Monday, September 9, 2013

Dragon Con '13: The Best Cosplay, Part 2!

Time for more Dragon Con insanity!

But don't worry; it's always GOOD insanity. 

See?


Like that.


Tell me this next girl doesn't make you want to stand up and cheer. TELL ME:


Hope for humanity... growing...

And then there's this adorableness:


It is SO DARK on the bottom floor of the Marriott, but luckily these girls' natural geeky brilliance manages to shine through. (They weren't even together, either; they just found each other in the crowd!)

I'm almost afraid to ask, since I feel like I SHOULD know (it's a cartoon character, right?) and because I know the first 10 comments are going to tell me, but... who is this?

[UPDATE: "Your unknown purple monster is Eduardo from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends." Thanks, Molly!]


I don't know if these two were posing or legitimately konked out, but either way, this is how you feel after a full day (and night!) of DC:



And now, the kind of cosplay mashup genius only Dragon Con seems to bring:

 Harley Wendy with a Joker Ronald McDonald. 
GENIUS, I say.


Oh, hey, looks like I DID get a shot of those Spartans:

If you listen closely, you can almost hear their abs rippling.

This robot was massive - nearly 10 feet tall, I think? - but I couldn't seem to catch him standing still:

 I'm sure this must be the same builder responsible for the trio of robots last year, but I like how he gave it a coppery steampunk vibe this time. The purple lights were perfect with it, too. (You can embiggen any of these pics by clicking on them, btw!)

Some amazing armor:

 

A super sweet Vanellope:




And a massive Versailles-style gown:
There were three other ladies in gowns like these who entered the costume contest Friday night. They were themed to the seasons, and just as stunning. I'll have pics of them in my next post, so watch for that.

And now, I give you: JEDI DISNEY PRINCESSES:

This is probably based on one of the many Jedi Princesses art pieces out there, but I can't figure out which one. Anyone know? [Update: from Jedi Ariel herself, they were inspired by Pushfighter's series on DA. Thanks, Ariel!]

I initially chased down these Dandelion girls thinking they were from Pushing Daisies, but it turns out they're from the movie Epic - "but the same idea," they told me:


From the neck up they really are identical to the girls from Pushing Daisies, right down to the petals used for eyelashes!


I wonder what they used for the head stalks? I can't tell from the photo.


Next up, if you recognize these three then you must be a child of the 80s like me:


Lady Lovely Locks! 

(Sorry 'bout the awful pic - it really was the best I could do! :/)

Oooh, now I want to see a group do Rose Petal Place. (Anyone remember them? Kind of the poor girl's Strawberry Shortcake?)


I saved my two favorite cosplay shots for last, since I had so much fun editing them. First, a fantastic Booker:



In the madness that is DC it's often impossible to get a good one-on-one shot with a cosplayer, much less several. If you stand on the center bridges from the main floor to the elevators in the Marriott, though, there's enough breathing room to line up some nice shots without blocking traffic. I camped out there for a bit, darting into the fray to recruit cosplayers passing by to follow me back for a photo. Anyway, I was lucky enough to catch this guy walking through, and he was a real pro at posing:


I made sure to get the back of his hand in at least one shot, because look what's carved there, Infinite fans! (LOVE.) It's so much fun doing shoots like this, I can't even tell you. I wish I had three minutes with proper lighting & space with every cosplayer.


And finally, hang on to your socks, because... SPOCK!


I was positively GIDDY taking this shot, since he was taking a break on the stairs in perfect posing position. It's a good thing he was seated, too, because I saw him standing later and he is reeeeally tall. (Ok, so everyone is tall compared to my five-foot self, but still.)

Anyway, is he not Leonard Nimoy's doppelgänger?

That shot is my favorite by far, but I also skipped up the stairs beside him and grabbed this profile angle:


At this point I reached my photo-editing capacity and had to take another breather, but I think I'll be able to squeeze the rest of my favorites into my next and final DC post. [Home stretch - phew!]

I'm also not posting everything here - just my favorites - so if you want to see ALL of my shots just head over to my DC Flickr gallery

Many thanks to all of the cosplayers here for letting us share in the fun! Oh, and if you spot your photo here, please say hi in the comments - ideally with a link back to your own site or photo album!

