A Note on Cosplay Photography

So, as you know I had an amazing time at the Denver Comic Con. If you've looked at my photos, I tended away from the cosplay photography. That was a conscience choice, partly because focusing on it could easily overwhelm you with the sheer number of amazing and well executed costumes, and partly because as a documentary event photographer, that isn't the sole focus of the con. I did try to include them as I saw it as an interaction with everyone and everything at the convention, taking it as a piece of the whole. That's just me, big picture kinda guy and yeah I do need to work on narrowing my vision a bit and seeing the details that make up the whole, but I'm digressing on a little too much backstory.

What I really wanted to talk about was that among the costumes and the fantasy, there are whole genres that include costume weapons, from comically oversized swords and hammers, to the very real representation of guns. Now, to complete a themed costume these elements are certainly necessary and the attention to detail is much appreciated and respected, I mean what would my favorite zombie hunters be without their trusty side arms?

Well, my point is, as the abundance of the cosplay photography is now hitting the web, the amount of images of the characters aiming said sidearms directly at camera, has me a little on the fence on what is appropriate. Certainly, this is fantasy, a chance to act our your favorite character and aiming the gun at the camera makes for a very evocative image. But following on the heels of tragedies such as Sandy Hook and especially the Aurora theatre shooting, is this something that we need to encourage? Aurora Rise, a non-profit charity organization was at Denver Comic Con raising support for the families of that tragedy and here we are trying to fold our image of guns into the fantasy we so passionately gathered to celebrate.

I'll admit, I have never been that big a fan of guns, of a weapon that so easily grants power without necessarily the respect nor the responsibility that comes with them. So maybe I'm a little biased when it comes to making them the showcase of costume photography and how I don't want them to be star of the image when it's the costume as a whole that I find fascinating. This can certainly be applied to all costume weaponry, but all of this leads us down a rabbit hole of how our fantasies and fictions revolve around the idea that violence is the core value of the hero. I don't really want to open that can of worms, because yes, I do believe that a gun is a necessary tool, and the tool itself cannot be defined as good or evil, but who uses it does.

What I can say, especially as a whole picture kind of guy, I don't want to make the weapon the star of the image, especially at an event that focuses on children, an event that wants them to be brave, to follow their passions, and to not let others stop them from loving the things they love.

I know its a small point to get caught on, this is all fantasy after all, but I think that the images we make are the stories we tell, and well, I just want to tell a different story.

Denver Comic Con and the Comic Book Classroom: A Success Story

I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph the Denver Comic Con this past weekend, which supports the Colorado based non-profit Comic Book Classroom, which provides free comic book based curriculum to improve literacy and art skills, increasing student achievement and develops personal awareness. What I like most about it this particular event is that not just the over 48,000 fans in attendance recognized the focus of support, but the special guests recognized and encouraged it as well. Actors Wil Wheaton and Felicia Day not only spoke in regards to being creative, innovating, and pursuing your goals, but also spoke on personal awareness and acceptance, imagination and innovation, and how your passions can bring families together.

Screen legends Peter Mayhew and William Shatner even took the time to read to kids in attendance in the educational center of Comic Con: The Kids Corral.

The Kids Corral itself educated kids on art, making, building, and writing through the help of convention guests like ASIFA Colorado who taught animation workshops and artist Katie Cook who led drawing classes, along with other notable guests.

And the engagement was not limited to the Kids Corral as guests such as Eddie McClintok made it a point to talk to kids during his panels about being creative and daring and doing their best.

So at the end of the day, Denver Comic Con is not just about fans and pop culture, but it's about teaching people of all ages to follow their passions no matter what and to never give up on ourselves.

The only sad thing is that we have to wait a whole year for the next Denver Comic Con.

But that doesn't mean we have to wait to continue the Comic Book Classroom's mission. So go out true believer, read, create, make art and ecourage others to do the same!

Also: Felicia Day: Swoon.

Comics Outside the Box (What?!)

For those that have been reading along for a while, you will remember that one of best lessons I learned along the way was to not think outside the box, but "Put the box around the idea" -Nick Vedros.  The basic sentiment of it is this: instead of looking at what's limiting you (or what can), just innovate. An everyday object can easily become something completely different.

That's one thing that the Denver Comic Con is doing by focusing it's mission on education and the Comic Book Classroom.  (Can you tell I'm excited?) For me personally, as much as school was awesome, I learned the most from more unconventional means. For example, I learned more about classic literature, history, because of the way these innovators included the French revolution, Homer's Odyssey, or even Shakespeare's Midsummer Nights Dream.

Denver Comic Con is bringing in some of the best innovators of the day. From amazing artists and storytellers to people redefining the media like Felcia Day who is reshaping the way media is being developed and distributed, George Takei who is changing the way creators interact with their fans and share new ideas, and even Stan Lee who arguably is one of the original comics revolutionaries, changing the way we interact with stories.

So don't just think outside the box, just innovate and if you end up with a box that looks like river delta or Pac Man, so much the better.

Also, Today is Tabletop Day. Go and play some games!

Denver Comic Con is Coming!

As a reminder to all those that follow my blog, I am a nerd, or a geek in other terms. Have you seen my toy photography? Anywho, for those in the Denver area (or therabouts), the Denver Comic Con will be making it's second appearance in the Mile High City. Don't believe me? Click on the following link Denver Comic Con and you will learn that it will be held this coming May 31-June 2 at the Colorado Convention Center.

You may be wondering what this particularly has to do with me. The short of it, this is something I enjoy and just like it says in the side bar, this blog is here so you can learn about what makes me tick and what inspires me. So what better way than to learn about one of my many passions: Comics.

The Denver Comic Con is a great opportunity to embrace passion, from storytellers to artists, to gamers to designers and ultimately to just rekindle the things that made you smile as a kid. Love Superman? They'll be celebrating Supes 75th birthday. Fan of Spiderman. Stan "The Man" Lee, creator of Spiderman, as well as a host of other of heroes that are making a resurgence of late will be there! Excited about new media and the internet? Well, new media queen of the internet Felicia Day will be there to talk about web series, acting, gaming, and all kinds of things.

Last year I went and had a blast! Not just because of comics and art and creativity and passion and community, but because not only does Denver Comic Con provide all of that, it is a production of the Comic Book Classroom, a non-profit, free after school program for fifth through eight grade students that teaches literacy and arts education through comic books. As a visual learner myself, I can not tell you how wonderful a program this is. In fact I will probably tell you more later.

So, wot wrap up cause there are a lot of words on this post and a short amount of pictures, Denver Comic Con, May 31-June 2. Hope to see you there.