>I have been on /CGL for about 2-3 months now,
>and honestly, I am still a bit clueless as to how I got here.
>Everything is transpiring a bit too quick and subtle for me.
>I rarely visit 4chan to begin with, not to mention this board.
>If someone had told me that I would be into the whole cosplay culture early this year,
>I would probably laugh in utter disbelief.
>But now, I find myself here almost on a daily basis.

>I had my “anime phase” back in late middle school through high school.
>I read a lot of manga, bought a lot of the monthly Newtype magazine
>and watched Yugioh, Pokemon, Bleach, and other adult swim anime quite religiously.
>I was a complete nerd for Japanese anime/videogame.
>However, I disconnected from the anime culture shortly after high school.
>There was no specific reason to be honest,
> just thought it was about time for something refreshing.
>I would still watch some Studio Ghbili film and
>other animated movies once in a blue moon though.

>One day, for some random reason, I typed in “cosplay,”
>in the Youtube search engine.
>After browsing through several shaky-potato quality videos,
>I did not really pay any attention to the subject.
>All of a suddenly, I stumbled upon a dazzling cosplay video.
>The cinematography was quite astonishing.
>Not only were the shots were well timed and well synchronized with the music,
>it revealed a side of cosplaying that I was never aware of;
>It really was like nothing I had ever seen before.
>I slowly browsed to the author of the channel and there it showed- “acksonl.”

>Within days I finished all of his videos and watched it again and again.
>Maybe it was the zealous passion people have for their favorite anime characters
> or maybe it was the glamour of the festivity,
> something about those videos appealed and inspired me.
> This is one of the reasons that motivated me to attend Anime Boston 2012.

Was I talking to you on Omegle, like last week or something? If that was you, hello again.

>Friday April the 6th,
>I arrived at the Sheraton Hotel for the registration at 3:20.
>Fortunately, there was no a line at all, contrasted with my first-con experience,
> which I waited in line for hours just to receive the badge.
>I honestly did not have a clue on where to start after the registration.
> As I walked around the mall and took photos of various cosplayers,
> I realized there were mix reactions from the crowds,
> some people seemed intrigued and delighted by this unusual masquerade,
> others seemed confused and distressed.
>Either way, this event definitely caught people’s attentions.

>As I passed by the giant glass windows in prudential center,
>I saw people taking group photos outside in the central plaza,
>so I quickly hasted there with excitement.
>In the open field there were groups of cosplayers ranging from Zelda, Bleach, and other anime themes.
>It was really nice to have people organize this,
>because it really helped a novice like me to take photos in a clean background with better lighting.
>I didn’t really attend to any of the panels in the first day,
>really just spent majority of the time walking in the artist alley, dealer’s room and such.
>Now thinking about it, I regret greatly not attending to those events.

>Saturday

>I learned a lot since yesterday, mainly that I am underprepared.
>Not just equipment wise, but I did not carry the essential things like name card and note book and etc.
>I even forgot to ask for their cosplayer names, whether or not they want the links to their photos and etc.
>Also, half of the time people just seemed to be busy, and I did not want to hold them for too long.

>For majority of the time, I found myself having a rather short conversation with most cosplayers,
> something like this: “Hello, may I take a photo please?”, “click”, “Thank you!”
>Not really conversing and getting to know the cosplayers,
>and ask them questions was probably one of my biggest regret in the convention.
>I also regret not taking a lot of photos on Friday, because on Saturday,
> there were twice as many people then Friday.

>I had a hard time trying to manage by time between panels and >taking photos, somehow time flew by so quickly in the anime >convention.
>If fellow seagulls could share your techniques in time
>management, how to use your time between all these events
>I would greatly appreciate it.

>Sunday

>I got to the convention around noon on Sunday.
>Though there were still many people there,
>a lot of the cosplayers seemed to have left by then.

>After taking several more photos,
>I finally attended my first panel: "Nerd, Sexism and Cosplay"( or something similar)
>It was a presentation by a NEU student.
>The discussion consisted a wide array of topics regarding to gender roles in anime/video-games,
> how it affects cosplay and homosexuality/bisexuality in Japanese anime.
>Overall, I thought it was very educational and entertaining.
>(Here is a clip she showed in the lecture.)
>http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/the-big-picture/4719-Gender-Games

>Around 3:00 PM, the dealers room and all other panels had already ended.
>Looking at waves of passing crowds leaving the convention,
>I suddenly wished the convention would not end.
>These three days passed by really fast,
>and seemed really short.
>I decided to attend the closing ceremony,
>grasping each fleeting moment.

