#ax2008

[cosplayinamerica]

My first time photographing cosplayers was Anime Expo in 2008. The anime convention had recently moved to downtown Los Angeles, sort of close to where I lived. I knew about cosplay through the internet and figured I would take cosplay photos so I packed my car with two light stands, a background paper and a beauty dish and spent four glorious days at Anime Expo.

I plan on posting more photos later, just click on the hashtag to see the others.

[anime-expo]

#TBT to #AX2008, when we first moved to the Los Angeles Convention Center The eGaming area was much smaller then; we didn't have the Entertainment Hall like we do now! #AnimeExpo #animecon #videogames #convention

[boycott-peterick]

Shenanigans at Anime Expo 2008

When I went, I was 16. There was this thing called Anime Singled Out, and I was a contender for this one very handsome young man who was wearing goggles. I didn't win the game, but we did meet later at the Masquerade Ball. I'm a really bad dancer, but when he danced with me, he made me feel like I could dance. We were mostly swing dancing, and we danced until they stopped playing songs that you could passably swing dance to. He asked me to go to a bar with him, and I told him I couldn't. He asked my age. 16. He looked shocked, and mildly terrified. I asked how old he was, and he said 21 and scurried off.  I didn't quite understand the gravity of what he must have felt at the time, as I was young and naïve.

I don't remember your name, and I don't remember much about you, other than I was young and very taken with you. I am sorry I didn't tell you my age to begin with. You made me happier than I'd felt in ages, and I hope I didn't ruin your night. I look upon that night fondly, and I tell the story every time I go to an expo.