Sakura-Con 2012: Creating Your Own World
EDIT: I have my Bleach pictures up on my flickr page!
I was very impressed by what I saw at Sakura-Con 2012. It seemed like people were taking the canon and being creative, molding it to their own personal tastes. There were spontaneous gatherings, where cos-players from the same series would boisterously and affectionately yell, shout, and hug other strangers purely based on their common love for the characters and series they were representing. Some of them took the phrase “being in character” to a new level – It’s as if they create their own entire world! Needless to say, there were simple and amazingly elaborate designs, more than I could take pictures of. Here are five of my favorites.
“Smokin'” – “Scanty” (Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt) was posing for about 15 photographers when I snuck in this shot.
The red body paint really screams out for attention (amongst other things :D).
7D + EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II – f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 125, -2/3 exp comp. @ 168mm
“Pals” – Not sure I would’ve imagined this pairing, but we’re all friends, right? 🙂
The Kon suit (Bleach) is pretty cool, but I love the Spartan (Halo). If I was going to ever go as a character it would definitely be Master Chief!.
5D Mk II + EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II – f/4.5, 1/80, ISO 100, -2/3 exp comp. @ 18mm
“Beauties in the Forest” – A lovely rendition of Zelda and Midna from Twilight Princess.
I caught them against the green background, and I think it really gives you the Zelda “forest” feel. The exquisite sharpness of the 70-200 Ver. II really makes her eyes look stunning!.
5D Mk II + EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II – f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 100 @ 165mm
“Bleach!” – Maybe my favorite moment of the day, when a flood of Bleach characters converged on one location for a photo shoot.
Having the 16-35 I was able to get a really nice perspective from only a few feet in front of the main four.
5D Mk II + EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II – f/7.1, 1/200, ISO 100, -1/3 exp comp. @ 16mm
“Vengeance” – The exhibitor hall is almost as cool as being outside, especially seeing all the participants going shopping – in costume!
Nothing like good ol’ American comic book anti-heroes. I still remember how much I loved Ghost Rider when I was a kid!
7D + EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II – f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 125, -2/3 exp comp. @ 168mm
Brian Chu Photography 
re: the first picture.. do you mean other things such as the sharpie tattoo on her arm? That body paint is really impressive. If I’d done anything like that, it would have been all over my hair… and probably somehow even on your camera. How is that not smudging?! anyway…
Would be it kind of weird to say that I’ve been waiting for your sakura-con pictures since I stalked that you went via Facebook…? yes? well, oops.
Hey it’s all good I stalk people all the time on Facebook. Wait did I just say that? Oops. 😛
I’m the Momo cosplayer in the Bleach shoot and was one of the first ones up there that day. These are SUCH beautiful pictures. I wish I’d seen the Ghost Rider one there, I must have missed it. Thank you for sharing these.
Anna – I was really impressed by the Bleach gathering. Am glad to be able to share my pictures, please feel free to link them if you want. I have more of the gathering, will be putting them up on my flickr page as I have time!
Fantastic, thanks 🙂