Tampa Bay Comic-Con 2014, Pt 1

Sorry this took so long, guys; I like editing cosplay pics so much that I saved it for when I was feeling better. And then, of course, there were a LOT more photos than I remember taking. o.0

So let's get to it!

Lilith from Borderlands 2 - which John is playing AGAIN. Heh.

[Click any pic to embiggen]

Tampa Bay Comic-Con is almost exactly like Mega Con here in Orlando: it's held in a massive, beautiful convention center, and I'd guess the attendance is also in the 60,000+ range. So, BIG, but also managed well enough that the crowds aren't too suffocating.

You may remember Hipster Elsa from my Super Con post - but this time Christie got her sister Robyn in on the act, too! (Yes, they're sisters - cosplaying sisters. LOVE.)

There's plenty of parking around the center, thank goodness, although we accidentally ended up parking a good 4 blocks away, just because we didn't know exactly where the building was. Heh. Tickets were only $20 each (yay!) and there was no line at ALL by the time we arrived late morning - and this was on Saturday! Can I get a "Awww yeeeeeah"??

Any Steam Powered Giraffe fans in the house? I got to see the band live for the first time last week, so I'm still jazzed.

One caveat to Tampa Bay's goodness: While we had no issues ourselves, I did notice a LOT of yelling and angry convention workers around, one even screaming at a woman in costume, "You wanna go to JAIL??" all because she tried to walk someplace they didn't want her to. o.0

The security seemed to think bellowing at us was helping, but I never could make out what they were saying, or where they wanted us to go. It made walking anywhere outside the vendor hall pretty tense, and seems indicative of the growing problem conventions are having with their hired security. Get it together, peeps!

Ok, think that's all you need to know about the con itself, so on with the cosplay!

YOU GUYS. Princess Jedis... and Belle is reading the Shakespearean Star Wars!! Ha!

Of course John - er, I mean Dreamfinder, had to get a photo with them:

John and I meet so many cool people at conventions that it's hard to tell which ones are readers, which like our costumes/t-shirts, and which are just being friendly. I've learned to never assume, and I don't ask unless the person calls us by name. Anyway, all that to say: Belle is a reader! Hi, Belle!

Now, check out the AMAZING leather pouch that she carved & painted herself!

AMAZEBALLS.

This is actually a vendor:

... but sadly I don't think she was selling that adorable Soot Sprite headband. :)

Cinderella's evil step...brothers!

They're wearing bustles. YES. 

Just realized I don't think I've ever seen a gender-swapped Cinderella. Hmm - and how great would it be to see all the princesses 'swapped together? I'll have to hope for a Dragon Con group this year.

[Note: Some of you have pointed out my photo of the princess guys from DC, but I meant a more creative, re-imagined gender-swap like these two; not just guys wearing dresses. ;)]

 One my favorites of the day:

Do you recognize her? And how about that book?

Here, I'll help:

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!

One of the most beautiful Wonder Women I've seen:

And a fab Doctor trio:

It's always fun when a cosplayer surprises me, like this Sander Cohen, who really got into character for the shot:

Perfect!

And since I'm guessing a lot of you don't know the character:

 

If I had unlimited time I would start a cosplay blog with all side-by-side comparison shots of the characters. So many times you just can't appreciate the cosplayer's work without a reference!

Anytime I'm at a convention - but especially when John's in costume - I've learned to be hyper aware of cameras pointed in my direction. If I can't get out of the way, then I've learned to either turn my back or at least turn my face, so I'm not looking at the camera.

Why?

Because creepy photo bombs are creepy:

I get these a lot; people in the background innocently(?) looking our way as I'm taking a photo, and which are too difficult to photoshop out. (There's one behind the blue Beetlejuice girl, too.)

Obviously you can't always get out of the way - especially on a crowded convention floor -  but when possible, at least try to turn your head. Looking at the camera robs focus from the cosplayer - and could also majorly creep out the photographer when she's sorting through her pics later. :D

And for my fellow photogs: this is why you always take 2 or 3 photos!

Phew!

Plus there's better light on her face in this shot, anyway. :)

I'll end with some adorableness from Cosplayers, The Next Generation:

When I asked for their photo these two immediately grabbed each other's hands... and then I melted from teh cute. D'awwwww.

LOTS more gorgeous cosplay coming up tomorrow, so be sure to check back!