Here it is, part 3 of my cosplayers of the 2019 Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo. As I said in my first post about C2E2 it was a really good experience. I feel the trip out there taught me a lot about producing content or my site as well as producing better quality work. I also feel that I’m reaching the limitations of what I’m capable of producing.

I’ve said this a few times in the past but when I originally envisioned this site my plan was to build it based on my photography and my pop culture knowledge. I’m pretty sure my culture knowledge is coming in handy in providing knowledge of things and also SEO, I feel that I really need to do more in order to show off my photography ability. I have never called myself a “good photographer,” instead I called myself “usable photographer,” and while I think my pictures are useful I haven’t done much to show off my true abilities-at least at conventions.

Honestly, it’s hard to be able to take really good photos at conventions. With all the people walking around you have to be quick or else somebody could walk in and ruin your photo. On top of it too depending on the convention most security staff will tell you to keep moving so you don’t cause a traffic jam in the walk ways. Then there’s also the lack of being able to get a good angle because of spacing, there’s bad lighting, and depending on the situation it’s hard to get good poses out of people.

At C2E2 I saw a lot of people doing what they could to try to take the best photos possible. It really surprised me when I saw a guy who brought in lighting equipment on poles and basically had a photo booth setup in a small unused area of the convention center. I’m not sure if this guy had permission to have this set up or if he just did it, but either way it was a ballsy move . Then there are guys, I’m not sure what I should call them but I see them at comic book conventions and car shows all the time, I have my doubts that they’re actual professional photographers–that they’re just aspiring photographers or they’re just guys just trying to look the part because of all the crap they have on them, but they’re the guys who roll up to an event wearing Batmanesque utility belts or fishing belts with a shit ton of pockets. Most times they’ll have multiple cameras on their hips, with multiple speedlites or a speedlite with a big-ass softbox mounted onto it. These are the guys who have no courtesy for other people. I’ve seen them at car shows and they’ll blatantly ruin other people’s shots by walking into frame so they can get their own photos or if it’s a show with models they’ll grab a model and get her to pose on or around a car, most times without the car owner’s permission. At comic book conventions I’ll see them do similar things where they will without any regard for the people around them hold up traffic so they can do photoshoots in the middle of the exhibition hall with whatever cosplayers they find or in some cases they’ll convince them to go off with them somewhere.

With these guys I get what they’re doing. This is their livelihood or at least they’re trying to make it their livelihood so they’re trying to take the best photos they can for their portfolios. I’m pretty sure these guys are wannabe amateurs because I feel professional guys would be more courteous and respectiful to other people.

Unfortunately for me if I want to reach my next level of quality I might have to turn into one of these guys. Realistically, I won’t go that overboard with the equipment just because I don’t want to have to carry so much stuff around. I do know I should start bringing a speedlite to help with lighting. I also know I should consider bringing a change in lens or at least a second camera so I don’t have to fumble with lenses (but I planned this more for catching pictures during a panel than taking pictures of cosplayers and models). As for the models and cosplayers, I’ll still do what I can to take quick photos in the hall but I’ll need to start trying to put together photoshoots. It’ll be good content for the site and also it would also help with my resume if I have a portfolio put together. I told myself that I’d never pull aside anybody for a shoot because it seems creepy and rapey but I should really start marketing myself so that other people can seek me out and want me to take their photo. At least I’m fortunate enough to live in the age of social media and the internet where it is way easier to market yourself and get yourself notice. It is still difficult to get noticed but social media will help a lot, all I need is to use the right hashtags, tag the right people companies and events, and the right quality of work and people will start seeking me out.

Another thing, I feel I need to get into is video. Video is something I was hoping to add to my site because it’s another form of media that people ingest and hopefully I’d be able to qualify for YouTube monetization which would put a couple extra bucks into my pocket. I also really want to get into video because it’s another skillset that I could put down on my resume. Recently I was job searching just for the Hell of it at a bunch of companies I dreamed about working the only openings I found that I had a remote chance in Hell of doing was be video producer. I do have friends I know who can do video and in a perfect world they would be helping me on my site, but to be fair I’d have to let them be able to monetize it on their own and honestly between that and having them do video would negate all the reasons I myself wanted to get into video. I can get into video anytime it’s just a matter of me finding the time to learn it and unfortunately given that I am still only a one-man operation getting video at a convention or other event would more than likely mean it’s either that or photos. What I guess I’m trying to get at now is that someday video will be coming to Samuraijosh.com, it may be sooner or later–more than likely way later but it will be here someday.

