“How To” is a series on tips and tricks for attending conventions all over the country. If you have a tip for us or a convention you’d like to see covered, please comment below! From its inception in 2010, the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) quickly became one of the top tier geeky events in the country. Held in April (usually), it’s well worth risking the dodgy Chicago spring weather for the panel discussions, celebrity photo ops, massive vendor floor, and of course, epic cosplay viewing. The next C2E2 will take place April 6-8, 2018 in the South Building at McCormick Place (2301 S. Lake Shore Drive). For convention information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.c2e2.com/. Getting to Chicago Chicago is a hub for any number of airlines, trains, and interstates, so you have plenty of options for getting into the city. I’ll leave the googling of various options …
The Problem with “Sexy” Costumes
I wish we lived in a world in which people could – weather conditions aside – wear whatever they want with no worse consequences than the occasional sunburn (no, but seriously, wear sunblock!). Wearing a mini-skirt past age 40/over 200 lbs.? Have at it – you look fab! Wearing clothing traditionally assigned to another gender? Rock on, have fun! Covered from head to toe? Do it! Walking down the street naked? Just watch for broken glass! I wish we could all get over our prejudices enough that people could do what felt right without being harassed or criticized, or contributing to negative stereotypes. Unfortunately, we live in an imperfect world full of subtle and nuanced biases that affect our perceptions of others. This is where I have some reservations about “sexy” costumes. Much of this post applies to “sexy” costumes in general, but I’m referring specifically to costumes of the …
How To: GenCon
“How To” is a series on tips and tricks for attending conventions all over the country. If you have a tip for us or a convention you’d like to see covered, please comment below! GenCon has become a far different animal since its origins as the wargame brainchild of Gary Gygax back in 1968 – growing from Lake Geneva to Milwaukee to Indianapolis, it’s now become the longest running and largest gaming convention in the country. Encompassing a truly dizzying array of gaming – board, pen and paper, larp, video, you name it! – The Best Four Days in Gaming™ is a gamer nerd’s dream! This year, GenCon will be held August 2-5 at the Indianapolis Convention Center (100 S Capitol Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46225) and spilling over into Lucas Oil Stadium. You may be asking yourself, “why post about how to attend GenCon in January if the event isn’t …
Creating Better Convention Photos
Know Your Tools I assume professional and hobbyist photographers already know how to use their cameras, but if you only bust out that DSLR a couple times a year, or if you’re using your phone’s camera, check out all the features it has available before the convention so that you’re ready at a moment’s notice. The minimum features you should know: Turning the camera on quickly: most phones have a quick-swipe in the lower right-hand corner of the lock screen; this is critical, as you don’t want to stop someone for a photo just to waste time opening the camera! Focusing: usually just a tap of the screen on the focal point Flash: know how to adjust this for different lighting conditions; bright flash can make photos look washed out, so it may be best just to turn it off Actually taking a picture: no joke; I’ve seen it happen …