Clare J Sheridan Photography

[cjsheridan]

The Royal Stables of Versailles

The French royal family really knew how to travel in style. You can catch a glimpse of their finery in an exhibition of royal carriages at Versailles Palace.

The exhibition is free to enter and is situated in the vast stable buildings opposite the main palace entrance.

Built between 1679 and 1682, this was one of the biggest ever projects to house horses. Now, it is home to the impressive Gallery of Coaches, the National School of Architecture of Versailles, the Centre for research and restoration of the museums of France and, unsurprisingly, the Equestrian Academy of Versailles.

It includes carriages used by both royalty and Napoleon, in state visits and also state funerals.

The impressive fine detail on the wheels and on the tops of the carriages are breathtaking.

The royal processions of yesteryear must truly have been a sight to behold. Fascinating videos detail the history of the pieces, including recent loans to other countries. 

This exhibition is a must see, so make sure you make time during your Versailles visit.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my photographic tour of the palace of Versailles. If you do get the chance to visit this amazing palace complex, I urge you to do so. Make sure you stay in the town of Versailles - it’s an oasis of calm not far from Paris, so you have the best of both worlds.

[cjsheridan]

The Perfect Petit Trianon

The Petit Trianon

This picturesque little oasis was a romantic getaway for yet another French king and his mistress - this time Louis XV and the Comtesse Du Barry. Completed in 1768, it was given as a gift to Marie-Antoinette by Louis XVI and became her favourite place to escape from life at court.

This is one of my favourite places in the Versailles grounds - it has such a calm, peaceful air to it. There are so many beautiful flowers in the formal gardens and it includes The Queen’s Theatre, hidden away in a quiet corner.

Marie-Antoinette’s influence is evident all over the building, from a bust (above), to a portrait of her proudly hanging in one of the Petit Trianon’s rooms (below). There is also traditional clothing on display. 

The rooms are far more informal in decor than the other official residences in the palace grounds. Marie-Antoinette’s bedroom (below) is a fine example of this.

The Temple of Love (below) proudly provides a romantic backdrop in the Petit Trianon gardens (also handy rain cover, should you need it).

The Queen’s Hamlet

This was built between 1786 and 1786 in a rustic design, which was fashionable at the time. It boasts a working farm, complete with all manner of animals, from goats to donkeys, and is a quaint, peaceful idyll on the edge of the palace estate.

A short five-minute walk from the Temple of Love, it is only accessible via the Petit Trianon gardens. But it is well worth taking the time to explore.

The Marlborough Tower (above) is just one of the highlights of this beautiful little oasis.

A fabulous little farm houses goats (below) and chickens, among other animals. This must have been the perfect little hideaway from the pressures of royal life.

Don’t miss next week’s blog about the Royal Stables.

[cjsheridan]

The Glorious Grand Trianon

The main palace gardens are not the only attractions the Versailles grounds have to offer. The Estate of the Trianon includes three sections; the Grand Trianon, The Petit Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet. I will focus on the Grand Trianon in this blog.

This is the larger of the outer buildings of the palace and construction started in 1687. It was originally built as somewhere for King Louis XiV to escape to with one of his mistresses, Madame de Maintenon.

Even the table legs and door handles are ornate (below). What a sumptuous venue to meet for secret trysts.

Don’t miss my next blog, all about the Petit Trianon.

[cjsheridan]

Vistas of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is a sight to behold. Once the home of French royalty, this sprawling mini metropolis gives a fascinating insight into times gone by.

As BBC2 screens the last episode in season two of the fabulous drama series Versailles, I wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate this amazing location.

Taken over the course of two visits to this fabulous venue, these photos are my tribute to this palace. The town of Versailles is also a wonderful place – it has the beauty of Paris but without the hustle and bustle of the city, plus it’s so close to Paris, it’s almost a suburb (only 30 minutes away on the train). It almost has a rural town feel and has the most amazing weekend market you’ve ever seen – all of the fresh produce looks so mouth-watering.

