea, Philippines, China, USA and Canada to win the 2011 Asia Pacific District Photographic Competition of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Cosme told GMA News Online that he was shocked when he first heard the news, saying he was even "a little reluctant" to join the competition because he was very busy with work. "I thought I should just try my luck. I was really shocked of course in a good way," he said, adding that he found out about the results from a friend who called him while he was in Boracay. "[I was] leaving for the airport [and] everything stopped. I think I dropped all my bags in amazement," he said. Christian iconography as inspiration Cosme sent four entries that were influenced by Christian iconography, two of which garnered the highest scores in the competition — 91 and 90 percent. "I use this imagery to easily catch attention, because of its iconic stature... most especially in our country, which is predominantly Christian. It's safe to say that it may look very Christian but I am trying to show you a totally different story," he said. Cosme said his award-winning work, "The Brotherhood of Men," which showed seven men dashing in the same direction, is a call "to all humanity to come together so we can reach our goals together as one." His other entries are entitled "Alone" (which showed a man clinging to a crucified Christ); "The Immeasurable Pain" (inspired by Pieta and also Cosme's tribute to the Maguindanao massacre); and "The Matriarch" (his tribute to Mother Earth). Influence The talented artist said he probably got his fascination for Christian images while he was growing up in their hometown in Kawit, Cavite. He said their house was right beside the 300-year-old church of Mary Magdalene. "I love religious icons, architecture and literature, but I consider myself spiritual more than religious," he said. Cosme has a special fascination for Mary Magdalene, whose name is even tattooed in Greek letters on his right arm. He also has a tattoo which says Salve Regina (Latin for Hail Queen or Hail Holy Queen) on the same arm. But it was his father, Cesar Cosme, a well-known TV director at GMA Network, who exposed the young Niccolo to visual art. "He taught me how to use an SLR camera at a young age," he said. Cosme narrated that when he was seven years old, he asked his father for a camera and he was given an Instamatic, Kodak's series of inexpensive, easy-to-load 126 and 110 cameras. "[It was a] black sleek camera with a red square button. I'll never forget that!" he said. Other achievements Cosme was responsible for many advertisements — from magazines to billboards — that can be seen around Metro Manila. He is a creative director for his own studio, the Lighthouse Studio, and the Project Headshot Clinic, which merges ads and advocacies on profile photos used on social networking sites. As a pesco vegetarian (who eats only fish and seafood in addition to vegetables), he has supported the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and even photographed actress Yasmien Kurdi and singer Geneva Cruz for their campaigns. During his career, he has joined three competitions in the country, where he always placed or won an award. "I would definitely join again if given the chance... but more than that, I hope to inspire others not to stop believing in themselves and their craft... for Filipinos to be proud and know that we can win, we are world-class!" he said. With UNAIDS, the Headshot Clinic, and a group called Take The Test, Cosme has also helped spread awareness about HIV/AIDS. He was born in Kawit, Cavite on May 15, 1980 and will be turning 31 this year - something which he jokingly said he wasn't so happy about. He graduated from De La Salle University-Dasmariñas in Cavite and currently lives in Makati City. He was recently featured in the GMA shows Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho and Celebrity Duets season 3. Aside from Cosme, another Filipino photographer, Maricris Fabi Carlos, also won in the 2011 Asia Pacific District Photographic Competition. Some of her photos may be viewed here. - KBK/HS GMA News.