I’m really surprised this is the direction I went into when starting my third and final post about the cosplayers of C2E2 2019. Surprised, but at the same time proud that I was able to go on a coherent rant for like 1100 words. I really wish I could have talked more about how cool the cosplayers were, or any give out any remaining anecdotes I have from the expo but honestly I don’t have anymore. This is the downside of partitioning out my content into so many pieces but honestly it was either this or just try to give it to people in fewer, bigger, and harder to swallow pieces.

Anyway, please enjoy part three of my Cosplayers of C2E2 2019!

Here’s a Skeletor from He-Man. I really like his clawed feet. I’m wondering if he’s wearing special shoes or if he put extensions on his toes. Also, I didn’t notice this until I took a second look at his photo but he went shirtless and painted his skin blue. Props to this guy for being willing to put in this level of dedication.

Professor Gilderoy Lockhart and the flying car from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Considering how Lockhart is a huge narcissist in both the movie and the book it was a good touch for Lockhart to be carrying around a copy of his autobiography as a prop.

Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bebop. She did a really good job replicating all of Faye’s details. The yellow headband, the way Faye wears the red button up shirt, the suspenders, even Faye’s shoes.

Leeloo from Fifth Element complete with the multipass. I’m not sure if she did this on purpose or it was just a coincidence but her wig also has that slight disheveled, unbrushed look that Mila Jovovich had in the movie.

At first I thought this was Gru from Despicable Me but after taking another look I’m really doubting it now. Given this guy’s size he was really imposing at the C2E2. I think I just found it really impressive that he had built fans into his costume to keep him cool while at the expo. After taking a second look at my pictures I’m wondering if he’s supposed to be Daredevil’s nemesis Kingpin.

Luke Cage. Based on the chain and silver arm bracers he’s going on how Luke looks in the comicbooks rather than the MCU version portrayed by Mike Colter. The tears in the shirt are a good yet subtle detail.

Originally when I took these photos I thought these guys were cosplaying as Overwatch heroes. But after taking a closer look I don’t think they are. I really wish I could figure out what they’re from but I got nothing.

Barb from Stranger Things. When I asked this girl if I could take a photo she got really excited that someday wanted her photo and it just really made me happy that I could make her happy.

Two Spartans from the newer Halo games. I really like how instead of just throwing something together to just look like Master Chief they went with variants of the Spartan assault armor. I wish I could tell which variants they’re wearing but there are like 100 different armor variants.

Here’s a guy dressed as Scott Steiner. He’s another wrestler I’m surprised somebody would be willing to dress as cause considering his reputation. He was accused of steroid usage, has a pretty extensive history of assault and causing disturbances and was actually banned from a WWE Hall of Fame ceremony after he threatened to kill Hulk Hogan and his wife.

Lumiere and Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast. I really wish I had a way to show this off but the guy dressed as Lumiere had fans built into his hand things so he could make his flames move. Maybe, I should really look into adding to my video to my site so I have a way of showing stuff like this off to people?

Another Tyrone Biggums. I know this only makes two Tyrone Biggums at C2E2 but this con was the very first time I ever ran into somebody dressed as Tyrone Biggums and this includes going to LA Comic Con/Comikaze on Halloween so I really wonder what made these guys decide to cosplay as a Dave Chappelle sketch character.

A Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice. The green mold/moss around her hairline is really good attention to detail and having a copy of Handbook for the Recently Deceased as a prop is a good touch. I looked these up and you can buy a copy of Handbook for the Recently Deceased but they’re really just blank notebooks you can write in yourself.

Michelle Pfeiffer Catwoman from Tim Burton’s Batman Returns. The stitches on the costume are a good touch but I really feel she didn’t do a good job matching the stitches on the costume from the movie.

More Cobra Kai students. I know these are more than likely store-bought costumes but I like how they also got the headbands too.

A Galactus. He did a really good job on the helmet and most of his costume but I don’t think Galactus has a G on his chest.

Here’s a girl dressed as Deadpool with a bigass prop cannon. The “Smile… Wait for Flash” written on the barrel seems more Harley Quinn than it does Deadpool.

Marceline from Adventure Time.

Here’s Shunsui Kyoraku from Bleach. I have to admit I never watched Bleach so I didn’t recognize what this guy was supposed to be. I had to ask him what his character was from and then I had to google it to figure it out. Honestly, I took his picture cause he was with Marceline and I just didn’t want him to feel left out. He does have really nice sandals. They go really well with his costume.