Originally Louis XIII’s hunting lodge, this site was transformed into the seat of the government in 1682 by his son, Louis XIV. Royalty were forced to leave the site after the French Revolution in 1789 and it was turned into the Museum of the History of France in 1837.

Part of the park land around the palace is common land, which is open to the public with free admission. However, other areas you have to pay to enter, such as the Estate of the Trianon.

To plan a visit, I recommend visiting the town for a long weekend and purchasing the 2-Day Passport ticket - which entitles you to visit everything in the palace and grounds over two days. You will need two days as the grounds are vast and you will not see it all in just one.

A World Heritage Site, it’s easy to see why – from the grand chapel to the breathtaking Hall of Mirrors, each room is a site to behold. Please join me as I explore the main palace and grounds with my camera.

The chapel (below) is just one of the grand sights inside the palace.

The glittering Hall of Mirrors (below) is the centrepiece of the interior of the palace.

There is even an Angelina tea room inside - complete with, in my humble opinion, the BEST hot chocolate in the world! You HAVE to try it! Their croissants (below) aren’t bad either!

The main gardens boast sumptuous statues and fabulous fountains including the Dragon Fountain, below. There are also musical fountain displays which run during the summer season.

And if you fancy a bit of refreshment as you wander around - why not stop for an ice cream at this lovely old-fashioned ice cream vendor (below).

Louis XIV, above, surveys his splendid home.

Don’t miss future instalments detailing the rest of the grounds, in which I’ll be offering a glimpse into the Estate of the Trianon.

[cjsheridan]

Nikko

The shrines and temples of Nikko National Park are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are truly a site to behold.

Well, they would have been if nearly half had not been covered in scaffolding. Bad timing and especially bad weather made for an unfortunate final day in Japan.

It rained. And then rained some more. My feet swam in my shoes and the one-brush dragon painter which I had waited 10 years to commission a painting from, was closed on this one day. Oh well, just another reason to return I guess (any excuse!).

Above: One of the fearsome gate keepers at the entrance to Toshogu. This is the shrine and mausoleum of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.

The national park is on a mountain above the little town of Nikko. The town itself lies a couple of hours outside of Tokyo via the Shinkansen.

It really did rain (above and below).

The Shinkyo sacred bridge (above) is back down the mountain in Nikko town. It serves as the gateway to the shrines and temples upon the hill. Legend has it that a hermit who settled in the town was carried across the river by two serpents, which so formed the bridge.

Strawberries seem to be a speciality of the region (above).

We boarded a turquoise Shinkansen (above) to get to Nikko - my favourite one so far. The signs on the platform tell you which numbered coach stops there, depending on which type of Shinkansen you’re catching (below).

I do love the orderly queues on the train platforms (above). I should start a revolution in the UK - maybe then trains would then run to time!

We caught a different one again on the way back to Tokyo (below).

So that concludes our trip to Japan. We were very sad to leave (there were tears) but we will definitely return. And we won’t leave it so long next time!

I hope you enjoyed the journey with me and it has inspired you to visit this amazing country. Sayonara Nihon!

[cjsheridan]

Wedding season in Japan

Cherry blossom season is the time to tie the knot in Japan. We encountered happy couples almost everywhere we went. This is totally understandable - who wouldn’t want a beautiful backdrop of sakura in their wedding photos?

The floating Torii gate off Miyajima island is also a good backdrop (above). I would love to be a wedding photographer in Japan - the bridal kimono are so beautiful, intricate and so varied in their patterns.

Many brides marry in traditional white kimono (below) and then add a colourful coat over the top (see above) after the ceremony. Others choose a colourful kimono as their main outfit. Either way, the results are stunning.

This smiley couple in Kyoto (above) even had English ‘Just Married’ bunting as a prop for their photo shoot |below).

Nobody seemed to mind that we hijacked their photo shoot - they were proud to show off their amazing outfits and celebrate their special days with us.

We were particularly lucky on Miyajima island. We got to witness an entire wedding ceremony at the Itsukushima shrine.

