Nicolas Oskanian ( Fotogames Specialists ), the rapidly rising Greek Cosplay photographer at events in Athens, Greece, talks to us about Cosplay, photography and his work!
OVER ONE THOUSAND !
He may “only” have around 2 years of activity in the Greek Cosplay scene, before the arrival of the quarantine, being the most recent active Cosplay photographer in Greece, but nothing can stop him! Nicolas Oskanian, member of Fotogames Specialists!
Are you a visitor of events that include Cosplays in Athens? You will find him there! Starting his activities on June 2, 2018 at GameAthlon Summer 2018, he continues its frantic course until today, having already covered 20 events with Cosplays and a total of over 1170 Cosplays! Something that ranks him in terms of quantity of work already among the all time Top 10 Cosplay photographers of Greece but also at 3rd place in terms those who remain active exclusively!
He is one of the 4 remaining active Cosplay photographers in Athens ( and Greece ) who shoot as many Cosplays as time allows during an event, thus providing a more comprehensive picture of all present Cosplays at an event to the viewer, and the 2nd oldest among those remaining in action!
Let’s talk to him about himself, his team and everything!
Find Fotogames Specialists and his work on the following media! Page - Facebook - Group - Youtube - Twitter - Instagram Check out his photographer profile and his covered events list on our website, HERE!
CHASING CLICKS !
1) Tell us a few words about yourself! What do we need to know about you and your team? Who are its members and what does each one do as part of the team?
I’m Nicolas Oskanian. I deal professionally with sales and as an amateur with photography. I belong to the Fotogames Specialists team together with Vicky Giake and Maria Maloglou, who left due to a recent mishap with her health and was replaced by new members. On behalf of the team, I have undertaken the events’ photographic coverage and the technical aspects, while Vicky acts as its cosplayer and also undertakes the construction of costumes, cosplay accessories and various items.
Maria Maloglou & Vicky Giake ( Fotogames Specialists ) as Geisha
Handmade by Coraline as Erza Scarlet from Fairy Tail
2) When and how did you start your engagement with photography? How did you acquire your knowledge on photography and what kind of photography do you do?
I started photographing en masse 3 years ago when I first went to a convention, Comicdom Con Athens 2018, and was impressed by the world of cosplay and costumes. So, thanks to my good friend Panagiotis Pagonidis ( Cassiel Cosplay Photography / Cosplayers//GR ) who showed me my first steps, I started photographing Cosplayers, which is my main occupation when it comes to photography.
Super Heroes GR as Captain America from Marvel
Eternum 3D Prints as Green Ranger from Power Rangers
3) Do you consider your engagement with photography to be a hobby or something more serious? How does this determine the way you photograph?
I started photography as a hobby, but I continued at a professional level along the way, and for that reason we created the Fotogames Specialists’ “Fairytale Garden” with the initiative and execution of Vicky, for outdoor themed photoshoots.
Kate’s Art Corner as Ultear Milkovich from Fairy Tail
Dazzling Yvaine as Black Cat from Marvel
Anja_daz as Zatanna from DC
4) What was the reason that pushed you to specifically get into Cosplays photography? What was your first contact with the subject? How do you think it differs from other photography subjects?
My visit to Comicdom Con Athens 2018 thanks to my daughter accidentally revealed a whole world to me, the world of Cosplay, which was next to me, but I never noticed. So I started photographing cosplayers. These shoots are a mix of modeling with roleplay in a fantasy world, where you have to see beyond the narrow limits of what your lens sees.
Aristospower Cosplay as Leon S. Kennedy from Resident Evil 2
Dimitris Papadopoulos Photography as Leon S. Kennedy from Resident Evil 4
5) What kind of characters, sources or types of photography do you prefer in Cosplay photography? Are these choices based on personal interests, and if so, when did you get in contact with each of them? What are your favorite Cosplay characters you’ve shoot so far?
There are no favorite characters and heroes fro me when I photograph, regardless of whether some costumes are more or less impressive. Of course, since I grew up during the era of Star Wars and Ghostbusters, I have a slight preference for them. However, my favorites are Logan, Xena, Astrid, Inuyasha, Serenity, Chun Li, characters cosplayed by Vicky and Maria.
Konina Arts & Cosplay as Gwenom from Spider-Gwen
6) What equipment do you use per occasion when shooting Cosplays and how important is it in the end result? How important do you think is the corresponding knowledge on photo editing in the end result?
For my photoshoots I use two cameras, a Nikon D5600 with the a 18/55 lens and a Nikon B700 COOLPIX. In conventions I also use a mobile Photobooth Studio for photos with poses. Of course I also use Photoshop for photo editing because I want a more impressive result.
Vicky Giake ( Fotogames Specialists ) as Xena from Xena Xena: Warrior Princess
Shadow Aria as Pastel Goth Fashion
7) How did you end up covering Cosplay events regularly and what experiences did you get from it after all that time?
Fotogames Specialists’ team actively participates in all conventions and exhibitions where cosplayers participate. So, I’m always there with my team and that’s something that gives me joy and pleasure.
