Jacqueline C. Moorby

Nicola Majocchi (photographer)

Nicola Majocchi (born October 31st, 1961) is an Italian/American commercial photographer specializing in fashion, beauty, still life and sport photography. He began his career as an assistant to Irving Penn after graduating with honors in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree at Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara, California.

His international advertising clients include Italy’s Superga, Marina Yachting, Nerogiardini, Carpisa, and Versace, American Nike, Adidas, Nine West, Avon, New York City Ballet, Boeing, Sony, Nokia, Reebok, Neiman Marcus and Brooks Brothers.

His international editorial clients include German Vogue, Petra, Italian Vogue Uomo, Vogue Gioiello and Vanity Fair, Grazia, Max magazine, UK Journal, Australian ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, SHE and ELLE, American Self, Mirabella, Shape, Maxim, Cosmopolitan, Surface magazine and Cirque de Soleil's Varekai for Brides magazine.

NESINI FAMILY

Nicola Majocchi's Great-grand mother from his mother's side was MARIA CLEOFE TERESA NESINI (1872-1963) last descendant of the most prominent noble family from Bormio (Nicola’s birth place) the NESINI, originated in 1290 with Gervasio Nesini. MARIA CLEOFE TERESA NESINI was married to ABBONDIO LAVIZZARI (Lavizzari comes from the Latin word “Lapideus” which means “stone”) a powerful noble family established in the southern part of the Bormio region well known for stone work.

Reference Publications:

“La Contea di Bormio” Vol. IV - La storia di Tullio Urangia Tazzoli - Published by Bolis, 1934 (Bergamo) Pg. 518-519

“Bollettino della Societa’ Storica Valtellinese” No. 36 - Published by tipografia Mevio Washington, 1984 (Sondrio) Pg. 71

The well preserved Nesini Family Tree is a hand painted canvas approx 3x5 feet illustrating the family emblem of a crowned lion, 3 stars, red and blue background. Also the family emblem is present at the top of the left wing altar of the historical S. Ignazio church in Bormio, as well as present in an oil painting by the altar of main parish of S.Caterina in Cepina Valdisotto. This was a vow by Filippo Nesini, the only survivor of the bloody battle in Cepina on July 23 1797 followed by a mass execution.

LAVIZZARI FAMILY

MADRE M. CATERINA LAVIZZARI was Nicola's grandmother’s aunt.

Info about MADRE M. CATERINA LAVIZZARI (http://www.benedettineghiffa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=77&lang=it)

Founder in 1906 of the monastery in Ghiffa of Suore Benedettine (http://www.benedettineghiffa.org)

Venerable MADRE M. CATERINA LAVIZZARI is recognized by the catholic church as “Serva di Dio” (“Slave of God”) and mentioned by Pope Benedict XVI on June 1st 2007 (http://www.zenit.org/it/articles/il-papa-autorizza-la-congregazione-delle-cause-dei-santi-a-promulgare-17-decreti)

Additional info: http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/95402 http://www.istitutopaolovi.it/scheda-catalogo-istituto-paolo-vi.asp?IDL=1168 http://www.verbanensia.org/mono_monografiedetails.asp?monID=3657

Early life

Born in Bormio in the Italian Alps, and home of the Men's FIS Alpine World Cup, Majocchi took up skiing at the early age of three. By sixteen, he became part of the Italian junior downhill Ski Team (Comitato Alpi Centrali). By his nineteenth birthday and after his fifteenth broken bone and third knee surgery, he quit competition and dedicated his time to photography.

During the summer of 1982, Majocchi was victim of a motorcycle accident and nearly lost his right arm. After three major surgeries and rehabilitation, in January 1984 he moved to San Francisco where he prepared for his TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and registered for a summer session at the University of Berkeley. In September 1984 he transferred to Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California to study photography.

1988 - 1994

As Irving Penn’s First Assistant in NYC, Majocchi got his fashion experience working on editorial stories for Vogue with Supermodels such as Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista. In Advertising, he worked along side Penn on campaigns for Versace, Issey Miyake, Calvin Klein, L’Oreal and Clinique. His portrait photography experience came from working with personalities such as I.M.Pei, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Natasha Richardson, Sting, Tom Brokow and Grace Jones.

Collaboration on Irving Penn’s book "PASSAGE"

By the end of Majocchi’s first year at the studio, Penn offered Majocchi an opportunity to collaborate on producing a work chronology of Penn since his very first picture taken in 1938 on the streets of Philadelphia. “PASSAGE a work record” produced by Nicholas Callaway and published by Alfred A. Knopf and Nicholas Callaway was released in November 1991 and published in five different languages. Nicola Majocchi’s name is recognized on the title page as collaborator along with the great Alexander Liberman who wrote the introduction.

1994 - 1995 Still Life Photography NYC

In 1994, shortly after leaving Irving Penn, Majocchi received a phone call from Peter Schub (Schub & Bear, agents of Irving Penn) offering him the opportunity to shoot a worldwide ad campaign for Johnny Walker, since Penn had turned down the request. What what followed was a list of national and international advertising campaigns for various clients, including Maybelline Cosmetics, Coach Leather, AT&T, General Electric and Oil of Olay.

Special Assignments

1995 - America’s Cup

While on assignment for Italian MAX Magazine, Majocchi was sent to San Diego, California where the 1995 America’s Cup was taking place. He was assigned to photograph Chris Dickson (sailor) for the TAG Heuer Challenge and his crew. On March 5th, 1995 during rough waters Majocchi was chasing the race on one of the press boats when he witnessed and captured the dramatic sinking of the race boat “One Australia” and the rescue of its crew.