Here’s a pretty good Bumblebee based on how he looked in the 1984 Transformers cartoon. He also reminds me of this Bumblebee toy I had when I was a kid, t was from the Action Masters subline and the gimmick with that line was that they couldn’t transform but they came with these special accessories.

Here’s a Princess Zelda who I’m pretty was actually here with a vendor rather than just another con goer.

Mario and Princess Peach. I’m pretty sure these guys are just going with a standard Princess Peach and Mario look and not trying to put their own spin on things. I do like how they had all these props with them to represent Mario badguys.

One of the Carmine brothers from the Gears of Wars videogame series. This guy did a really good job on his Lancer rifle.

Black Manta from the recent Jason Mamoa Aquaman movie. He did a really good job on both the helmet and the arm. I also like how he included arm blades into his costume.

A really good Killmonger from Black Panther. I don’t know which version I like better with or without the mask because this guy did a really good job on his costume.

A store-bought Pickle Rick before he turned himself into some weird Pickle Rick/rat/cockcroach cyborg thing. I was almost tempted to toss this pic because it’s a store-bought costume but I just really love that episode of Rick and Morty.

Mr. Poopybutthole from Rick and Morty. The cane and gunshot wound were good touches considering what happened to Mr. Poopybutthole in his debut episode (“Total Rickall”).

Yondu Udonta from the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Judging by the headfin I’d say he’s Yondu circa Guardians of the Galaxy 2.

Also from Guardians of the Galaxy we have Gamorra and Starlord/Peter Quill.

Here’s a really good Predator. I all the detail he put into his costume but I feel he cheated using a bodysuit.

Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke from DC Comics. Good job with her costume especially with the face mask but I really wish she included weapons for props.

Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins is another movie I never actually had the chance to see. I’ve never seen it pop up on TV and so far it hasn’t popped up on Hulu or Netflix, although with Disney+ coming soon I might soon be able to watch it there.

Jay and Silent Bob. Overall, they’re pretty good but I wish Silent Bob did a better job with his beard so people won’t notice that it’s fake.

Here’s two chicks dressed as Venom and Carnage. I really like who they painted the toothy smiles on their faces.

While walking around I caught this Harley Quinn sitting on the floor. I’m surprised they just let her sit there due to fire code. I’ve already mentioned in previous posts that unless they’re really good I’ve been passing on Harley Quinns since she’s been done to death but there was just something I really liked with her just sitting there that really caught my eye. In fact, it caught my eye so much that I insisted that she stayed seated rather than get up.

I’m really glad I took her photo. I mean I took a lot of people posing trying to emulate their characters but I have almost no photo that give off a behind the scenes feel to things and if I want my site to stand out more I feel I need more of those.

Gohan’s alter ego Saiyaman from Dragon Ball Z. I was really into DBZ as a kid but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to watch too much of it growing up because I didn’t have Cartoon Network so I couldn’t watch Toonami but last I checked they were on Hulu so hopefully they’ll stay there long enough for me to binge watch it

Here’s a cosplayer I met known as Disfusional on Instagram doing really good Mad Moxxi from Borderlands. When I found her, she was taking a break because she had 7″ heels as part of her costume and her feet were killing her from wearing them. I feel fortunate that she was willing to stand up and pose for me. I told her it was okay and that she could just sit but she insisted to on standing as long as I don’t’ get pictures of her feet.

Here are members of the Teen Titans. Raven and Beast Boy look good but Robin and who I’m assuming is Starfire is a bit halfassed.

Here’s a modern take on Frozone from the Incredibles.

Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar from Wayne’s World. Honestly, I’m surprised they chose to do this because Wayne’s World was from so long ago.

Ripley and who I’m assuming is fellow Nostromo crewmember, Lambert trying to fight off a newborn Alien. Also, did you notice that Freddy Mercury is the one wearing a facehugger.

Dr. Otto Scratchansniff and Ralph T. Guard from Animaniacs. The Animaniacs, and Pinky and the Brain in the in a net was a really good prop for these 2.

Matt Murdock from the Netflix Daredevil series. I feel really bad that they just upped and canceled that it. Although hopefully they’ll add it to the Disney+ streaming service.

Jeannie from the I Dream of Jeannie series from the ’60s.

An Ursula the Sea Witch from the Little Mermaid. I wonder if Little Mermaid is on the list of live action Disney remakes.

Going to close this post out with a Pennywise from the It remake from 2017. The trailer for It: Chapter 2 just dropped and I am really excited for that.

Thanks for checking out this tis and hopefully my other posts from the 2019 C2E2. Don’t forget to check back soon because I still have my stuff from Wondercon Anaheim to put up.