I spotted the bride and groom as we entered the shrine but assumed that the ceremony had either already happened or would be in a separate room away from prying eyes. Oh how wrong I was. Everyone visiting the shrine at that moment were treated to the full wedding ceremony.

This is the second traditional Shinto wedding we have been privileged to witness. The ceremony lasted about 30 minutes and then all the family had official photos taken around the shrine (with everyone else looking on).

The bride entered (above). The priest purified the couple in a purification rite called Shubatsu (below). The bride and groom were apart at this point - sat opposite the room from each other.

The musicians who accompanied the ceremony (above).

The event did not hold as much interest for one young family member, who used the time to catch 40 winks (above).

Sake was served several times to the groom and then the bride (alternately) by two girls from the shrine (above). The bride and groom raised the bowl up to their lips twice and then drank on the third time (below). This was done three times with three different size cups (small, medium & large).

The bride and groom unite so the groom can read the wedding oath, Seishi Sodoku.

They then joined the rest of their guests and drank sake with them - Shinzoku-hai.

Then it was a quick change for the bride (well, the addition of a colourful coat and the removal of the veil) for the exterior photos (below).

We were so lucky to see this. What an amazing day it was. Huge congratulations to all the couples we encountered.

Don’t miss the final installment of my Japan photo blog to hear all about our trip to Nikko.

[cjsheridan]

Miyajima Island

Miyajima island is a short train and ferry ride away from Hiroshima and it is such a lovely place.

It is home to the floating Torii gate (above), which belongs to the Itsukushima Shrine (below). The shrine also appears to float when the tide is in.

Above: A lady ties her O-mikuji fortune scroll to a railing at the shrine. I wonder if it foretold good or bad luck?

You can walk out the Torii gate when the tide is out.

The little town surrounding the shrine has some lovely shops and some lovely shopkeepers too. We met a fabulous 81-year-old lady (she looked about 30 years younger) who gave us some beautiful origami creations she had made, simply to wish us good fortune. Only in Japan. This is why I love the country so much.

I’m not sure what the ladies above were doing but their outfits were awesome. I thought maybe beekeepers? Probably something to do with the shrine.

Miyajima island is home to the world’s largest rice scoop, O-Shakushi. Hence why you will see lots of souvenirs incorporating rice scoops (above).

If you take a picnic though, beware - there are deer everywhere and they are not shy - they will eat anything you have, including luggage tags.

Although they do have their own beer - yes, that’s right - deer beer (below)!

Miyajima is also home to one of the best sweets Japan has to offer and this time it’s not French patisserie - Manju sweets. They are common all over the country, however, the Momiji Manju here are spongy and shaped like maple leaves with a maple flavour. The traditional filling is bean paste, but thankfully now (as opposed to 10 years ago) there are a plethora of other flavours to enjoy including green tea, custard and my personal favourite, chocolate.

There are a few factories in the town (below) which make them fresh. If you visit, make sure you grab a hot one as you can buy them individually - soooo good!

And yet again, more appetizing plastic food (below). Whoever makes all this must be quids in.

We also had the privilege to witness an entire wedding ceremony - but that’s for the next post. Stay tuned to experience the wonderful world of Japanese weddings.

[cjsheridan]

Hiroshima

Hiroshima may not be the first place you think of to visit when you travel to Japan, but I urge you to think again as it is such a vibrant city and only two hours from Kyoto on the Shinkansen.

The Sakura was in full bloom here, which showered hope upon the city’s tragic past. The release of the atomic bomb over the city August 6th, 1945, was an abhorrent act which should never be repeated. A notion which the Hiroshima Peace Memorial museum admirably reinforces. It is tough to walk around, but everyone should visit this museum - and I challenge them to leave without shedding a tear.

Families were out enjoying their picnics under the sakura (above) until the heavens opened.

The bombed out dome of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall (below) is the only outward sign that anything bad happened. It is part of the peace park, which also hosts some poignant statues/memorials to victims from various countries.

The eternal flame can be glimpsed in line with the bombed out dome through this touching memorial (above).

