| Conclusion |
I've been to Anime Los Angeles every year that it has been held. It's amazing to see how much it has grown from the first year, when
attendance was about 600 people. This year, attendance was just over 3,200. It's good that the convention seems to be very healthy.
However, big crowds aren't always a good thing, depending on where a convention is held. There are some conventions when you feel
like you're in a sardine can. People are densely packed. It gets uncomfortable. This is one of the reasons why I avoid conventions like
Anime Expo and Comic Con International. As a result, I spent most of my days hiding out in the photo studio tucked into the back corner of
the ballroom level. I gave up fairly early on taking photos anywhere else. Just about every other area of the hotel was filled with people. I
saw people taking photos in spaces that people didn't even venture into last year. In seemed that everybody was in search of any open
space to take photos. I simply didn't want any part of it. I don't like shooting in crowded spaces. I don't like fighting for space. That's just
me.
Another thing that gets to me is the influx of new convention photographers who honestly have no manners. They're rude. They're pushy.
They follow people around. They invite themselves to private photoshoots involving cosplayers and photographers that they don't know. In
some cases, they try to hijack private photoshoots. Some of them aren't just rude, they're really creepy. The first convention where I
experienced a lot of this rudeness by photographers was Fanime in 2009. It looks like the rudeness disease has spread to Southern
California as well. For this reason, conventions in general, are a much less enjoyable experience for me.
Going into the convention, I didn't plan on every cosplay photo to be taken in the photo studio, but that's just the way it turned out. I think it's
great that the convention has a photo studio for attendees to use. No other convention that I go to has this. I'm not used to studio
photography. I rarely get a chance to do it. I was able to learn a lot things by spending a lot of time down there. There were times when it
was lonely, and slow, and flat out boring, but when it got busy, it was really fun. I've already invested in more lighting equipment and will
probably be spending a lot of time in the photo studio next year. I expect this convention to be more crowded and crazy next year. I want to
avoid that during the day. I still come to this convention to relax and when I see so much activity going on, it becomes hard to relax.
When the photo studio closed each night, I would pack up my photography equipment for the day and enjoy the convention's night life.
There's a lot going on in that department. This convention is still one of the better conventions for socializing. At night is also a good time
to catch a concert or go to a screening or play a few games. The convention still has a great atmosphere and energy. For me, it's still a
very fun convention to go to. When I walk around the convention, it seems that I run into somebody I know every few feet. That makes it very
enjoyable.
I guess this convention is at a point where the next few years are going to show me a lot. There a reasons why I like some conventions
and there are reasons why I hate some conventions. Right now, it has more stuff in the "like" column. As the crowds grow and I get
pushed further past my comfort zone, that may change. For now, it's still worth going to and I look forward to next year.
See you next year!
Nergene Arquelada
super-no1.com
attendance was about 600 people. This year, attendance was just over 3,200. It's good that the convention seems to be very healthy.
However, big crowds aren't always a good thing, depending on where a convention is held. There are some conventions when you feel
like you're in a sardine can. People are densely packed. It gets uncomfortable. This is one of the reasons why I avoid conventions like
Anime Expo and Comic Con International. As a result, I spent most of my days hiding out in the photo studio tucked into the back corner of
the ballroom level. I gave up fairly early on taking photos anywhere else. Just about every other area of the hotel was filled with people. I
saw people taking photos in spaces that people didn't even venture into last year. In seemed that everybody was in search of any open
space to take photos. I simply didn't want any part of it. I don't like shooting in crowded spaces. I don't like fighting for space. That's just
me.
Another thing that gets to me is the influx of new convention photographers who honestly have no manners. They're rude. They're pushy.
They follow people around. They invite themselves to private photoshoots involving cosplayers and photographers that they don't know. In
some cases, they try to hijack private photoshoots. Some of them aren't just rude, they're really creepy. The first convention where I
experienced a lot of this rudeness by photographers was Fanime in 2009. It looks like the rudeness disease has spread to Southern
California as well. For this reason, conventions in general, are a much less enjoyable experience for me.
Going into the convention, I didn't plan on every cosplay photo to be taken in the photo studio, but that's just the way it turned out. I think it's
great that the convention has a photo studio for attendees to use. No other convention that I go to has this. I'm not used to studio
photography. I rarely get a chance to do it. I was able to learn a lot things by spending a lot of time down there. There were times when it
was lonely, and slow, and flat out boring, but when it got busy, it was really fun. I've already invested in more lighting equipment and will
probably be spending a lot of time in the photo studio next year. I expect this convention to be more crowded and crazy next year. I want to
avoid that during the day. I still come to this convention to relax and when I see so much activity going on, it becomes hard to relax.
When the photo studio closed each night, I would pack up my photography equipment for the day and enjoy the convention's night life.
There's a lot going on in that department. This convention is still one of the better conventions for socializing. At night is also a good time
to catch a concert or go to a screening or play a few games. The convention still has a great atmosphere and energy. For me, it's still a
very fun convention to go to. When I walk around the convention, it seems that I run into somebody I know every few feet. That makes it very
enjoyable.
I guess this convention is at a point where the next few years are going to show me a lot. There a reasons why I like some conventions
and there are reasons why I hate some conventions. Right now, it has more stuff in the "like" column. As the crowds grow and I get
pushed further past my comfort zone, that may change. For now, it's still worth going to and I look forward to next year.
See you next year!
Nergene Arquelada
super-no1.com
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