The Mike Abundo Effect » Photos

Filipina Cosplayer Kristell Lim Portrays Erza Scarlet from Fairy Tail

Mike Abundo — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:28:40 +0000

Believe it or not, this amazing cosplay photo wasn’t taken in the wide-open spaces of the great outdoors, or in the controlled environment of a closed photostudio. This photo was taken at an anime convention — specifically, the Otaku Expo 2010 Reload convention in the Philippines.

Upping Their Game

Filipina cosplayer Kristell Lim portrays Erza Scarlet, a heroic warrior-mage from the hit anime series Fairy Tail. Kristell’s costume was created by Filipino cosplayer Lyron Aquino, who previously performed in Singapore with Asia Cosplay Meet champion Jia Gold Bustamante.

The photo itself was taken at the event photobooth of the Cosplay Photographers Guild (CPG), the Philippines’ leading cosplay photography experts group. CPG started providing photobooth services at cosplay events in April 2010, all free of charge to cosplayers. Since then, they’ve rapidly upped their game at events: this photo of Kristell is actually an overhead shot, edited on location.

A New Standard

This is quite possibly the best cosplay photo ever taken at a public gathering in the Philippines. Kristell actually won a trip to Singapore for this photo. Congratulations to Kristell, Lyron, and CPG on setting a new standard for Philippine cosplay event photography.

Bonus: Check out these behind-the-scenes photos by hobby store owner and otaku culture guru Raymond Sison.

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Ozine Fest 2010 Cosplay Photos

Mike Abundo — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:15:25 +0000

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Ozine Fest 2010 featured something relatively new to Philippine anime conventions: a well-equipped cosplay photostudio, complete with background and lights. While the Philippines does have one permanent cosplay photostudio establishment, most cosplayers can be found at anime and gaming conventions. That’s where photography facilities are most in demand.

Experts in an Emerging Art

The Ozine Fest studio wasn’t manned by just any bunch of photographers. The booth was set up by the Cosplay Photographers Guild, a group that actively explores the finer points of cosplay photography. From reflecting light off weapons to making wigs shine, from suggesting dynamic character poses to shifting focus between characters in groups, these guys study exactly how to make a cosplayer’s character portrayal even more stunning on camera.

How much did cosplayers have to pay to conduct photoshoots with these niche experts in their studio? That’s the best part: it was all free. The studio was such a hit that it couldn’t even accommodate all the cosplayers lining up for shoots over the three days of the event. Heck, the Cosplay Photographers Guild could probably set up two studios at their next convention and still be fully booked.

Fundamental Shift, Fresh Perspective

The photostudio itself represents a fundamental shift in the way people look at anime and gaming conventions. Now that everyone’s a potential online publisher, attending events now automatically includes producing content. Nowhere is that more true than at a gathering of cosplayers. All artists are driven by the urge to create content, and cosplayers are no exception. Cosplay photostudios at such gatherings clearly and readily help cosplayers produce quality content at events.

Cosplay is the performance art for the age of the geeky mashup. Led by enterprising photographer Richie dela Merced, best known in the cosplay community for his work with Filipina cosplay queen Alodia Gosiengfiao, the Cosplay Photographers Guild gives us a freshly polished perspective on this wonderful art form. Check out some of Richie’s shots from the Ozine Fest 2010 cosplay photostudio.

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Kyo Ritu Art Cosplay Photostudio

Mike Abundo — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:18:22 +0000

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There was a time when Web publishing was the exclusive province of only the geekiest of geeks, those who could write code and set up servers. Now anyone with an Internet connection can blog. There was a time when broadcasting was the exclusive province of only the wealthiest of media moguls, those who could hire actors and set up studios. Now anyone with a webcam can broadcast themselves on YouTube.

In the Philippines, there was a time when cosplay was the exclusive province of only the most hardcore of otaku, those who could craft costumes and set up photoshoots. That time has come to an end. This week saw the opening of Kyo Ritu Art Digital Photography and Cosplay Photostudio, the first cosplay photostudio in the Philippines. That’s right, folks: now anyone can unleash their inner otaku and become a cosplayer for a day.

Kyo Ritu Art features costumes and props for rent, all imported from Japan. Even though they just opened, they’ve already got some fascinating items in their collection: weapons from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, plugsuits from Neon Genesis Evangelion, a yukata from Jigoku Shoujo, a ninja outfit from Naruto, serafukus from Sailor Moon. Several more Naruto costumes are arriving soon, along with an $80,000 kimono. It’s Akiba-style off-the-rack cosplay — packaged as a costume-to-photo service on tap, a turnkey cosplay solution. Photographer Katsuhiro Nishikawa is on hand to capture your inner otaku, with all the characterization nuances of Japanese cosplay photography.

Click through to the next page to learn the overseas origins of Kyo Ritu Art, the company’s exciting expansion plans, and something that will make cosplay fangirls squeal with delight.

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Alodia E-games Cosplay Photoshoot

Mike Abundo — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:06:14 +0000

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Filipina gamer Alodia Gosiengfiao graces the cover of the 2009 E-games cosplay calendar. Check out these behind-the-scenes outtakes from the photoshoot.

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Tracy Isabel Borres Photos

Mike Abundo — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:44:01 +0000

I like to get every side of a story. That’s why I’ve been researching the background of Tracy Isabel Borres, the Filipina college student now embroiled in a scandal over her racist Facebook posts.

In the course of my research, I found this gallery of Tracy’s photos. Perhaps these glimpses of her life will give us insights into her character.

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YouTube Live Tokyo Photos

Mike Abundo — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:45:48 +0000

YouTube Live Tokyo failed as a live broadcast, but it certainly succeeded as a party for over 2,000 people in the live audience. Reader Alex Lopez sent in these photos from the concert. Korean singer BoA Kwon headlined YouTube Live Tokyo, but Japanese rapper Kreva brought the house down for the last act. Otaku culture blogger Danny Choo also livened up the proceedings by dancing around the area in his famous Imperial Stormtrooper costume.

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Happy 20th Birthday, Tricia!

Mike Abundo — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:30:17 +0000

For years, this young avant-garde artist has shared her talent with the world through Creative Commons. Now that she’s more actively employing the advanced photo-sharing capabilities of Flickr, her work flies even higher in a widgetized world. Happy 20th birthday to Filipina photographer and model Tricia Gosingtian.

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Ragnarok Valkyrie at Level Up Live

Mike Abundo — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:34:00 +0000

Filipina cosplayer Jerry Polence wore her Ragnarok Online Valkyrie Angel costume to Level Up Live 2008. Apparently, a lot of Ragnarok players there wanted to transcend.

Photo op tip for cosplayers: bring a huge weapon. People love to hold it.

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Tokyo Game Show 2008 Photo Group on Flickr

Mike Abundo — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:44:20 +0000

Don’t you just love how Flickr enables rapid photo aggregation? The day after Tokyo Game Show 2008, photographer M. Julien Leblond puts together a Flickr group for photos from the event. From booths to babes to cosplayers, they’ve got enough eye candy to make any gamer wish he spent his weekend in Chiba.

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iPhone Girl Should Be Chinese Ellen Feiss

Mike Abundo — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:12:12 +0000

Between Chinese labor practices and Steve Jobs’ perfectionist whitewashing, this girl will probably lose her job. Let’s help her out and give her fifteen megabytes of fame. A new iPhone shipped to the UK comes with adorable photos of the Chinese girl who made it.

If Apple PR is smart, they’ll spin this into a humanizing positive — sort of a Chinese Ellen Feiss. Unfortunately, Apple PR isn’t very smart.

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