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Henrickson In reply to ??? [2013-01-20 03:10:37 +0000 UTC]

Added.

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Henrickson In reply to Angie-SiL3Nc3 [2013-01-20 03:11:47 +0000 UTC]

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Henrickson In reply to Freyarule [2009-07-14 00:12:32 +0000 UTC]

I'll add the info...

But you're so late, everyone's looking forward to AN 10 already! XD

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Freyarule In reply to Henrickson [2009-07-14 08:09:20 +0000 UTC]

Yeah I know! xDD I was looking on DA for ideas on photoshoots for my Phoenix Wright group at the London MCM Expo in October 8D and then I saw this and thought "yaaay cosplay piccies" :3

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Henrickson In reply to Mryxadiddly [2009-04-15 05:06:15 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

A few tips to snap more pictures (should be obvious to most readers):

- Don't leave your camera On too long. You'll drain the battery. If it has a Power Save feature, set it to 1 minute.
- **Bring a spare, fully charged battery with you. This way you won't need to run somewhere to buy a new one or ask people around for some spares. Rechargeable batteries are preferred because you can recharge them (obviously XD) and they last longer than regular, single-use ones.
- *Bring an extra memory card with you. More space to save pictures = can take more pictures. Of course, clean up your memory cards before leaving to the con!
- Take less videos. Videos take a lot of space in the memory card.
- **Take smaller pictures. Large pictures also take a lot of space in the memory card.
- *Don't delete pictures. Delete them when you'll download them to your computer and view them on a full size monitor - the camera's LCD screen does not show the real picture, only a thumbnail of the saved image. (Only when the pics are very blurry or extremely dark, you can delete them, because they're not very meaningful)
- **Try to be less shy. You won't get the picture if you can't come up and ask the cosplayer to pose for you.

Tips marked with 1 star (*) are tips given to me by pro photographers. Those marked with 2 stars (**) are tips learned by myself, mostly the hard way.

Be polite, be respectful, have a good eye, catch the opportunities, and have fun!!

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Henrickson In reply to Henrickson [2009-04-15 05:18:23 +0000 UTC]

Let me share you some experiences behind these tips above (WOW, I already feel like an old man)...

- When I went to conventions, I usually had 2 batteries and 1 charger. (My camera uses 2 AA-size batteries.) I would recharge the batteries overnight when I came back to my hotel room.

However, since I bought new memory cards, I had the capability to take more pictures. And so I went, chasing cosplayers around. Near late afternoon, my batteries were already drained. I had to return to my hotel room and charge them for 2 hours.

During these 2 hours, MANY THINGS happened around the con. I wasn't able to capture those moments because my camera didn't have batteries, as they were recharging up in my hotel room.

Since then, I bought a quad (4-battery) charger and 2 extra batteries. I would still recharge my batteries overnight, but this time, I would use 2 of the 4 batteries in my camera and keep the 2 others in my pant pocket. This way, I could replace the batteries without having to open my bag, which would save me several seconds, during which many unique things could've happened.

- Memory cards: They're the storage medium for your photos. I use to take large pictures and lots of videos. My card would fill up very quickly. So I bought a 2nd one to follow the "Don't Delete Pictures" tip. I bought a 3rd one later and have ordered a 4th one just today.

I keep my memory cards not in my pocket, but in my wallet, in the same pouch as my cards. As with the batteries, replacing memory cards is easy, as I don't need to access my bag. Being able to do replacements on-the-fly is extremely convenient. If my camera had a carrying case, I would definitely put my spare batteries and memory cards there.

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Henrickson In reply to Henrickson [2009-04-15 05:30:20 +0000 UTC]

- The "Extra Memory Card" tip gave way to another problem. Since I was able to take pictures more liberally and since I could only carry a small, finite number of cards with me, they still filled up pretty quickly.

On average, my cards become full near the end of the Saturday Night Masquerade. I had to go back and delete some pictures while still watching the Masquerade, which was pretty awkward.

So then I forced myself to take less videos, and take smaller pictures, both to generate smaller file sizes and increasing the number of pictures I can store on the cards. Decreasing the picture size by just ONE level almost DOUBLED the number of pictures I could take, without major loss of quality.

- The sizes of camera LCD screens are... 2 inches? 3 inches at most? Compare this to full size monitors, which are 19 inches, 20 inches, or in my case, 23 inches! You can definitely see more detail on a computer monitor than a camera screen, so please don't delete the pictures on the memory cards before coming back home (unless they're too dark or blurry).