73 comments:

  1. Your unknown purple monster is Eduardo from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.

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    1. I love that someone cosplayed as Eduardo!! Man, I miss Foster's -- that's one of my all-time favorite cartoons. There wasn't a character I *didn't* love =). Someone should cosplay as Coco!

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    2. The first season of Fosters is on Netflix. I highly recommend it to those who haven't see it.

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    3. I <3 Eduardo and Foster's Home!

      WrenandStitchy...I was planning on going as Coco for my next Dallas Comicon...and having Easter eggs in hidden compartments to hand out to kids or anyone who "gets" who I am. :) It'll probably be next year, but plenty of time to gather eggs lol.

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    4. I seriously flipped out when I saw this Eduardo cosplay. It was fabulous.

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  2. Agreeing with Molly, above. Purple monster is Eduardo from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. He's muy adorable with his Spanglish and love of potatoes. :)

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  3. Eduardo is my favorite from Foster's Home! What a cute show. :) So sad I missed you and John this year. Maybe in 2014. :)

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  4. That last Booker shot is amazing. There's just something about the angle and how he seems to be leaning in. The lines seem "off" enough that it captures the dizziness/headiness of game world to me.

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    1. Thanks, Karen! I actually thought the same thing, which is why I stopped short of trying to straighten the angles out. I like the bit of dizziness.

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    2. Pretty much this, I'm dying to know who he is and when we're getting married. Oh my.

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    3. @Mandy, would you be willing to share? He is hot!!

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    4. I have developed a severe case of InstaCrush on that Booker. WHEW!

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    5. Holy cannoli. That Booker can out-smolder Flynn Rider. Pardon me, I must look at him again and swoon dramatically across my fainting couch.

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  5. Heh. Love the Harley Wendy & Joker Ronald McDonald.

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  6. Jen, every year you share your photos and every year I wish I could go. LOL I'm way up in PA so can't see that happening any time soon. SO, thanks for sharing your photos and your thoughts! Love seeing them and love having you back :)

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  7. A friend of mine made a Pushing Daisies dandelion girl costume for Halloween a couple years back. She used toilet brushes to make the hat. :)

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  8. The person who made the dandelion costumes is active on the Costuming Track Facebook page and posted a couple pictures even before con, if you want to know how she did it you can probably reach her there!!

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  9. Holy doodoo Booker Cosplayer is GORGEOUS. *swoon* Lovely shots! I'm looking forward to seeing the rest!!

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  10. Wow - that Spock is brilliant! He's got just the right face and has this silent gravity... Great find!

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  11. That Armor is Sandor Clegane, The Hound from Game of Thrones! That is so awesome!
    - Michelle

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  12. I look forward to your DC posts every year and these are just amazing! So amazing in fact that my man and I have decided that we have to attend next year! We are in MA so it will be a fun getaway...now we have a year to figure out costumes!

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  13. I must have been at a completely different con than you, I didn't see many of these costumes. Or maybe I just need to open my eyes more. I did see Spock though, and he was awesome.

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    Replies
    1. Believe me, DC is so huge that almost everyone there sees a different con! That's why I love all the cosplay slideshows; very few repeats!

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  14. Umm...those Spartans? They may trump my daughter as my computer background.

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  15. Oh Booker, you certainly know what a woman likes! I can't wait to get my hands all over your...
    WEAPON!!!
    I mean, yeah, the guy's cute, but that melee hook is Just. Freaking. Impressive.

    Where in the holy heck did he get that kick-butt weapon/prop?! Is there a place online that sells that prop or (Jen) do you happen to know if the guy made it himself? I absolutely LOVED using that weapon in the game; I think it's actually one of my top 5 melee weapons in any fighting game, ever.

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    Replies
    1. You're in luck: the sky hooks ARE for sale, and officially licensed, at that! I just did a quick search and found one for $180 on Amazon, but only $80 here on Game Stop's site. Not sure why it's so much cheaper there, so do a little research before you buy one!

