Tag: photos

Photos: Dragon*Con 2014 – Sunday

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

In spite of all of the mad rushing and hard work put into the weeks and days prior to the coming of this year’s D*C, there was a surreal moment on Sunday morning when I woke up, and thought to myself, “is it really Sunday already?”  Needless to say, the weekend quite literally felt like it flew by way too fast, and there was that melancholy feeling of wanting to see as many people as I could during the day, and to empty out my cooler as expediently as possible before the end of the convention.

And after feeling like I had too tiny a number of photos taken on Saturday, I really wanted to spend a good chunk of Sunday doing what I really enjoy doing the most; simply walking around and taking pictures.  Eventually the daylight hours gave away to night, and as has been something of a thing I’ve enjoyed doing, felt the compulsion to dress nicely.

Really, I just wanted to wear my wingtip shoes, that there is probably zero photo evidence of anywhere out there, but if I was going to wear wingtips, I needed to dress accordingly to match it.  Which brings us to the suit vest and tie.  I LIKE TO DRESS NICE, OKAY?

Continue reading “Photos: Dragon*Con 2014 – Sunday” →

Photos: Dragon*Con 2014 – Fifth Age Taric summary

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

More than a few times, I ran into a few League of Legends costumers the following day, and picked up conversations with them, before I came to the realization that they had no idea who I was, and that I was probably some weirdo.  Well, they’re correct in the weirdo assessment, but more than once I pretty much realized that they didn’t recognize me, and I had to remind them that I was the “Pink Taric from earlier.”

Overall, I was very pleased at how well received Armor of the Fifth Age Taric was from people, especially League fans, and it was admittedly nice to be in a costume that could legitimately rival the vastly more aesthetically pleasing looking women that I was privileged to be grouped up with in terms of popularity and cult following.  It’s like for every rando dude who just wanted a picture of hot chicks in tight costumes, there would be like two legit Taric fans to sing my praises about how truly truly outrageous my costume was.  No disrespect to the ladies, but this is somewhat of a new sensation for me.

Continue reading “Photos: Dragon*Con 2014 – Fifth Age Taric summary” →

Photos: Dragon*Con 2014 – Saturday

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

Saturday’s gallery is vastly smaller than what a normal Saturday gallery should be, but that’s entirely due to the fact that I myself was in costume for a good part of the late-afternoon into the evening hours.  Now as much fun as I had being Fifth Age Taric, I’d be the first to admit that I spotted a lot of things that I’d really liked to have taken pictures of, had I not been in costume.  And Taric’s not exactly the kind of costume where I could sneak a point-and-shoot with me to take some B-roll shots, since both my hands are occupied in costume.

Regardless, most of Saturday’s highlights are lots of League of Legends costumes; I wandered around the gigantic group shot area outside of the Hilton, and waited out the group pictures, since to be perfectly honest, I hate taking pictures of monstrously sized groups, preferring more to take pictures of individuals or in small pairs or troikas.

Not saying there’s no pictures of things not LoL-related, but it’s pretty obvious to what has and is my preferred subject to take pictures of.

Continue reading “Photos: Dragon*Con 2014 – Saturday” →

Photos: Dragon*Con 2014 – Friday

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

Admittedly, and embarrassingly, I admit that I spent the vast majority of Friday morning/afternoon dealing with a rager of a hangover from the previous night’s shenanigans.  That being said, I kind of felt like I didn’t take nearly as many pictures as I normally do at a D*C, but at the same time, I was wondering if there were many things that me personally, wanted to take pictures of.

I’m not saying that what was out there was utter garbage, but it’s no secret that the unofficial rule of costuming is that the big guns come out on Saturday; Fridays are like for the secondary tier of costumes, or something along those lines.  After all, I can attest to having more than one conversation with friends and acquaintances that echo such a sentiment.

Regardless, there was still plenty of things to take pictures of, and again I’ll have to remark about how I’m disappointed in myself for being so negligent and unpracticed to have gone the entire weekend with my new camera and new lens operating without the image stabilization that an amateur like me probably really needs.

Continue reading “Photos: Dragon*Con 2014 – Friday” →

Photos: Dragon*Con 2014 – Thursday

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

So, this picture kind of sums up my personal Dragon*Con Thursday night experience.  Once the bourbon started to flow, it literally was like an hour before I hit the deck in a well, regrettable fashion.  I know this thanks to the timestamps on the photographs of the night, several of them that I have absolutely no recollection of being taken.

I am apparently a very affectionate drunk with an affinity for attempting Blue Steel.

A little bit of backstory however: about 45 minutes after I had unloaded all of my personal effects and finally settled into my hotel room, I came to the realization that my messenger bag was nowhere to be found.  Said messenger bag contained my camera, my iPad, and one of those long-forgotten devices known as a netbook in it.  Close to roughly $1,200 of electronics in it.

Continue reading “Photos: Dragon*Con 2014 – Thursday” →

A Dragon*Con with an objective

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

In spite of the self-imposed painstaking efforts I’ve undertaken throughout the last three years in doing League of Legends costumes at Dragon*Cons, I’ve never really gone to a D*C in the past with any sort of objective or goal in mind.  Usually, everything is up in the air, and all I really want is to walk around, take a bunch of pictures, and for one day, get in my own costume, before devolving into a night of drinking and partying and hanging out on all the nights.  I don’t care about guests, I don’t care about celebrities, panels, exhibitors or just about everything that is boasted being present at the convention.

As I’m sure I’ve said before, it really makes me wonder why I’m so eager and willing to drop exorbitant amounts of money on lodging, food, booze and parking, for what’s essentially a weekend of hanging out.

Probably, because it’s a weekend of hanging out, and I really enjoy simply hanging out.  The grandest stage for what’s essentially one giant convenient excuse to hang out with friends and acquaintances from near and far.

Continue reading “A Dragon*Con with an objective” →

Mission: Camera Upgrade Recoup – intro

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

In the (paraphrased) words of the great Dave Hester: YUUUP.  There’s money to be made, as long as you’re willing to put forth the effort.

I just bought a new camera.  I am now excitedly anticipating its arrival, and I look forward to it being my primary equipment when I travel to conventions, baseball parks, and any other social events where having a camera might be a good idea.

My current, soon to be former camera is a Canon EOS Rebel T3 (1100D).  I have enjoyed it, I think I’ve taken a few good pictures with it, and it’s been a great introductory piece of equipment into my foray as a stereotypical Azn Guy With A Big Camera, but I think I was pining for a change.  Not that I’m some great photographer, heaven’s no, I’m the first person to deny the title of “photographer,” but I did feel that the T3 was beginning to constrict my ambitions as a person who likes to take pictures.  So I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for a potential upgrade.

Continue reading “Mission: Camera Upgrade Recoup – intro” →