Delete them only after transferring all of them onto your computer. After all, the picture you see on your camera's LCD is only a thumbnail of the actual picture, and the actual picture might actually look much better than what you see on that tiny screen. Cameras only display thumbnails because they don't have the screen resolution on their LCDs to display the full size versions.

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Henrickson In reply to Henrickson [2009-04-15 06:00:07 +0000 UTC]

- Last thing is, try not to be too shy! There are a lot of cosplayers out there who are very talented, graceful and noticeable; they'll walk around the convention venues ready to be stopped by random attendees to take their pictures. After all, one of the reasons of making a costume is for people to photograph it. If they don't get pictures of their costumes, then why wear them?

There are simple cosplayers, and then there are good cosplayers. A simple cosplayer is a person who wears a large piece (or many pieces) of cosplay, such as Akatsuki cloaks or cat ears/tails, and just act normal; they're usually in mixed groups. A good cosplayer is a person serious about cosplay: they'll be well-dressed, as authentic as possible to the characters in the animes/mangas/games, and will act in-character accordingly. They'll know how to pose or talk like their characters. They've studied their characters in detail, and are true fans of their animes/mangas/games. They'll hang out in "cosplay groups", cosplayers who know each other and are cosplaying character from the same anime/manga/game.

In any case, the "standard" way to take a picture of a cosplayer is these 5 little steps: ^_^

1. A nice cosplayer is walking nearby, and you spot them.
2. You walk up to them with a smile, camera turned On, holding it in one of your hands while the other is pointing at / poking the camera (to indicate you're a photographer).
3. You ask, "Can I take a picture please?"
4. 90% of the time, the cosplayer will say "Yes", and will pose for you for the shot. (Reasons for refusing include rush to a meeting, rush to the washroom, rush to change clothes, or simply a very bad mood)
5. You take the shot and say, "Thank you!" You give the cosplayer a thumbsup and continue what you were doing, while the cosplayer continues their walk.

In case of doubt, observe how other people do it. If you're still too shy, try talking to other photographers, or hang around with them. Take pictures with them, and thank them for showing you how.

In the end, all cosplayers and cosplay photographers have the potential to become good friends. As one would put it, "The relationship between cosplayers and cosplay photographers is the mutual appreciation of each other's art." Nothing is more satisfying than cosplayers who have had lots of pictures taken of them, and cosplay photographers who have taken pictures of all good cosplayers of the convention.

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Henrickson In reply to TrueLight01 [2009-02-10 06:37:53 +0000 UTC]

It's alright, another person clicked the print request link too in the past. But yet, I want to try to make a poster-size print with my pics one day...

And thanks!

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TrueLight01 In reply to Henrickson [2009-02-16 23:32:58 +0000 UTC]

Ok You totally should, your pics are so cool
No problem

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Henrickson In reply to SakiYoko [2008-07-30 05:17:43 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the info!

I just felt the "good times" again, as I just went to another con and took tons of pictures and had fun! Exhausted I am, but I'll continue uploading pictures tomorrow, of both last cons until 2 weeks before Fan Expo, where I'll have to resume artwork that I've put on hold since mid-May.

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Henrickson In reply to Assenders [2008-07-18 03:25:59 +0000 UTC]

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Henrickson In reply to ArtNotHearts [2008-07-15 23:11:56 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the info!

You made that Steelix all by yourself?

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ArtNotHearts In reply to Henrickson [2008-07-16 21:02:54 +0000 UTC]

naw it was a 2 man project hahaha but we had 2 ask some buddys to help us hold it up xD

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Henrickson In reply to ThisAdorableMisery [2008-06-27 20:35:12 +0000 UTC]

I already credited you. I'll add Dana.

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ThisAdorableMisery In reply to ThisAdorableMisery [2008-06-27 20:12:47 +0000 UTC]

*gigglesnort* I feel awesome.

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rhinichi In reply to rhinichi [2008-06-25 05:07:48 +0000 UTC]

Never mind, this is ANorth, not ANext heehee.

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Henrickson In reply to rhinichi [2008-06-25 05:59:38 +0000 UTC]

Yep, 2 different ANs, depending on whether you live in Canada or the U.S., these initials represent 2 different anime cons!

As a matter of fact, I do have a shot of a Winry in my ANorth photo collection! I really don't think it's you though, unless(!) you showed up at both cons. I do look out for Winry cosplayers at anime cons, and, if I was at one of the cons you attended, I would probably have taken a picture of you.

