Otaku High Cosplay Photography

Cosplayer Name: Jet Texas
Known Cosplays: Jet Black - Cowboy Bebop
Con Circuit: Texas

I have been attending anime conventions since A-kon 4 which was pretty much a long time ago in a galaxy far far away or about fourteen years for those wanting exact times. Cosplay has always fascinated me but in that span of a nearly two decades I have never put on an outfit. With zero talent for sewing and always broke I had to admire from outside the cosplay circle and take home the memories on Kodak disposables. As the years have worn on my interest in cosplay has grown even more to point of getting into series photography with the sole purpose of shooting cosplay. If you can’t dress up the next best thing to do is become a Cameko I told myself. I learned almost every cosplayer wants good photos of their work and so I found my skill, my talent that lets me into the circle. Once inside this circle I have had the privileged of meeting some wonderful and skilled people.

In this new quarterly Cosplayer Spotlight article I have chosen as my first victim a gentleman I met at AnimeFest 2006 in Dallas. He immediately impressed me with his choice of outfit. For a moment I had thought Jet Black, one of the main characters of the hit anime series Cowboy Bebop had some how escaped from the land of cells and paint into our realm of reality. While the outfit was simplistic the face and the way he carried himself screamed Jet Black. I have had the opportunity to shoot him several times since then at A-kon 18 and at the newest con in Houston, Atsuicon. He is one of the rare subjects I do not tire of putting in front of the camera. With grand charisma and intelligence to back it all up, he is more than just a good cosplayer but a great person to just sit with and speak to.

I had the pleasure of preparing five questions for him to let him share with us the why’s and how’s of his personal cosplay experiences. So without further adieu I present to you Mr. Jet Texas:

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How did you get started in Cosplay?

Hm.. that is a puzzling question. Of my group of five closest friends I was voted 6th to be a cosplayer. I had gone to A-KON with two of my best friends and had a blast then went the next year and was still just a “normal” con attendee with a minor exception. I wore a “rally shirt” bright Metallic Candy Apple Red on Sunday so I would be the rally point when we had to find each other. I was asked who I was cosplaying and I think maybe that was the genesis. Oh, and it just looked fun.

What was your first costume and why?
I play Jet Black from Cowboy Bebop, first and only so far. I picked the Tan Suite from Honky Tonk Woman and Brain Scratch because, well umm its was simple and easy. I grew my beard a bit higher then normal then cut it to shape. I happen to look a bit like Jet and I like the character. If you are interested in my progression from attendee to cosplayer I have it on my blog at myspace, please excuse any errors in grammar, the written word is not my strong suit.

http://www.myspace.com/Jet_Texas

What has been your most memorable moment in your cosplay history?

Oh, that is very hard to say. There have been so many but I guess the most memorable would be when I was asked for a photo by a very polite young lady dressed in a Rocky Horror “chorus line” costume. Having some one ask “May I please take your picture?” while wearing a so little in public was truly unique.

What is your favorite costume you have seen on other cosplayers?

That is almost impossible to say. There are so many great costumes some look better then the drawings! I guess the costume that I thought was perfect was at my first A-KON when a toddler was walking next to his mom as Shippo from InuYasha. It was just awesome. And I also have to add the young lady that built and donned the StarScreem to A-KON. Great Job and it must be a nightmare to wear in the Texas heat.

Besides Cosplay, name one other hobby you are in to.

Table top Miniature Gaming. At present I play mostly War hammer 40,000 (Codex Space Marine, Imperial Guard, Imperial Guard Armored Company, and Gray Knights.) If you have any extra money and need to get rid of it fast anything by Games Work Shop will be glad to help (Editor’s Note: That is the total truth. I have Space Hulk and Advanced Space Crusade… $$$).

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Below are four of the photos I have taken of Jet over the last year that I have thought to be my personal best. Click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the photo. See you on the next spotlight Cowboy.