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  16. Wow - Lady Lovely Locks...that takes me back! And, Rose Petal place was sooooo much cooler than Strawberry Shortcake - I loved that movie (still have it on Beta, in fact). I also still have a Lily Fair charm from when I was a kid. I always thought it was too precious to wear.
    As always, thanks for posting your great pics and telling us all about the fun. These are some of my favorite posts!

    Sara Kay

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  17. literally gasped at the Jedi Disney Princesses. beautiful!
    Rose Petal Place!! i thought my sister and i were the only ones who remembered it! we had the record and everything. so now i'm singing the song...
    -Vicki Jo

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  18. I loved Rose Petal Place! Named my first kitten Rose Petal and everything...

    I thought they were way cooler that SSC. And Herself the Elf was cool too.

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  19. Oh my god, I got to the Spartans and then my mind went completely blank and I just stared at them in kind of a primal barely-conscious state. Until I got to the positively hunky Booker. And now I'm thinking I have to go to Dragon Con next year.

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    Replies
    1. Definite eye candy, indeed! I mean, *LOOK* at them!

      :::drool:::

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    2. Who wants to go to Sparta with me? Yowza.

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  20. I still have a rose petal place doll lol (not in the original outfit sadly; the teenage fashion designer in me made sure of that). Also had herself the elf, she-rah, jem dolls, and my little ponies. All the fun stuff.
    So many clever and amazing costumes. Love the jedi princesses - that's something I'd want to do :)
    And oh damn, that booker is seriously *hot*.
    ~erin kristine

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  21. Lady Lovely Locks!!! I have been trying to remember what the name of that TV show/toys was for ages (I could picture it in my mind, but kept coming up blank lol!). So thanks for solving that mystery for me!

    That Spock is so awesome. All the costumes are really. And my, are there some hunky dudes there... *swoon*. Awesome pics as always Jen!

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  22. THANK YOU!!! I read the rose petal place books when I was younger but could never remember the name of them. I've been look for years trying to figure it out. Now my crazy can rest. And wow those dandelions are spot on. Very nice shots all around.

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  23. Great pics!

    HOWEVER, I have a (funny) bone to pick! ;)

    The "poor girl's Strawberry Shortcake"? THE POOR GIRL'S STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE??? No, no, my friend, Strawberry Shortcake was the poor girl's Rose Petal Place! LOVED those flowers! :) Had the lunchbox and everything!

    Pushing Daisies is exactly what I thought of when I saw those dandelions! lol

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    Replies
    1. LOL - no offense intended, of course! It's funny, really, because since Strawberry Shortcake was so much more popular, those dolls are relatively cheap on ebay now. Rose Petal Place dolls, on the other hand - which I think my parents bought on clearance somewhere - now demand more of a premium. Funny how things like that work out!

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    2. LOL No offense taken! All in good fun, of course. But now I am seriously wondering if I could pull off a Rose Petal costume... :)

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  24. I thought the same thing about the dandelions being from Pushing Daisies! They were my favorite part of the parade, and I ran into them on a lower level of the Hyatt and got some good shots. I was sad that no one had Pushing Daisies themed costumes. I almost went as Olive Snook.

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  25. In case no one else mentioned it, I believe the cool armor is The Hound from Game of Thrones and the lady in the big red dress is Julia Roberts' evil queen from Mirror Mirror! =) PS MORE PICS AND POSTS! Glad you are back!!!

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  26. I just got giddy nerd giggles over the Game of Thrones armor. THEY DON'T DO THE ARMOR RIGHT ON THE SHOW! ((calming breath)) I'm better now.

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  27. Jen, your con pics are always so amazing. I live in a pretty rural area of New York State, so getting to ANY kind of con is nearly impossible. Plus, my anxiety and terror of huge crowds would really hinder me. Thank you so so so so so much for making me feel like I'm there with you!!

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  28. Oh my. That Spock cosplay is my favorite cosplay ever I think. I love his uniform; wonder if it's homemade?

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  29. I think the dandelion hat piece was made with feather dusters, but that would get really expensive. I can't imagine how they got them to stay in place like that though.