Do you attend cons other than those in your area? If yes, then which ones?

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rhinichi In reply to Henrickson [2008-06-25 21:54:52 +0000 UTC]

I'm from America, New Jersey to be specific, so I've only attended Anime Next. I may do Anime Boston and I'm working Connecticon, so we'll see. Winry was my Halloween costume from last year, too, but I lost one of the gloves so I think it's time for me to retire her.

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Henrickson In reply to rhinichi [2008-06-26 01:16:37 +0000 UTC]

I have some friends who went to Anime Boston (it's the closest U.S. anime con), but they were a bit... disappointed(?). I wasn't exactly as they expected it to be, but overall it was OK. Nevertheless, each one has his or her experiences, and I wish you the best at Anime Boston!

So far, I only go to (and went to) Anime North and Fan Expo Canada in Toronto, ON and Otakuthon here in the Montreal, QC. In 2009, we (Montreal) will be hosting Worldcon, the largest(?) sci-fi con in the world. Our city won the bid against Kansas City(?). With a (current) admission price of $190+ and spanning over 5 days, it will be a heck of a convention. Website: [link]

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Henrickson In reply to chipface-zero [2008-06-23 15:08:49 +0000 UTC]

The original images were blurry though... Of course the blurriness disappear when I shrink them. But yeah, it must've been a great moment to be with those ladies. Do you remember me taking these pictures? I was eating dinner on the curb when I saw you random Bleach cosplayers assemble next to me.

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chipface-zero In reply to Henrickson [2008-06-23 19:46:57 +0000 UTC]

I think so. It was great posing with those ladies. So great I had to do a thumbs up in one the pictures.

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Henrickson In reply to missiu [2008-06-15 02:04:47 +0000 UTC]

I already marked you as Talim.

Thanks for the new info!

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Henrickson In reply to SweetKiwiDesign [2008-06-12 04:18:16 +0000 UTC]

I was walking out after photographing Gord (and shaking hands with him!!), Harlock and the 2nd Odin Sphere group, when I saw you two posing on the way out. The image above doesn't even show most of your costumes and props (I must say, they should be Artisan, almost Master); my camera's view was still zoomed-in, and I took that snapshot just like that without zooming out (I was hungry and didn't eat dinner). I saw you two earlier, but I was busy rushing to the Masquerade lineup, so I didn't take a fullbody shot of you two (or anyone else as a matter of fact).

After I left the Masq area, my memory cards were already full, so I didn't bother looking for you on Sunday (I couldn't find you two on that day anyway). I got 8 pictures of you during your Masq "skit", but all of them have spectator head silhouettes at the bottom and 4 of them are blurry. I can send the original shots to you (the 9 Masq pics and the one above in the collage); I'll note you about them.

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SweetKiwiDesign In reply to Henrickson [2008-06-12 14:36:31 +0000 UTC]

So cool! We got to talk to Gord after he finished, he's wicked fun eh? I really hope he comes back next year. Ya we were only around Sunday morning to pick up awards and go through the dealers room and artist's alley one last time (I was wandering around mostly without wings). We were pretty scarce in general at the con because most of the time I got in everyone's way with my wings and on Saturday we arrived late because of cosplay emergencies so we pretty much spent the entire day in the green room. T_T

Cool thanks.

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Henrickson In reply to ChibiStarLyte [2008-06-10 18:10:38 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

I'll add the info right now.

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Henrickson In reply to Attyca [2008-06-07 04:29:43 +0000 UTC]

Many thanks for the infos! Artist's Comments updated.

And nice to meet you... again? Are you one of the many Kadajs I spoke to / taken pictures of last year at AN 07?

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Attyca In reply to Henrickson [2008-06-08 03:18:03 +0000 UTC]

heh I was kadaj last year, yesss, and friday this year

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Attyca In reply to Attyca [2008-06-07 04:06:51 +0000 UTC]

p.s. can i snag the fullsized one from you by any chance?

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Henrickson In reply to Attyca [2008-06-07 04:23:54 +0000 UTC]

I'll note you about sending to you the original 9c image.

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Attyca In reply to Henrickson [2008-06-08 03:01:14 +0000 UTC]

thanks 8D

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Henrickson In reply to Adelade [2008-06-04 03:36:04 +0000 UTC]

Many thanks! Infos added/updated in Artist's Comments.

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