The origami crane is the symbol of hope for the future. This was a large part of the memorial to the child victims (below). We can only pray that this never happens again.

Despite the history, it is now a modern, vibrant and exciting city. It is also the birthplace of okonomiyaki - my all-time favourite savoury Japanese dish. There are many regional variations of okonomiyaki, but Hiroshima-style is the BEST. 

It is essentially a Japanese pancake. The base is a pancake base, to which is added cabbage, beansprouts, noodles, bacon and anything else you fancy - cheese, shrimp, you name it, you can add it (see below). Then the pancake top is added and then the special okonomiyaki brown sauce (kind of like Worcestershire sauce, but so much better). And season to taste. I had waited 10 years to taste this again - I was a happy bunny.

This was at a place called Okonomi-mura - three floors of okonomiyaki restaurants. They all serve the same thing, just with a slight variation to the recipe. You sit in front of the hot plate and they cook it before your eyes. Okonimyaki heaven - and it was conveniently located just around the corner from our hotel. Happy days! It was just as good as I remembered. So worth the wait!

Next stop - Miyajima island.

[cjsheridan]

Arashiyama

Arashiyama is the home to a bamboo grove. You have to get there really early to see it, especially during cherry blossom season, as it gets very busy. Fortunately it’s only a 35-minute train ride out of Kyoto.

Thankfully we had been warned by our friend who lives there, so we set off appropriately early. Even though we got there at 08.30ish, it was already a hot bed of activity, with what looked like a commercial and several photo shoots (see the dapper gent below) all happening at the same time.

These lovely girls wanted me to be in their photo, bizarrely! So, naturally, I asked for a shot of them in their fabulous yukata in return.

We also encountered more happy wedding couples (below).

It seemed by the time we left that the whole world and his wife was here - including this very talented artist (above).

There is some stunning countryside around the town. We embarked on a two-hour trek with one of our friends.

Above: These are Tanuki - a Japanese raccoon dog. These are not mythical creatures, they are real, but there is a myth surrounding their ‘manhood’. The statues are everywhere and you may notice they have extraordinarily large testicles. It is apparently lucky to rub them and I have seen children and adults alike doing this. I took their word for it.

This is a Daruma. It is a traditional wooden wishing doll. It keeps you focused on achieving your goals. The eyes are devoid of pupils so when you purchase the doll, you colour in one of the eyes. You place it somewhere visible and then focus on the goal. Once the goal has been achieved, you colour in the other eye. I have never seen a hairy one before though so maybe he is for something extra special!

As we left, we stumbled across another photo shoot (below). It’s a popular spot. Although I’m not sure about the leer on his face - I hope they know each other!

Next stop - Hiroshima.

[cjsheridan]

Geisha of Gion

Gion is an old district of Kyoto, which has Japan’s largest population of geisha (also known as geiko). These are highly skilled hostesses or entertainers who frequent the tea houses of the district.

They are trained, among many things, in the tea ceremony, dance, song, games, conversation and musical instruments. They traditionally entertain the salarymen of Kyoto - not in a dodgy way, just to be clear. Sadly, there are thought to be only 1000 geisha left today; the figure used to be in the tens of thousands.

Gion is one of Kyoto’s five hanamachi (flower districts). Our visit here was one of the highlights of the entire trip for me. I managed to get one photo of a geisha 10 years ago but unfortunately it was at night and blurred - etiquette dictates you should not blind a geisha with a camera flash.

We were very lucky to get tickets to the first day of the 2016 Miyako Odori performances. The Gion Kaburenjo Theatre was the setting for this famous maiko dance. Apprentice geiko (maiko) perform the show and it’s held every year throughout April.

Before the performance we got to see a traditional tea ceremony, performed by a maiko and geiko. This was where these photos were taken. The maiko is in the purple kimono and the geiko is in the black kimono. Maiko often wear brightly coloured kimono, whereas geiko tone down the colours, often wearing black.

Each viewer received a sweet and some green tea - to enjoy while the tea ceremony took place. We also got to keep the plates, which was an unexpected bonus!

