As I stated previously on my creation of my Mewtwo Scientist cosplay, I've had mixed views on past cons due to the stress of wanting to cosplay like others, the anxious thoughts I get when things don't go as I'd sorta hoped and the fact it's so crowded now that I feel a bit claustrophobic. But despite all that, I still push myself to go so that I can build confidence, social self esteem and see the people that I know wish to see me too - and now I can learn to photograph them like the pros as well!
My journey up for my Comic-Con Weekend involved getting a lift from Kathy / Snow White, Jack / Spider-Man and Matt / Steam Punk dude. A storm chucked it down in the morning as Dad gave me a lift to Kathy's then shortly after a checklist, we headed off and had a smooth drive up to the Excel Centre where she parked and we made our way into the Con.
It was completely understandable on how tight security was since the Manchester incident which is why bag searches were essential (can't imagine a catastrophe happening at Con too). But after passing through, the others wanted to grab some food before we started wondering around the stalls.Whilst we were wondering around, I was stopping sometimes to get selfies and photograph some cool cosplayers. Think the others kept losing me briefly like a child inside a big toy shop.
I wasn't expecting for Alex / Green Ranger and Summer / Velvet Crowe to find me so soon just before 11am ha. I was surprised but also pleased that Summer and I exchanged numbers since the 4G signal is bad at Con for communication. I got a selfie with those two before thy headed off to do the photo shoot with some of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. I'd see them again anyway in a bit outside.
And I photographed some more people around the stalls.
At 11:55am, I said bye to my friends to head outside to see if I could find any others. Luckily I spotted my amazing photographer mate Tony whom I met back at February's LAGC. I love how polite and knowledgeable he is as a person and on Photography.He took some shots of me and I explained how I'd be photographing today with different settings and how I'd been getting on since I last saw him. I aim to spend a session with him in the Summer doing a class of his to get better and more confident so I can be like him someday!
Very shortly afterwards, I spotted Richard / Ryu and Vicky / Chun-Li who I met last year and are both powerful fighters.
I asked to take some shots with them since they could do action shots like the characters from Street Fighter. Loved seeing them again and I aimed to try again later or tomorrow. I even turned Richard into a GIF ha ha.
I remembered at 12:30pm that their would be a Pokémon Photo Shoot near the statue area which I found easily and this time chose to participate in. A few people commented on my cosplay and were pleased to see my character at the shoot.I'm really amazed with myself for joining in and posing specifically in many group shots and a battle scene even with a Giovanni (Team Rocket leader from Pokémon who created Mewtwo - my character).
I even ended up encountering James / Arcanine during our battle picture and afterwards we caught up since College and I took a picture of him and his gf who was Ninetails before popping off and catching up briefly.
Tara / Sonya Blade and Kyle / Super Mario 
Like last year, I found Ash / Zelda and Ben / Link by the tree "Photography" area. I'm pleased that I got to catch up with them briefly and tried to get some quick shots of them whilst the sun did shine bit too bright, but progress is progress. Might have better luck tomorrow when they would be Link and Zelda again for the Zelda Cosplay World Record event.
I also spotted Tony again doing a Final Fantasy shoot with Marc / THE Cloud Strife and asked for a pic during Tony's shoot. I even met Hannah / Tifa Lockhart and an accurate Aeris and Sephiroth too!
Surprisingly but in an Awesome way. Nicole and her friend Jade asked for me to do a shoot for them in the hotel room. I was honoured and was happy to help them.
Afterwards they got dressed and we headed back near the Excel centre where Fox@Excel pub is and is the place to be after Con. I popped in with them briefly before deciding to call it a day at 21:15pm since it would be 1hr30/45mins journey home. They thanked me for the shoot earlier and said we'd meet again tomorrow.
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As for Sunday, I decided to come up in normal clothing to feel more comfortable but didn't end up leaving the house till 10:30am and arriving at Con near 12:50pm *D'Oh*!
