Righto, since I failed epically at uploading the photos from October Expo I've decided I'm going to take a firmer approach to doing the ones for the MCM Expo just gone. So periodically over the next couple of weeks you'll be seeing bursts of uploads from me. I've got to say, I'm really freakin' pleased with how the majority of these shots turned out! Some of them that I thought would be ok had blurred and some of the contest ones I can't use due to poor angling on my part (mental note - get better spot next time) but there's a large chunk that are awesome.

Also, for any fans, keep an eye out for some shots from the shoot I did with them on the Saturday evening. It'll be some awesome stuff people!

As always, if you want to use my photographs for anything PLEASE either comment and/or note me to ask my permission first. All the posted shots (bar those were I specifically state otherwise) are copyright of myself. If you do use them elsewhere all I ask is that you credit me for the shot, link back to my page and send me a link of the piece the shot was used for. Simples eh?

Anyways, that's all for now! No doubt there'll be an obligatory Expo Blog at some point.

Peace out.

Well to start off with, I think I've admitted defeat over uploading the rest of my photos from the October 08 London MCM Expo. The powers that be seem to have been working against me the last few months, and thus I haven't had the chance to sit down for long periods to upload them all on here. So for those of you who have viewed the shots I managed to get up on here, thank you kindly. For a full run down of the shots, please be sure to look on my myspace portfolio page: [link]

In the meantime, stay tuned! Once this month's Expo is over and done with, I'll be uploading all my shots onto here and this time I mean it. I will get the damn things on here!!!! Plus they'll be taken with my new camera so I'd love to get feedback on the difference between my "older" work and my work with the new camera.

Speaking of London Expo, MEEP!!! Little under two weeks to go now!!! Someone tell me where the time has gone?! The good news is, I'm pretty much set cosplay wise. Zack Fair WILL be going to the London Expo! I've only managed to pull this off thanks to the lovely & talented Rach who very kindly put together the few pieces of the outfit I either couldn't do or didn't have the time to sit down and figure out (actually, she's still in the process of doing it!). I can tell you now, the outfit won't be bang on. I tried modding the combats I brought but failed epically so I'm going to have to settle with them the way they are for the time being and mod them after Expo. Plus the boots will be regular "military" ones, not the SOLDIER ones. Still, I'm hoping I can at least do this awesome character justice! Shall have to find a Buster Sword at the Con too.

I might actually even be in some photo shoots this time too!!! 'ZOMGWTF KIYO IS ACTUALLY GOING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA NO WAI!!!! O.O' - Ayes, I may very well be convinced to step out from behind the camera as Zack for a while. I've never really been that thrilled by how I look in some photos but I think maybe the 'Zack Fair' mojo will rub off on me

QUESTION: As I'll be cosplaying Zack Fair, do you think I should "go the whole ten yards" and try to be in-character the entire time I'm dressed as him? i.e. randomly doing squats if I'm bored, speaking like him etc.

I'm having a bit of trouble trying to decide who else to take. Part of me is tempted to just go as Zack all weekend to save on suitcase space! But then poor Tseng won't get any air time which would just be a shame (although no body recognized me as Tseng *sniffle*). I would take 'Captain Jack Harkness' but then that'd mean having to pack another pair of boots and I'm going to have one pair as it is .... decisions decisions!!!

Depending on how things go with Zack, I might try to do some other cosplays revolving around him. Like I've seen some people doing 'Street Style' cosplays for some Kingdom Hearts characters and other such things so I might give that a shot.

Anyways, that's about it for the time being. Will probably do another blog once I've been to Expo!

Till then, catch ya laters!

-R

With the 'London MCM Expo' fast approaching once again, I'm trying to get back on track with putting together the cosplay I originally intended to do - 'Zack Fair' (post Angeal's untimely exit). Once I get the money through from a photo job I did (which I'll get to in a moment) then I'm going to start putting it together. One of my friends has offered to help me with a few bits if needs be (thank you Rach!) but I reckon I should be able to do most of it. I was going to try to construct the Buster Sword too but at the moment funds won't permit it. So that means I'm going to have to hope the stall I got my Gunblade from is there again so I can buy it and then mod it later.

The Expo will also be the first proper field test for the new camera I'll be getting (courtesy of my old man) next week! So I'll be expecting plenty of cosplayers to come up and say 'O Hai Lar!' :] Still ... I do have one minor concern about the Con ... the lack of voice actor guests. Considering the main pull (at least for myself) happens to be the VA guests it is some what concerning that this late in the game they've not announced any. Here's hoping that changes in the next week or so!