Above: The poster on the right advertises the 2016 Miyako Odori.

Above: The geiko made the tea during the tea ceremony, while the maiko served the tea to people on either end of the front row. We were on the front row, but sadly not at either end. Although thankfully we were in the right place to take some closeish shots!

Above: A rare smile - they’re not supposed to do this apparently!

The hour-long theatre show consisted of 7 traditional dances - several of them depicted the different seasons of the year at different famous Japanese backdrops. There was also a Cinderella tale - the tale of Ochikubo.

It was possibly the most beautiful thing I’ve witnessed in my life. The kimono and costumes were breath-taking, the sets so delicate and the dancing so refined. Even the stage curtains before and after the show were a sight to behold (above). It was a truly unforgettable experience.

There was a beautiful garden at the back of the theatre too. If only a maiko had emerged when I was taking photos here!

Afterwards we ventured into the back streets of Gion and were fortunate to catch a glimpse of a maiko emerging from a tea house (below).

But one must remember that there is etiquette to follow when following geisha (below).

Kyoto is the old capital of Japan and you really get a sense of that around Gion. You step back in time on the backstreets - the home to many traditional tea houses. Even the traffic cones have Geisha on them (below)!

Stay tuned - next stop Arashiyama.

[cjsheridan]

Kyoto - part 2

Welcome to the second installment of Kyoto photos. They include my favourite Shinto shrine - Fushimi Inari Taisha. It is on the outskirts of Kyoto (just 10 minutes by train from the central station) and has many red Torii gate tunnels - a photographer’s heaven - what’s not to love?

The main difference between Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines is that Buddhist places of worship are usually constructed using plain brown wood; whereas Shintoist places of worship are painted bright red and black.

This lovely girl let us ambush what I think was her engagement photo shoot. The people are just so friendly.

Below: The interesting mix of old and new.

The symbol of Fushimi Inari Taisha is the fox - see the special Ema below.

We also stopped off at Kiyomizu-dera temple. We originally visited at night as they light up the cherry blossom every evening for a limited time. We also stopped back during the day as the blossom was particularly pretty here.

Above: Nanzen-ji temple.

Above: A traditional-style dining booth in an izakaya (Japanese pub). The great thing about these places is that you can order as many little dishes as you like - it’s almost a Japanese style of tapas.

We bumped into a group of kids separated into teams for what looked like some kind of sporting event - every group had different outfits. Testimony to the true Japanese spirit - they were more than happy to pose for photos.

Below: A Gachapon machine. You can find all manner of toys in these pod machines. This one brought to life the seed of an avocado. We also saw zombie fruit, a man in various poses on a park bench and gas mask animals. Only in Japan!

Talking of plastic, we found yet more plastic food - plastic bento (below).   Bento are traditional Japanese packed lunches packed into boxes - you can even buy small canvas bags specifically to carry your bento.

But this is the real deal (below), which we bought to eat on the Shinkansen.

We also encountered the world’s largest Domo-kun. He is stop-motion animation monster who is the mascot of the NHK television channel. He’s one of my favourite Japanese characters. At 3.9 metres tall, he really was a monster!

If that wasn’t enough cute for you, check out the muppet-style poster for (I think) a mobile phone network (below).

They are so polite in this country that even the traffic cones are apologetic. They are in the form of cartoon workmen taking a bow and apologizing for the inconvenience caused during the roadworks. It’s so cute!

And we had to end with a bunny - postman bun. More cute. A favourite tale to tell children is that a rabbit lives in the moon, not a man. I much prefer that idea!

Next stop - we visit the Geisha in Gion.

[cjsheridan]

Kyoto - part 1

Kyoto is one of my favourite cities in Japan. There is so much to see and do here that 5 nights was simply not enough.

The old capital of Japan, there are so many temples, shrines, parks and places to explore. And there are Geisha - but that’s a separate post!

Above: Kinkakuji, or the golden pavilion.

Below: Ema - wooden prayer blocks at Shinto shrines, upon which people write their prayers and wishes. They are hung at the shrines, where the kami (spirits or Gods) are believed to receive them.

Stepping stones in the beautiful garden at the Heian Shrine (above) - used in the film ‘Lost in Translation’.

Above and below: the rock garden at Zen temple Ryōan-ji.

A Hanami viewing area in Maruyama Park (above). Some of the food available at stalls lining Yasaka Shrine, which led up to the Park (below).

These sweet potato fries are actually covered in sugar, not salt (below). The sweet potatoes were the biggest I’ve ever seen.

Vending machines are everywhere in Japan and they even dispense hot drinks (below), although drinking a hot drink out of a plastic bottle takes a bit of getting used to!

Mmmmm, anyone for sweetcorn soup (below)? Anyone?!

Next up - more from Kyoto.

[cjsheridan]

Kamakura

Kamakura is about an hour outside of Tokyo via train. It is home to my favourite giant Buddha statue. I love his face - he’s so serene. I could not return to Japan without saying hello.

The locals have such respect for Daibutsu they have hung a massive pair of sandals on the wall just in case he wants to get up and stretch his legs once everyone has gone home. Only in Japan :)

Hanami

Once Sakura (cherry blossom) season gets underway in March/April (depending upon which part of the country you are in - in some areas it starts as early as January), locals enjoy Hanami parties under the trees. Special viewing areas are sectioned off in parks where people can have picnics.

There is only a short window of time before the flowers fall (2-3 weeks). We arrived in Tokyo late March and it was just budding but had not opened fully yet. In Kyoto it was mid-bloom and in Hiroshima a week later (early April) it was in full bloom. It was also in full bloom by the time we returned to Tokyo a few days later. We were very lucky.

We were fortunate enough to be invited to a Hanami party at a nearby traditional home in Kamakura. There was a Japanese barbecue, sushi cake, fresh pizza, drinks galore and ukulele playing. When we left everyone clapped and said goodbye, as if we were old friends. Everyone was so sweet!

Above: I love the colour of this girl’s hair! She was one of the people who invited us to the party.

The sushi cake (above) was fabulous - I was a little dubious at first but it really was delicious. I think it was the host’s birthday, hence the cake.

After the party we nipped into a lovely cafe off one of the main shopping streets and were treated to ‘Disneyfied’ Matcha green tea lattes (below)! What works of art!

The main Shinto shrine in Kamakura is Tsurugaoka Hachimangū. This is quite a large complex and was very busy with locals when we got there late in the day.

Above: Water to wash your hands and purify yourself before entering the shrine.

O-mikuji (above): Fortune scrolls tied around railings or trees around the shrine. They are randomly chosen from a box and the numbered stick you pick corresponds to a certain fortune. They are tied to trees or railings if they are good or bad luck - if good it is believed leaving it will amplify the luck; if bad, the bad luck will stay with the paper and not attach to the person.

Make sure you stay tuned - our next stop is Kyoto.

[cjsheridan]

Nihon ikimasho (let’s go to Japan)

I love Japan. I cannot enthuse enough about this amazing country; the fabulous people, the sights, the culture, the food. Anyone who knows me, knows that my love borders upon obsession.

Everyone is so polite and so friendly - if they were having a bad day you would not know it. It’s such a tonic.

I first visited 10 years ago, fell in love and swore I would return. I finally got my chance last month. Just in time for cherry blossom season.

Tokyo

We started our trip in Tokyo and took in the sights of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Akihabara & Ueno. The city is a vibrant mix of ultra modern, neon, cute and traditional. It is so much fun. There’s something for everyone - including bunny cafes (which made me very happy). It’s a cafe where you get to spend time with bunnies and feed them - not eat them - just to clarify!

The lovely bell girl at the Peninsula hotel (below).

Below: A lady out for a stroll in her Sunday best at Meiji Jingu temple in Harajuku. Such a beautiful kimono!

A monk offering blessings (below).

We caught the tail end of a wedding at Meiji Jingu temple (above).

