Series description
They Don’t Look Like Me explores the concept of identity through the lens of cosplayers, photographed at home alongside their families. Extensive research has shown that cosplay is an international phenomenon, popular across the world. By presenting portraits of young cosplayers with their families, the project aims to explore both the generational and metaphorical contrasts between social identities (represented by parents) and individual identities (expressed through fictional characters), as well as revealing cultural divergences through family portraits from around the world.
Biography
Niccolò was born in Florence in 1977; he is a documentary and portraitist photographer. He approached photography during the university, after won a photo camera by a supermarket collection points. In Florence, he studied photography and in 2004 he moved to Milan. His photographic research is focuses on people and their identity. Niccolò now working on personal project and assignment.
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Jess (27) poses with her parents in their living room in Nairobi, Kenya. Jess works as a designer and has been practicing cosplay since 2013. In this photograph she plays Samus Aran, the main protagonist of the video game series Metroid.
© Niccolò Rastrelli, Italy, Shortlist, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
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Uta (19) poses with his family at their home in the city of Chiba, Japan. Uta is a student and has been practising cosplay for four years. Here, he plays Toshikazu Hazamada, a secondary character from the manga series JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 4. He chose a secondary character because he describes himself as an introverted person, who isn’t suited to portraying a main character.
© Niccolò Rastrelli, Italy, Shortlist, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
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Brenda (24) poses with her mother and brother in their living room in Thika, Kenya. Brenda is a student and has been practicing cosplay since 2018. In this photograph she plays the female version of Chainsaw Man, the protagonist of the manga Chainsaw Man.
© Niccolò Rastrelli, Italy, Shortlist, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
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Monaka poses with her brother at her home in Tokyo, Japan. The woman in the framed picture is their mother, who died 11 years ago and was the first person to accompany her to a cosplay event. Monaka is the owner of the Monster Party Café and has been a cosplayer since she was 20 years old. In this photograph she wears her cyclops mask, a sign of belonging to the new Japanese subculture, Tanganmen. The mask was designed by the Japanese artist Ozawa Dango.
© Niccolò Rastrelli, Italy, Shortlist, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
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Denis (24) poses with his mother outside their house in Mombasa, Kenya. Denis is an actor and performer and has been practicing cosplay since 2021. In this photograph he plays Zenitsu Agatsuma from the manga Demon Slayer.
© Niccolò Rastrelli, Italy, Shortlist, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
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Ren (21) poses with his father, Atsushi (57), and his grandfather at their home in Ibakari, Japan. Ren has been practising cosplay for four years, while Atsushi has been a cosplayer for 20 years. In this photograph, father and son are playing characters from Ibaliger, good humanoids who try to teach good manners through children' s events. Ibaliger was created by Atsushi.
© Niccolò Rastrelli, Italy, Shortlist, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards