Michael W. Moses Southern Geek Fest 2017

 Lets go back in time just a bit here and look at the images that I took on May 20, 2017. I went to Southern Geek Fest in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  SGF 2017 was a con that covered sci-fi, fantasy, horror, comics, and all things Geek in general. When I first entered the con I was immediately struck by the state fair, cattle show appearance of the venue itself and then by the dismal arena lighting! I thought that this was just going to be a no-go for getting any great images. Let me tell you one thing -- well two. First, did I ever get some good photographs! Second, I had the best time I have had at a con in along time.

"Guardian"

"Fallen Heroes"

The lighting may not have been what I was hoping for, but I must say that I have over the years been to some cons where it was flash photography only. Dark and gloomy lighting that prevented much in the way of shooting a truly superior image.  Much to my surprise the lighting at SGF was just perfect for my Fujifilm X-T10! I took some of the most delightful images that I have ever taken at a con. I must not only credit the camera, but mainly all the people that I photographed that day.

"Finally a Day Off"

Everyone was just so photogenic! It seemed as if there were only professional models at Southern Geek Fest. From the tiniest child to the most advanced Fen. There was just a subtle beauty to their attitudes, movements, and costumes, that made for a fantastic photographic experience. There were every imaginable costume to be seen, from Steam Punk, Action Heroes, Monsters, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and a dozen other genre!

Click the link below to view some of the images I took, that have been posted on the "CoastConFan Blog".

Click for Photos of Southern Geek Fest 2017

When I do my art photography, I start out, as many photographers do, by taking as many images as I can. I then go over them one by one choosing the ones that I find the best quality and then I pick out the ones that I want to manipulate into my art images. When one has a thousand or more images to parse, it can take a fair amount of time to go through them all.

"Travel Companions"

 There are certain images that I know exactly how they will look finished as I am taking them. There are other images that literally evolve from one picture into another and end up being unrelated to the original photograph. One of these images is "Fries For the Emperor" The moment I saw this heroic warrior king eating his fries, I knew that an image I had taken a bit earlier in the day would be what completed this and took it from being just a photo to an finished tableaux vivant. A little slice of life. Well, fantasy life that is to say.

"Fries For the Emperor"

Some of my art photographs may only take an hour to create (not as often as I would like), others may take five or more hours to manipulate and process. Some of them, I don't feel satisfied with and they are filed away, not to be thought of for years. Then one day it clicks and I know how to finish the image.  "Fries for the Emperor" took about twelve or so hours to process, making about ten or so variations before I had the image as I had originally envisioned it it should look.

Sometimes an image just happens, like the "The Cats of Ulthar".  It started out as raw image 1, that I took of this very well done pavilion that one of the groups had set up as their base camp.

raw image 1

 I originally took the image just as a possible background for future use. Once I was going through the images I looked at this pavilion and remembered an image I had been working on of one of my cats leaping through the air.

Cat Poster

One thought lead to another and I had made up a cat poster.

Then I added a few cat images and did a bit of touch up work here and there. I chose a background that I had created using "Bryce 6". then I "photoshoped" the living daylights out of it and ended up with "Cat Circus"

"Cat Circus"

I liked it, but there seemed to be something just lurking on the threshold of my mind and then it hit me it needed to be cropped and renamed "The Cats of Ulthar"

"The Cats of Ulthar"

This was an abbreviated description of how through the use of my digital photos and some manipulation of them, I produce my artistic images.

"Dreaming of Air"

So, back to Southern Geek Fest in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It was a very good time and I ended up with some very satisfying art images. I look forward to going to the next SGF and I am anxiously waiting to hear when it will be.

"The Heist"

I would like to belatedly thank all that were involved in making Southern Geek Fest 2017 such a wonderful experience! The people that put the fest on, the guests. the merchants, and especially all the fans that attended.

"Do You Have The Time Sir"

"Cookie Monster Warrior"

"Exploring Together"

Another post will be coming soon....Michael W. Moses

Michael W. Moses Goes to MobiCon XV in Mobile, Alabama, 2012

Here is a post that is a bit different for my blog. 

I have been a fan of Science Fiction and Fantasy literature and anything else related to the theme for as long as I can remember.  As a child I think I read every piece of classic science fiction and fantasy that was available. I would anxiously wait for the local drugstore to get in the latest paperbacks to see what new works were out in paperback.
So naturally Conventions are a real draw for me.

Michael W. Moses with the mysterious "Pussy the Cat" 

On Saturday the 19th I went to  MobiCon, Mobile's premier science fiction, fantasy, anime, gaming, comics, paranormal, Cosplay, and media convention.  From the moment I enter the doors of the Ashbury Hotel on Airport Blvd.  I was overwhelmed by the number of people in attendance!

Everywhere I looked there were people and so many of them were in costume.  It is nothing for people to come to these cons in costume, but in the last few years it seems that fewer people have been costuming at local conventions.  Well, There were people in Super Hero costumes. Characters from Japanese anime series. People dressed like characters from various different games.  Television characters. And loads of Steampunk inspired costumes.

After my arrival I changed into my costume for the afternoon.  I dressed in a jaunty modern Japanesque outfit, That I unfortunately did not get any images of on my camera.  I will post one in a future post, if I can get one of the many people that took pictures of this costume to email me one.

A view of the merchant's room at MobiCon XV

I spent the afternoon walking around talking with friends and meeting people. I wandered around the merchant room and looked at all the different things that the dealers had brought out for the fans to buy. I saw some really great bead work done by a very talented beader. Cool leather steam punk goggles. A wide variety of little tiny steampunk hats. That I must say would have been great to put on my cats and take pictures to put on line to embarrass them.  There were a number of people selling vintage and even a few antique items.  I bought a nice inlaid bone and exotic wood, vintage box that was more than likely made in Egypt. I also bought a great little 1920's-30's tin typewriter ribbon can that has a Japanese Geisha design on the lid.

After going out for dinner I changed into something a bit more evening appropriate  I wore a mildly steam punk, Mister Hyde character outfit of Golden evening jacket, red shirt, black pants, and top hat.  As pictured above in the image with the mysterious "Pussy the Cat", who just happened to make a special appearance, to the delight of all but the rodent visitors at the con.

I spent most of the evening, as I had for part of the afternoon taking a few images here and there.

The Game Room at MobiCon XV 2012

The costume contest was well attended by both costumers and attendees.  I can say that it looked as if a good time was had by all. 

The Top Winner of the Costume Contest

He Designed and Built His Own Steampunk  Apparatus 

Contestants During the Costume Contest

Author Christopher Rice and Michael W. Moses

 
As I was leaving I had the pleasure to meet the writer Christopher Rice and chat for a few minutes and get a quick picture taken.

I spent the rest of the evening talking with good friends and enjoying a very nicely chilled, couple of bottles of champagne.

The evening ended rather late and had an uneventful ride home to the O.S. Sigh, not even a flying saucer sighting.

Over all, after all the chaos that has swirled around the shop closing, moving to a new home, and reopening the shop at Centuries Antique Mall in D'Iberville, MS.  MobiCon was a much needed mini vacation that has left me ready to throw myself back into the fray of daily life with renewed vigor.

See more photos of MobiCon XV 2012