>It was a very moving moment when all the Japanese showed up,
>and waving to the crowd,
>everybody screamed and yelled,
>the crowd has gone wild.
>A lot of thoughts went through my head at that time,
>for the most part: "Have I really been missing all these?"

>The closing ceremony ended with the fan-made music videos.
>(If you are on here, I wanted to let you all know that
>I enjoyed every single one of them. Good job you all.)

>Again, this Anime Boston Convention experience was
>like nothing I had experienced.
>It was quite the sight to see how a bunch of strangers
>with the same interest and passion just
>hanging-out and enjoying each other company.

>Looking back now, I do not think I can say
> that I am proud being in this community.
>But, I am definitely excited where the anime/manga/cosplay
>community has gone since before and where it is heading to.

Well, thank you all for reading, I know it is a lot!
I also hope you guys enjoy the photos.

For you cosplayers, you are amazing, keep doing what you do best and inspire more people please!
I am not sure how far my journey is, or will be,
but may our paths will cross and I hope the best for you all.

Cheers.

You're sweet, OP. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself.

>>5706371
lol, hey that was probably me!
Good to see you and I hope you enjoy the photos!

>>5706547
Lol!, Thank you!

These are the ones I have not edited yet.
Camera is: Canon T1i Rebel with the standard
18-55 mm lens.

Making an acp account soon,
and uploading the photos up there.

This cosplayer looked so much like the guy from the movie!
>post more tomorrow, sleep!

your photos are very good. i dont say that very often.

did you go with friends or by yourself?

when i go with my friend from high school we usually get the schedule of events and choose what looks cool or not cool. we almost always go to the dealers hall first, lunch, then panels and events. we havent gone to a rave,concert, or room party, maybe this year.

>>5706664
>>5706664
>>5706664
>>5706664
>>5706664
>>5706664

/r/ moar FRONT pics of his dic- cosplay

>>5706664 This cosplayer looked so much like the guy from the movie!
wow.. a friend of mine would totally kidnap him
she loves that guy

/x/ cosplay?!

>>5707547
oh my god my uterus.

Fuck slenderman get in me.

that was an interesting read op, glad you had a good time.

Bravo, OP. Glad to see that cons nowadays, which I've become so jaded towards, can still inspire the same awe I experienced with my first cons 10 years ago.

>>5706829
>Hey, thank you! That really means a lot to me!
>This was more or less a last minute idea,
>so, I went by myself.
>But, thank you for the suggestions,
> I will definitely try to organize something with my friends in the future.
>Also, I hope you have a great time con-ing this year!

>>5706872
>>5706835
>Ahhhhhh..! I am so sorry..!!
>This is the only photo I have of him!
>Should have stopped him for more.
>Here is a higher-res version, lol.

>>5707547
ahhh, I might have see him in the con,
don't have any photos of him though, my apology.

>>5707932
>Hey, thank you for the feedback,
>I am glad you enjoy the story!
>>5707562
>Wow, 10 years ago!? That is a long time.
>You must have a lot of thoughts on
>how the conventions have been changing then :)?

>this is a model, not a cosplayer.

>>5708647

Lulu Dallas multipass?

Mulllttiipaasss~

I love that movie. This picture is great, too! I just. . . Dose pants. D:

Mind giving a fellow amateur photographer a few tips? We have the Canon Rebel T1i, with a regular and a zoom lense. I can just never make my pictures quite as beautiful as that, though I have done a few really awesome ones. So what magic do you use?

Also, I loved your story! <3

That was a cute story, OP! And I enjoyed the photos, they are quite nice for hall shots, thanks for sharing!

>>5706466
LOL so windy that day. thanks for sharing the picture OP!

> I LOVE MEGAMAN!!!
>I had a really quick chat with this guy,
>his gf I think, made the costumes.
>so awesome!!!

>>5706384
Ahhh and this one too! Thanks!

>>5708705
>>5708716
You were the Kyouko?

>>5708659

Actually, that is a cosplay. A man from the cosplay.com forums made it. He can walk in it too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev1rLfPy5kg

>>5708739
Yep!

Oh gosh I'm getting post con depression, I miss everyone so much!

Thanks for the great story, OP!