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[11 Dec 2009|11:21pm] |
Rocco Guiseppie Ermes Bellomi II
Rocco always hated his name, being too long and going to school it was hard to pronounce it all. The kid hated it when he would have to spell that shit. Why couldn't be be named Ryan Smith? He has his family though to thank for that.
First child, only son of Roberto Guiseppie and Leona Bella Bellomi, whom blessed their son with this name to honor Roberto's father whom had brought the Bellomi family to the US. You'd think this is where stories of Ellis Island would be mentioned but Rocco the first landed in Boston, MA.
Rocco (2nd our main hero) really couldn't complain about his life. Middle class family where his father was a top sales guy in whatever he did with his infectious attitude and honestly. The ability to read people didn't hurt in his line of work either. All those traits enviromentally and maybe genetically was passed down to Rocco. As Roberto sold whatever paid the best, his wife Leona did house keeping jobs for the rich families of Boston. Soon after our main character was born his sister Isabel was born, really this family of four were as happy as they can be with their plain life.
Rocco can remember how he obtained his first camera, his father was working for Kodak, selling cameras to retailers. Being that he won a set which included a camera he found no desire to use it. When 12 yr old Rocco found it 2 years later, about the same time it was cool to take pictures of your friends without them knowing. He found out quickly he had an eye for how to shoot his subject at a flattering angle but yet not let it look staged, which was in art.
Instantly he took up with the yearbook club and photography club hoping to find peers whom shared a desire as he did. Though he found these clubs were just ways for other horny teens to get together and share interests. He was too good for these.....amatuers. one could say starting high school Rocco's cocky attitude started to grow, as if it had been buried inside of him begging to get out.
High school for Rocco was just that, high school. Where the usual shit happened.. Same social clubs, pretty girls, drinking, in a rec sport (wrestling), and whatever. Sure he wasn't driving a brand new car but he didn't mind the 94 honda. Whatever, the back seat worked and it took him from point A to point B. He had his high school girlfriends, the friends, and shit. But he never stopped doing what he loved most. Photography. He graduated with a b average and it was fine to him.
Rocco went to college at Boston College. Staying at home and getting his bachelors in Photography. There he did the usual college shit, frats (alpha phi alpha!), parties, classes, but yet something he appreciated was when he joined a club the people took it seriously. His photography skills increased and meeting passionate people just made him tame his raw talent. Sure in high school he won awards for stuff like art shows but it didn't even compare to college.
When Rocco graduated in 2005, he had been offered his dream internship.... to work with Andy Stonehaven from The Christian Science Monitor. His family raised in the religion had received the Sentinal and Monitor in the mail, Rocco would study the dramatic photography used in the Monitor, which on top had won awards world wide. Plus it wasn't as known as per say Time Magazine.
Rocco spent time traveling with the newspaper, going behind war zones, rallies, political uprisings, and what not, learning how to be like Andy. With the connections Andy had he finally let Rocco work a year with the newspaper. Shit, talk about an honor! Though it came to a halt on august 2009, long after the Monitor had gone online and had cut back, letting Rocco go. It was almost like a horrible break up for Rocco.
It wasn't ok till Andy let him know about an opening at The Chicago Sun Times. With excellent references and a portfolio that wows, he got the job. Sure he would have to photograph a girl scout cookie sale or some shit. It would make up when he would get the big assignments. With the things piled up in his 2003 chevy, he left for Chicago to do what he loves and gets paid for.
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