It’s been almost 2 weeks since STGCC. I’ve got everything ready to post about it; The few photos and the content I want to write all in point form in my mind. Yet, I simply lost the motivation to write anything. I’m not sure if it’s just laziness or just a burnout. Like LianYL’s burnout. Do the man a favour and take a look at the stuff he’s trying to clear.
Alright, back to the event. STGCC 2009 has been the event which I spent the shortest time at. Usually, when I head to such events related to cosplay and other aspects of geek/otaku culture, I’d be there pretty early an stay till closing time, or at least near to it.
They don’t bother if you have a DSLR now, you need to have epic gear if you want those in costume to look in your way
With the brief time spent at STGCC 2009 on Saturday, I only have a couple of things to say.
It’s great that the organisers of the event heeded the advice and complaints from last year’s event. The event now has more breathing space now that it occupies double the area. No more squeezing through a mass of bodies just to move from one booth to another, or to exit. This really improved the overall event experience.
Besides the artists’ area, I was pretty much bored at the event. The highlights of the day for me included having a short conversation with Troy, the dude behind The Resident Tourist, and bumping into a lecturer at the event. Both of them were totally unexpected.
I wasn’t expecting myself to buy anything that day, since there was nothing much that interested me except some art pieces that were pretty much out of my budget. Just as I was prepared to leave, I spotted some copies of The Resident Tourist laid out at a booth. I missed out on the first 2 copies which are out of stock at Kinokuniya the last time I checked, so it was a great opportunity to grab them all. Apparently, volume 4’s coming out in the first-half of 2010. I can’t wait.
As for my lecturer, he called out to me while I was wondering around. I was pretty surprised to see him. Thankfully, despite having 2 papers lined up on the following Tuesday, I didn’t have any modules by him this semester. Imagine meeting a lecturer at a toy, game and comic convention when you should be studying for his module’s exam with is right up in a couple of days. It’ll be awkward.
Sandtrooper gets molested
There was this area to the right of the stage with really good lighting specially set up for photo taking. It was a real pity that only a few in costume hung around the area. The rest of the cosplayers were all outside where the lighting was inferior.
The area outside of the hall was congested due to the horde of photographers and cosplayers present. With such congestion, I didn’t want to stay around, let alone take photos. I really hate congested spots and need lots of space. I only took a couple of photos before leaving the area. There wasn’t much to keep me at the event ground.
Count the DSLRs
While I understand that the convention is somewhat an everyone and anyone type of event, I felt that this year’s event was a total bore. Last year’s one wasn’t too bad as it was riding on the novelty factor before AFA popped up. I might just skip next year’s STGCC if everything remains more or less the same.
Truth be told, I skipped this year’s STGCC and spent time with my family on our ranch instead.
Looking at the proliferation of DSLRs and the mommies and daddies and whatnot, (as seen in your epic photo evidence above) I have given up on events photography altogether.
The real trend, now, are the following:
1. Some photographers get to know some cosplayers more closely, and both the photographer and the cosplayer would go on a private photoshoot and take photos. That’s how some photographers (both you and I knew *wink wink*) develop their signature photo work.
2. Others treat events like this as nothing more than just that: events. The idea is to take photos of events “as it happens.” That is, stay for the duration of the event, take as many photos as possible that are of interest, and then post up the ones that are really interesting. It’s not for the impatient, though.
3. Some quit the events photog scene altogether, and move to other areas/genres of photography, where the saturation of photographers are diffused out. (Try taking pictures with a wide-angle lens for a more “general” viewpoint. Granted, though, I have yet to hear of lens rental for Sony alpha systems in Singapore.)
What I learned from Cosfest, is that talking to the cosplayers makes a difference. That, or try taking stealth photos.
Heh. I’ve still yet to post my measly takes.
Yeah, event photography is a b***h. I resigned myself to the lone cosplayers away from the maddening crowd. It didn’t help that other halls on the same level and below had events of their own, thereby limiting roaming space.
>> What I learned from Cosfest, is that talking to the cosplayers makes a difference.
True. And then other photogs crowd you.
>> That, or try taking stealth photos.
As much as that is my forte, I wouldn’t reccomend it at events. Don’t want to make cosplayers/photogs look bad.
MrMayat, hurry and get your stuff up!
don’t just count the no. of DSLRs, count the no. of expensive flashes and flash diffuser as well.
I count at least 25 DSLR’s…
The sandtrooper was the only spectacular for this event.