1999 - Jane Magazine

Fashion director Jenny Capitain assigned Majocchi to shoot a story called “Power Women” which gave him the opportunity to photograph designers such as Donatella Versace, [Sander], Donatella Girombelli, Alberta Ferretti, Missoni and Fendi during the Fall Fashion Week in Milan.

1999 - Red Magazine

Fashion editor Daniela Agnelli assigned Majocchi to cover the most influencial Italian designers Stefano Gabbana & Domenico Dolce (D&G), Alessandro Dell’Acqua and Giuseppe Zanotti.

2002 - New York City Ballet

Commissioned to produce the Winter 2003 campaign for the New York City Ballet and photographed the dancers in unexpected locations throughout New York City from rooftops overlooking the manhattan skyline to the unpolished canyon streets of the Financial District. Some of the dancers included Maria Kowroski, Faye Arthurs, Jenifer Ringer, Albert Evans, Benjamin Millepied and Nikolaj Hubbe.

2002 - MGM

Commissioned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films to photograph John Brown Jr. and Roy Hawthorne, American Navajo Code Talkers during World War II (their story was told in the 2002 movie “Windtalkers” with Nicholas Cage).

Celebrity Sport Photography

Lebron James, National Basketball Association (NBA) (three times Olympic medalist with two gold (2008, 2012) and one bronze (2004).

Jason Lezak, American swimmer (four Olympic Games, in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 with a total of Eight Olympic medals, two bronze, two silver, and four gold).

Laure Manaudou, French swimmer (three times Olympic medalist in 2004 with one gold, one silver, one bronze and three gold medals at the 2004 European Swimming Championships in Madrid, Spain).

Dario Franchitti, British racing driver (four time winner of the IndyCar Series and winner of the 2012 Indianapolis 500).

Kara Goucher, American long-distance runner (bronze medalist at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics and third at the 2008 Boston Marathon).

Grace Park (golfer), South Korean professional golf player (winner of six LPGA Tour Event).

Jimmy Rollins, American Pro-Baseball player (named an All-Star three times and was the 2007 NL MVP.

Lokelani McMichael, American triathlete (youngest female to finish the Hawaii Ironman in 1995).

Italian Men’s Water Polo Team (known as “Il Settebello”) Olympic silver medalist, London 2012).

Matteo Manassero, Italian professional golfer (four times winner of European Tour 2010-2013 and the youngest golfer to win a European Tour event).

Acclaimed football players, Italian Alessandro Del Piero and Argentinean Gabriel Batistuta.

Music Personalities

Sophie B. Hawkins, Jane Eaglen and Vitamin C.

TV Personalities

Giovanni Ribisi, Yvonne Strahovski, Maggie Q, Jessica Karen Szohr, Katie Cassidy, Kelly Monaco, Mia Michaels and Erin Andrews.

Television

2005 - Featured photographer in one episode of “The Cut”, a television reality show for world class fashion designers hosted and sponsored by fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger. The show debuted on CBS, and shifted time slots through the summer.

2008 - 2009 Featured photographer in four episodes of “Italia’s Next Top Model” Cycle 2 and Cycle 3, the Italian reality television show based on the American program of the same name and hosted by Russian top model and actress Natasha Stefanenko. Majocchi was also part of the panel of judges with actress and film producer Edwidge Fenech, Giorgio Armani’s muse Nadege du Bospertus and fashion journalist Giusi Ferrè.

Artistic Influences

Giotto, Sandro Botticelli, Alexander Brodovitch, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Federico Fellini, Jean-Baptiste Mondino and Guy Bourdin.

Personal life

In February 2013, Majocchi became a U.S. Citizen. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and partner, Creative Director Jacqueline Moorby. They share their time between Los Angeles, New York and Milan.

Exhibitions

September 1992 - East Gallery, Tokyo - “Transformations” Personal Show

November 1993 - Galerie Gisele Linder, Basel -”Transformations” Personal Show

March 1993 - Andrea Carrano Space, Via Della Spiga, Milan - “People of Tatuape’ (Brasil)” Personal Show

February 1994 - Amnesty International “Centofiori”, Galleria Carla Sozzani, Corso Como 10, Milan - “Tavern on the Green, NYC” Group Show

Awards

May 2008 - PX3 Prix De La Photographie Paris - First Price Professional Photojournalism/Political

March 2009 - 4th Annual Black & White Spider Awards - Nominated Advertising Professional

May 2012 - 5th Annual Photography Masters Cup - Nominated for Certificate of Achievement

May 2014 - 7th Annual Photography Masters Cup - Honorable Mention in Sport | RED

May 2014 - 7th Annual Photography Masters Cup - Nominee in Advertising | Dario Franchitti

Articles

http://miggy-figgy.tumblr.com/post/133799897377/read-my-interview-with-nicola-majocchi-irving

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/54415675/newsletter-september-23-2015-the-autumnal-equinox/17

http://business.highbeam.com/2025/article-1G1-81163743/nicola-majocchi-takes-formula-out-fashion-lighting

http://www.pambianconews.com/a-cortina-la-nuova-campagna-adv-nerogiardini/

http://thenobelpeaceprizetoryan.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html

http://www.gabrielbatistuta.net/interview/article41.html

http://www.agrigentocronaca.net/localita/realmonte/scala-dei-turchi-set-per-i-scatti-della-collezione-nero-giardini/

External Links

http://www.nicolamajocchi.com

http://www.theartofnm.com

http://www.artalents.it/talents/nicola-majocchi/