Above: One of the amazing bullet trains (Shinkansen). There is so much leg room and you can swivel the seats depending on which direction you’d like to face - genius!

Train travel is so efficient. Probably because there are lines on the platform telling people where the carriages will be and where they should queue. And people do queue - it’s very orderly, unlike the chaos in this country. We could learn a thing or two from the Japanese.

Every train station seems to have its own jingle too - one of them sounded like the theme to the Orson Welles film ‘The Third Man’.

Hmmm, interesting fashion in Harajuku.....

Kawaii (cute)

There are cute things everywhere - everything has fluffy a mascot. Everyone (no matter what age) seems to have fluffy things hanging from their phones or bags.

Toy shops have all kinds of goodies - cute and sinister (below).

Patisserie

This is no longer just the domain of the French. One major difference to when I visited 10 years ago is that there are patisseries on practically every street. And most of it is better than what you can get in France!

Sakura (cherry blossom) flavour Cronuts (above).

Above: A lady blow-torching a frozen smore at Dominique Ansel’s bakery in Harajuku - AMAZING cakes!

A plastic phenomenon

Neither of the two images below contain real food - it’s all plastic. Every restaurant has plastic food outside advertising their menu.

The photo below is real - and everything tasted good!

It was purchased from a vending machine outside the restaurant (below). It is literally ultra fast food - eat and go.

Watch this space for more Japanese jaunts - next stop, Kamakura!

[cjsheridan]

Comic Chaos - Part 3

This is the final instalment of my adventures in cosplay at MCM London Comic Con.

Please click here for fabulous work from my colleagues at Ultimate Cosplay Official.

I can't wait to attend one of next year's events to meet even more amazing cosplayers.

Don't forget, if you're a talented cosplayer featured in these photos, please drop me a line at [email protected] so I can credit you. Please also get in touch if you would like copies of your shots.

Above: Veera from Cardiology Cosplay dressed as as Orianna from League of Legends.

Above: Emma Coulson (left) of Emmy Pancakes & Jess Darch (right) of Melty Mint.

Above: Emma Coulson (left) of Emmy Pancakes & Jess Darch (right) of Melty Mint.

[cjsheridan]

Comic Chaos - Part 2

These are the further adventures in cosplay at MCM London Comic Con.

Thank you to all the fantastic cosplayers for making me feel so welcome and for making my day really fun.

Please visit here for fabulous work from my colleagues at Ultimate Cosplay Official.

Don't forget, if you're a talented cosplayer featured in these photos, please drop me a line at [email protected] so I can credit you. Please also get in touch if you would like copies of your shots.

Above: Veera from Cardiology Cosplay dressed as as Orianna from League of Legends.

Above: Emma Coulson (left) of Emmy Pancakes & Jess Darch (right) of Melty Mint.

Stay tuned for the final part of my cosplay adventures.

[cjsheridan]

Comic Chaos - Part 1

You can't beat a bit of Sci Fi and Fantasy so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to take some shots at the recent MCM London Comic Con at Excel.

The worlds of comics, films and TV collided over the 3-day weekend in one colourful array of cosplay, events and stalls.

I joined fellow photographers from Ultimate Cosplay Official and marveled at some of the spectacular costumes on display. From Guardians of the Galaxy to Pirates of the Caribbean, the amount of effort that went into them was amazing - these guys are serious about their outfits. But there was no rivalry - just an eagerness to dress to impress and have fun.

This is the first of three blog posts featuring some of my favourite cosplayers from the day. Please also visit here to see some of my colleagues' fabulous work.

Apologies, I don't know most of the names so if you are one of the cosplayers featured, please drop me a line at [email protected] so I can give you due credit. Please also get in touch If you would like copies of your images. Enjoy!

Above: Emma Coulson (stood) of Emmy Pancakes & Jess Darch (kneeling) of Melty Mint.

Above: Emma Coulson (left) of Emmy Pancakes & Jess Darch (right) of Melty Mint.

Check back later for more MCM London Comic Con fun. :)