dividing my time

At aod I had an amazing time on Sunday just taking photos. my cosplay on Saturday was great but I was so tired on Sunday so i just didn't wear a costume. I got to be Julia's (bubydub's) pack mule and therefore had access to her camera. In the evening we had the most wonderful shoot in the dark. Here are some of my favorite shots of her in her Yuna costume:






I am not at all an expert on photography, but those look really good, right?! Shooting cosplayers has actually always been something I like to do at conventions. Even in 2007 I shot My friend Rosie in her Anthy Himemiya costume. some of the pictures were so amazing. Even in 2006 I was taking great cosplay pictures. Rosie and I were bored at JTAF4 and so we decided to take a few pictures around the Peace Pagoda. She in her Hinata costume and Me in my Kiba. Here's two of the pictures I took:


They aren't as good at the Yuna ones but I still think they are cool.

So, my point is that I love to photograph cosplayers almost as much as I like to cosplay myself. I am thinking that when I get older (maybe in like 5 years or something) I am going to divide my con time into cosplaying and shooting. I have a lot of really complicated costumes I want to do later (I just have to get a lot of costumes out of the way first). I think what I will want to do is to go to a lot of conventions and debut a new complicated costume at every one or every other one. I'll wear my costume for a day and then the other days or in my spare time I will just shoot. I am really liking this plan. Hit me up in 5 years if you want a free photoshoot!

Moleskine

This post pertains more to my individual style of thought rather than cosplay.

A few months ago I bought a pocket sized Moleskine ruled notebook. I love it. I have such random lists going in there. I have a random list of thing that I think help define American culture and another list of pokemon in Diamond and Pearl that give different effort values. It is no where near full and I am excited every time I write something else in it. Anyway, the most important purpose I think it serves is to get thoughts out of my head. Tonight I was trying to read in the library and all I could think about was ideas for an experimental photoshoot I want to do in my Volbeat cosplay. I could focus on my reading at all and so I pulled out my Moleskine from my backpack and wrote down my ideas and started a new page for other photoshoot ideas. Once it was on paper I felt relieved that I would not forget it and therefore my brain could get back into Grotowski's method of actor training (soo strange btw). I love not having a cluttered brain, Thank you Moleskine.

(Post-its are also very beneficial when used in conjunction with a Moleskine. They make great temporary additions to lists and whatnot.)

Volbeat Progress

Yesterday I worked on my pattern for my Volbeat Gijinka cosplay. I have been wanting to start to since I got back from aod but I hadn't yet had a chance. This is how the amazingness happened: I did a few quick measurements and then I got out my cheap ass-fabric and drew out a pattern for the body of the jacket. I cut it out, sewed it together and when I put it on, IT WAS NEAR PERFECT!!!! I had to make a few adjustments to the bottom part but the chest and shoulders were almost exactly how I wanted them!!! I am very happy about this and I think it must mean I am getting much better at making patterns for my own body. I can't wait to finish this costume!

I really need to get back to work on Nathalie's Chidori costume. hmmm. maybe after I finish Volbeat.

First Post!

I am starting this blog because I need an outlet! Whenever I want to talk about cosplay I am really really distracted until I can get my thoughts out of my head!!!

1st thing! my name

Leuda, the city of the Selkie race in Final Fantasy:Crystal Chronicles. To the rocky cliffs of a desert island the rest of the world pushed the Selkies. They had different values and ideals. The Selkie's live in a very different way than all of the other races and for that they are condemned to the barren Wasteland of Leuda. This is where I live. This is where all people who are different live. We are forced to the edges of society because we do not agree with the standard practices of life. Here I stand, amongst my people - the cosplayers, nerds, artists, gays, and hippies of society - in the land where we are the norm.

The Fool. Merriam Webster's Dictionary definine's the fool as: "a retainer formerly kept in great households to provide casual entertainment and commonly dressed in motley with cap, bells, and bauble" - among other things. To provide entertainment for myself and those around me is definitely a goal but It is the function of the Shakespearean Fool that really interests me. Shakespearean Fools "are usually clever peasants or commoners that use their wits to outdo people of higher social standing." Now, doesn't this sound like it goes very well with the modern phrase, "stick it to the man" ? I may not be the smartest student at UC Berkeley or even a very good conversationalist but you better believe that I will use all my brainpower to prove to the rest of the world that what I do is beautiful and worth recognition.

I am the Fool of Leuda.