And then I spotted Ash and Ben again (Ben was Link) and Ash was this time cosplaying Paya from the new LoZ Breath Of The Wild.
I wondered about the Photography area after Ash and the others went in to buy stuff. I spotted Tony again and said Hi briefly why he was photographing other cosplayers. I asked if it was okay to join in and take shots too (not to steal his thunder or anything). I met and took a couple pics of Sophie / Cindy Aurum (she's a cool Graphics Designer) whom I'm sure will help me achieve my Photography Logo later this month ^-^
I found Marc again after he was done shooting with Tony and I bumped into the same Sephiroth from yesterday and thought up a clash shoot with them both.I'm really proud of myself for co-ordinating them both and trying different angles to help get that same fight sequence from the original game and film sequel.
When I get better at Photoshop and Portrait focussing, I have ideas for them both to make an awesome pictures hopefully! Thank you Lee for taking pics of me as well!
Afterwards Marc and Lee / Deadpool invited me to join them in the Fox for a drink. I'm really pleased that I took them up on that offer since no one was getting back to me and I acted spontaneous that I really enjoy myself for the next 2 hours with those 2 and the others that followed.
We went downstairs in the Fox where the MAGO Cafe where we met maids and had a couple drinks which really helped me relax and get to know the guys as we ate small cakes and felt right at home with the maid's hospitality and service! Lee and Calum tried playing games against the Maids like card tricks and Connect 4 because if they beat all 4 maids own game choice then they could win one of the anime prize figurines, which they both got their butts kicked hilariously.
Alas, I had to head off but not before sharing hugs and agreeing to catch them all again in the summer, for sure!
As the dark clouds gathered and rain sprinkled down near the end of Con, I managed to find Summer, Alex and meet Estelle again who was Experiment 626 "Stitch" and I also met Jess / Aranea Highwind (which I sadly missed her in cosplay and will try again next Con).
And I did get to see Alex and Summer (despite missing them for the morning in their epic armour, always next time!) And I did spot the biggest and coolest armour cosplay of all MCM, a fantastically accurate Power Armour from Fallout 4 by Mr-Z Cosplay!
My long 2hr journey home was long but I was heading home with a smile on my face and a satisfied heart full of happiness and bliss after seeing all my friends and making new ones after a more successful and less stressful Comic-Con than past mixed feelings at previous ones.
It helped that Mum and Dad cleared up the remnants of the anxious feelings I had within me and helped me understand hence forth on how valued I am and how happy everyone was to see me again and to stop thinking I'm a burden or that their just being nice. They would have told me ages ago if their was a problem. So I should from now on and this ties into my mixed feelings I explained in my Facebook Post, I should be happy with whoever keeps in touch and make the most of when I see my con friends and remember how much they loved me photographing them and catching up!
So thanks to that and how good this and last week has been busy with slight editing and watermarking just over 200 pictures from MCM Comic-Con May 2017 and tagging my friends and their pages, I have been ecstatic and been blown away by the support and love I got back from everyone on Sunday when I FINALLY uploaded my Con pictures to my really long delayed Facebook Photography Page!I also learnt last week on how to add my watermark quicker instead of spending late night all week choosing where to position my watermark per photo ha. Lesson learnt and I look forward to more photography with friends and to keep getting better for myself and to help others too! I love you guys and thank you for making this MCM Comic-Con a milestone in my life and making my feelings rise up higher than ever before!!
Can't believe that since Oct 2016 when I achieved 50K and now it's doubled all the way till now (and the day before my 24th Birthday too) :3 My blog is more than a little project, it's for me to express myself, make my feelings become viral and review memories and things I love.
And most importantly, it's a place for friends and people with Aspergers can learn a little about me and understand the condition better. And it's also a place for me to grow and learn after every post to help me live my life and keep being the Josh that everyone knows and loves! I thank you all so so so much for helping me reach this achievement!
I think this year, I might write up a post on what it's like to write up on the blog to commemorate this achievement! Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart! <3
check this joker costume
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