So Judith, I've seen you in San Francisco and in New York and when I first heard about you was because you did a photo book called "Cosplayers 2008" and "Cosplayers 2009" but I like to start from the beginning and ask how you got involved into photography and into photographing cosplayers and basically introduce yourself to my readers. And will there be "Cosplayers 2010" ?
I grew up with my grandfather and father as photographer-hobbyists. In high school, I started taking photography classes at a local art college, and just fell in love with the whole process, from taking the photo to the darkroom. I got accepted to Parsons in New York, and finished my BFA in photography in 2007.
In college, a friend introduced me to anime & manga and from there I attended my first convention, Anime North, in 2004. It was at Otakon in 2006 that I became enthralled in the cosplay community and wanted to find a way to photograph it. Through cosplay.com, I met some local NY/NJ cosplayers and just began attending conventions with them and documenting my experiences. As I was absorbed into the folds of the east coast community, I began organizing shoots with the cosplayers at the conventions, until I was attending 10+ conventions a year. Along the way, thanks to the great friendships I built amongst the community, I was introduced and met more and more cosplayers. Now at a convention, I shoot upward to 20 or so groups of cosplayers in a varying type of cosplay and costumes. I love shoots scary/horror types, but I can get absorbed into any style. Photography was a way to discover a new world, and its through the last few years, that the new friends and experiences have helped me grow as a photographer and as a person.
When I first started taking photos of the cosplay world, I had a goal to get my work published. I realized that it may be a long time till a publisher would pick up my work into a book, so I decided to self-publish. I had created several self-published photography books while in college, so I had heard of a new site, Blurb.com, that had not only software to create the layout, but also a means to sell & promote my book. At the end of 2007, I started compiling my favorite and most successful images into what I would simply title, Cosplayers 2008. I didn't sell many copies, but the reception was good and got myself & my photography out to more of the community. As there was continued interest, I then produced Cosplayers 2009 at the beginning of this year. In 2009, I took over 28,000 photos of cosplayers and conventions, so it was a learning process of editing down to about 150 images to showcase.
There will be a Cosplayers 2010 as I've just started working on the process of editing down the 25,000 photos I took this year. I'm hoping to have copies of it for sale for Katsucon 2011.
Katsucon ? Cool, I'll see you there ! One of my first stops for 2010 ^^ Now I don't know about you but I usually have folks interested in becoming a photographer come and ask me questions. Parsons is one of the more recognizable schools in the country besides Art Center, Brooks, RIT, and ICP. Tell me about your experiences at Parsons as well as what advice you can give someone interested in becoming a photographer ?
I quite enjoyed my experiences at Parsons, and if you can afford it, I would recommend it for photographers looks for learning and experiencing photography as an art form. Just like all colleges, Parsons' photography department, either for BFA or MFA, tends to teach their students more about "why" then "how." While its not a bad thing, especially as it teaches you to find your style, it just requires the student to be much more involved if he/she wants to learn more studio or technical experience. Also, during my time at Parsons, film was still the predominant medium, and it was only at the end of my four years that digital became an important tool to use. From what I've heard of the school since I graduated, almost 4 years ago, is that they've reworked the classes to the digital age, while still continuing film studies.
I'm actually glad that I grew up shooting film, as there is nothing like seeing your photos expose in front of your eyes, or the smell of fix on your hands. I also, personally, believe that shooting film requires the photographer to understand the basics of aperture, ISO, shutter, etc as there is no instant photo. Plus, I was an avid Polaroid shooter and user, before the death of the company.
Ah, Polaroids ! How I miss 665 ! *sniff* sniff* I don't miss the darkroom as much though. The smell of chemicals after a while got to me, lol ! Oh, any advice ?
Advice for becoming a photographer: Just keep taking photos. Being behind a camera allowed me to grow and find myself in high school. It has been the tool to meet people, and the reason to go and move to NY. Every time you take a photo, you are learning more about yourself and your photography. Read photography books. Learn about photographers who have come before you and are maybe the next "big thing". Go to gallery shows. There is nothing like experiencing an Ansel Adams or Andreas Gursky live and just so real.
Also, as photographer who went to school and got her BFA in it, I don't really believe that college is for everyone. 4 years is a long time to just entirely focus on photography. A large percentage of my classmates, myself included, took a break from photography after graduating. You'll quickly learn if you love it or if doing it professionally is your thing.
You know I how qualms about that. I took a few photo classes in college - and there was times that I thought that I should go back to school that specialized in photography but I managed to pick up stuff along the way. You've obviously been in the scene for a number of years. How do you describe cosplay to folks outside the community ? And in a similar vein what does cosplay mean to you ?
I honestly have no qualms over telling people I take photos of cosplay. But I tend to talk about it more as costuming, as that word is more recognized and accepted in the US. Most are usually fascinated, especially when I tell them the cosplayers all typically make their own costumes. I also try to describe the community of cosplay, as it was that in the beginning that really (and still does) fascinate me.
For me, as I've been ingrained in this world for almost five years, cosplay is just a means for me to be myself, to meet people, and to see friends. Its so comfortable for me to be at a convention and throw myself into a group of people I've never met before, or go up to a cosplayer wearing some amazing costume and squee at them. Of course, there is the drama, but at the end of the day I think we all fairly successfully get along.
You've been around for a number of years - how has the cosplay scene change in the past five years ? Any thoughts on the future ?
I've not been around for as long as some of the many cosplayers I know, but over the last few years, I've noticed a surge in younger cosplayers and costumers. Ones who maybe don't have a sewing machine or just learning to sew, and I look at them and see the future, which just sounds rather cheesy. Along with the younger age of attenders, the scene has gotten a little louder and wilder. But also, more and more cosplayers are picking up cameras and taking photos of their friends. I also have began to see cosplay/costuming become more and more mainstream. At more industry cons, like SDCC, there is growing interest in involving cosplayers, and not just models in costumes, at the booths or on the web sites. In the last year, as a Marvel.com staffer, I've reached my hand out to Marvel cosplayers/costumers to begin to involve them more on my blog and the website.
There was a moment a year or so ago I thought that cosplay & the convention scene had reached its peak, but I realized now that its just going to keep growing and growing. In the future, I may step attending so many cons a year, but I'll always be around to take a photo and will continue to love the friends I've made.
Images taken from Judith Stephens' "Cosplay 2010" folder on Flickr.