While we're on the subject of cosplayers - yes, I do realize I've still not put all my shots up from OCTOBER! I am -so- sorry to anyone who might have been waiting on them. Things have been up in the air the last few months and I've found myself with less time to park my bum down to upload the rest of them. I will get to them though, hopefully before next months Con! In the meantime though they can be viewed over on my myspace page.

Also, while we're on the subject, depending on how the con goes and how my funds go - May might be my only convention this year. I haven't decided for definite yet as obviously anything can happen between now and October but if the funds aren't there and the guests don't really appeal to me then I might give it a miss or just do as my friend Rose did and only go for the day. Don't worry though, that's only for OCTOBER! I'm still going to be there Fri - Mon in May so y'all are stuck with meh! Bwhahahahahahahhaha!

Right, now then! Back to the photo job I mentioned. I finally got my first -paid- photo job last week *does his happy dance* Admittedly it was working for my brother and it was doing the photos for a building site survey but hey, beggars can't be choosers right? The money from that job will go toward my cosplay outfit, the rest of the money I need for the Con and a few extra little bits on the side. So good stuff!

Now though I'm faced with the problem of establishing 'going rates' for particular jobs! I've got a few possible gigs lined up for this year and if this is going to become a more regular thing (which obviously I hope it does!) then I'm going to need an idea of how much to charge for what. Any input on this matter or links to sites that might help would be much appreciated! In the meantime I'm going to work on redesigning my business card (I had one for when I was studying Graphics at Uni but that was a bit ... well ... pants. So I want to redo it, especially as my main focus is going to be photography now!) and maybe look into getting a proper website done. It's all go I tells ya!

With my current job only being one day a week I've been thinking of looking into other pursuits to pass the time - at the moment I go to Runik Games a couple of times a week for Magic the Gathering & Yu-Gi-Oh but that's about it (yes, I am that much of a geek). There's a Ninjutsu class starting up this month here in Bury and I was thinking maybe I'd go along to that - it's only five pound a time and it'd be interesting/a good work out but I'm not sure yet. Other than that I'm just keeping my eye out for any photographic or minor graphics/video production opportunities that might pop up.

Anyways that's about it from me for the time being. Hope everyone has an awesome Easter and no doubt talk to some of you soon!

Peace Out,
Rick

P.S. I'm going to be tweaking a few things here on my DA page in the coming days hopefully so keep your eyes open. Oh and w00t @ having over 6000 views!

- Birthday Ponderings -

Now see, I'm still not entirely sure what I want to do for my 22nd. I've got the day of my birthday off work already but to be honest I won't really be able to afford to do much. I do, however, have another extra day's paid holiday that I could use meaning I could get the following Sunday off too (by which time I could probably do something). Tom's suggestion for my birthday (which, might I add, has indeed been the best suggestion thus far!) made me giggle though! Think I'll have to go for something a little less awesome though.

- Random moments -

During my wanderings around Bury on Saturday I came across a flyer for Ninjitsu lessons - honest-to-god ninjitsu lessons, coming to Bury NEXT month. Part of me is -so- tempted to give it a look in even though it would be £5 a time. Might be interesting though!

Also, the new shopping center in Bury is -finally- opening this week (thank god!). Hopefully that'll mean some more jobs will be advertised in the weeks to come, meaning I can find something with better pay to tied me over til I can get on my feet as a photographer!

- Random musing -

You know, it's funny how much I rely on the internet. Not having it at home almost feels like I'm in some kind of funky time loop where the net no longer exists and if I'm honest it's really kinda sad how much I rely on the net to keep me amused and/or in contact with people.

- Internet Down Time -

Well, due to various issues that have since arisen following my previous journal entry, I'm not entirely sure when I will be back to having a stable internet connect. At the moment I'm having to make do with using my laptop at a local bar in Bury St. Edmunds (yay for free wifi) but that's not really good for submitting work. So for the moment it might be a bit quiet from me. I'll be sure to check in every few days but if anyone wants to get in touch with me (besides the people who know how to already), drop me a note and, if I trust you enough obviously, I'll send you the required info to get in touch with me. In the meantime, hope everyone's safe and will endevour to get back to you all ASAP.

- Birthdays -

With my 22nd birthday rapidly approaching, I've begun pondering what I should do for it. I've got the actual weekend of my birthday off work, so I won' t have any issues there. Just not sure how things will be fund wise so I might see if I can get the following weekend off too and maybe go down to London for the day or something. Thoughts?

- Freelance Job -

My first freelance job got moved back a month! So now it will be taking place on the 11th March. Stay tuned for a blog on how that went.

xoxo