RenePolumorfous as Neeko from League of Legends
8) You often attend various events with your group as an exhibitor. Tell us about the content you display on your table. How do people who visit you treat you and what impact do you notice regarding your work at events and online?
As I mentioned above, our team actively participates in all conventions, not only as a cosplay or photography team but also as exhibitors with handmade constructions related to gift items, cosplay accessories, jewelry, and painting heroes on posters. People loved us from the first moment and supported us, not only materialistic, but also by advertising us using various online media.
Alexa Chan Arts as Lux from League of Legends
D.Va from Overwatch
Alexa Chan Arts as Ahri from League of Legends
9) Occasionally you collaborated with various event organizers to run a Cosplay Photobooth within an event. What shooting pattern do you follow in this case? Which case stood out the most for you?
During all that time I collaborated to set up a Cosplay Photobooth in conventions with the organizers of GameAthlon, Digital Expo and Athens Retro Festival. I always use a black background so that I can do better editing later. All three events are equally good and important to me and the experiences are so many that you can’t tell which one is better.
Venia Ralli as Nidalee from League of Legends
10) Your activities include your own online radio station, with live broadcasts. Tell us a few words about it and the content of your shows.
Our team’s activities include the online radio station Fotogames.gr. The station has a varied program always centered around Cosplay. We have music shows by team members and independent partners, Cosplayer interviews and presentations, commercials, contests and news from the Cosplayers scene.
Ashen Fire Keeper Cosplay and Art as YoRHa Type A No.2 from NieR: Automata
11) Was the theme and size of an event ever affected your decision to cover it? What would you say were your favorite events so far?
The only criterion for my participation and coverage of an event is whether it’s related to or includes cosplayers. I loved all the events I participated in, whether smaller or larger ones, as each one has its own magic.
Maria Maloglou ( Fotogames Specialists ) as Chun Li from Street Fighter 2
12) Are you generally satisfied with the people’s response to your work during all these years?
Despite being really new in the scene, I’m not just satisfied with the love I receive from people and their interest in my work, but excited, and that’s what makes me want to get better every time.
Be a Super Hero as Batman, Batwoman & Robin from Batman
13) Do you think that Cosplay will continue to be a part of your photography as a subject for a long time? If so, what plans do you have on that for the future, that you have not yet been able to realize? Is there a long term goal or personal dream that you want to achieve in this regard?
Yes, I think Cosplay as a subject is the only thing that motivates me to shoot photos. My dream is to get to the point of becoming the official photographer of events that include Cosplayers, something very difficult considering that there are many more experienced photographers in the scene with more knowledge than me. For the time being, I would like to do a big outdoor photoshoot when we get the chance to meet again like old times.
Vicky Giake ( Fotogames Specialists ) as Wolverine from X-Men
14) What is your opinion, in proportion to the size of Greece, in terms of the number and level of Greek Cosplays, as well as the level of events where they appear? What is the evolution that you have noticed over the years on that regard?
We have around 15 annual fixed events every year in Greece dealing exclusively or with the participation of cosplayers and the community, cosplayers and fans, numbers about 10000 members, which I consider proportionally enough to meet the annual needs of Cosplayers along with a relatively good level of event organising. During the last 2 years, however, I haven’t noticed anything different related to their subject matter and organization.
Be a Super Hero as Grodd from The Flash
15) Do you think that the provided Cosplay activities during various events are satisfactory or is there something you would still like to see in them regarding Cosplay?
Conventions have many topics in general that meet the needs of the largest percentage of their visitors. They are enough, as far as I’m concerned, but there are always ways to improve and multiply.
Maria Maloglou ( Fotogames Specialists ) as Inuyasha from Inuyasha
16) Is there anything else you would like to see happen in general in regarding Cosplay in Greece?
The thing I would like to see someday in Greece would be an international Cosplay Competition, like ones in the UK or USA.
Leonidas Giannisis as Doctor Strange from Marvel
17) Is there an important or funny experience from your engagement with Cosplay that you’ll never forget?
The most important moment for me was my first click with a cosplayer, meaning the point where my journey in Cosplay began.
Cassiopi Cosplay as Sith from Star Wars
18) What is the first thing you would say to someone who wants to seriously get into Cosplays photography?
Of course I would urge anyone wanting to get into Cosplay photography to do so. I would tell him “close your eyes and enter into your dream”.
Luna._.cosplay as Val’kyr from World of Warcraft
19) Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Lastly, I want to a huge thank you to all the colleagues and friends from the community for their help and support, to my team that was always by my side and of course to all the cosplayers who loved me during all that time I photograph them at events.
Maria Maloglou ( Fotogames Specialists ) as Serenity from Sailor Moon
Cosplayers//GR, the Greek Cosplay community ( 2007 – today ), the only big non-profit neutral and independent Greek Cosplay community network, dedicated to providing -all- existing news about the community, coverage, recording and promotion of all Cosplayers, Cosplay events and anything associated with Cosplay in Greece.
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