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  30. Spock is my fave (or maybe that first subject holding her helmet(no I don't know what she's supposed to be), or maybe the adorable Daleks, or Harley and Ronald...), but that shot of -Booker is it?- with the cigar in his hand is awesome. Love it.

    Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends is absolutely brilliant. I was so sad when they got cancelled.

    I live vicariously through your Con posts, so I hope it takes more than one more post to get all your favorite shots in. If not, I'll satisfy myself with heading over to your Flickr gallery. One of these days I'll have my own Con pics to share (I hope!).

    -Just Andrea

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  31. You're a great photographer! Fist Bump!

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    1. Jen? Don't leave hangin' here!

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    2. My arm's getting tired here Jen!

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    3. Jen! C'mon! My arm's gonna snap off here! Just give me your fist!

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    4. Jen, Jen, PLEASE! Gimme a break! Give me your fist!!

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    5. Jen, you have no idea how much I'm hurtin' here. Please. Give. Me. Your. FIST.

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    6. I'VE GOT YOU :fistbump:

      -Booker

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    7. Thank you Booker! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go a Emrgency Room.

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    8. LOL - this is what I get for going a week between checking comments. D'OH. But at least you got a Booker fistbump out of it, MaryAnne, and I can't even TRY to compete with that.

      NOW... HI-FIVE!!

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  32. Just one thing....

    SPOCK!!!!!!!

    Makes up for Marina's witchy-ness, don't it? :D

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  33. I also thought the Dandelions were from Pushing Daisies. The world needs more Pushing Daisies.

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  34. You should really look into Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. Its designed for editing photos en mass, making it a time (and sanity) saver. I kick myself for not learning about it sooner. :)

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    1. Believe me, it's on my list! I'm doing sort of ok with PS now, but it really is PAINFULLY slow.

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  35. As one of those pictured, I really appreciate that someone posts these, improves them, and brings attention to the little details. I didn't get much camera time this year, so you kind of made my afternoon (I think it was rather early, one way or another) You also made me a bit better looking- thanks for the photo work.

    Regards,
    Booker DeWitt

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    1. Have you read the comments on here? You realize that people are proposing to you right?

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    2. Yeah, it's really good photo work!

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    3. So glad you like your shots, Booker! Yours were some of my favorite photos to work on, though it was really just a matter of bringing the light out. I can't take credit for the smolder. ;)

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    4. As one of many on here willing to marry you instantly, I have to compliment you on your costume... You nailed every little detail and you captured the feeling I got when playing BI. So perfect!

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  36. Lovely Lady Locks! I had that doll I really wanted the villain Duchess Ravenwaves I think. She had black hair and wore black and purple :p

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    1. I *loved* those dolls!! No one ever seems to remember them.

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  37. Lordy lord...some of the people here are gorgeous! The Harley Wendy and Joker Ronald are a little too perfect...kinda uncanny!

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  38. :O! Oh my gosh! Jen, I'm a big fan of your blogs, so i squeed seeing a picture of us Disney Jedi gals!!! Mini freak out!


    We were inspired by pushfighter on DeviantArt back in April. ( http://pushfighter.deviantart.com/). Each girl was then in charge of making their own costume design choices, so it's original design from inspiration.


    -"Ariel"

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  39. Ahoy! I saw Spock outside of the Trek Trivia panel, and yes, he was really tall. I'm about 6 foot, and he was head and shoulders over me. Really nice guy though, and stayed in character the whole time we were taking pictures.

    Also, Jen: My wife and I love your blog. A lot of your stuff is inspiration for us on our crafting adventures. After reading about your Lady Vadore costume, my wife decided to buck it up and go as a Ravenclaw student this year. She was almost completely screen accurate, hard to do when you're 6 months pregnant! Thanks for the blog.

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  40. I love the Lady Lovely Locks cosplay! My dog was named Lady Lovely Locks when I was growing up, and I was beginning to feel like the only one who remembered that show.

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  41. Thank you SO much for sharing the picture of my friends and I as Lady Lovely Locks! I've been looking everywhere trying to find a photograph.

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  42. The dalek golden dress is me !

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