Today we’d like to introduce you to Miguel Almario.
Hi Miguel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My first foray into cosplay photography was back in Baltimore Comic-Con 2018. I still had my digital camera with me, but I utilized a “photojournalist” approach in capturing my subjects. Again, I was less interested in embracing the hyper fantasy of the cosplay world than I was in photographing people in costumes living in the moment.
At the time, I was looking to try out film photography because of the unique look and methodology that shooting on celluloid provides. Katsucon 2019 was where everything started for me. I reached out to some folks on the Internet who were more than happy enough to work with me, especially with what I was working on. I was still getting familiar with shooting cosplay, but I was eventually getting my bearings over the course of the event. I was also flattered that people found it interesting to be shot on film.
Shooting on film in that convention helped me connect to others in the most unabashed way possible. I ended up striking some conversations with others about the conventions, the costumes, and things we share in common, while I also made some friends along the way. The most valuable thing I got out of that experience was that cosplayers are ultimately just regular folk who are looking to escape the baggage of their regular lives by congregating with others of similar interests. Ever since Katsucon 2019, I’ve made efforts to communicate with them as they are through myself and my art. Some may find what I do uninteresting or misaligned with their own needs, but I keep trying to form bonds with other like-minded nerds whilst continuing to improve and experiment on my craft along the way.
Shooting on film is a rewarding learning experience in itself. But the most gratifying part about my passion is the genuine connections with the people you meet along the way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a photographer has never been a smooth road for me. 2020 was the year where I had a major existential crisis. I felt that I was either not good enough for everyone, or simply a means to an end. I didn’t want to be seen as a way for people to get hundreds of likes and followers on social media. I came into the cosplay community to make valuable connections with a number of different individuals and I felt like I didn’t really get any of that. I had also considered retiring from shooting cosplay as well.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned as a content creator is that not everyone will want to work with you or make an effort to understand or accept you. But the ones you do are the people you don’t ever want to let go of no matter what. There are still a number of people I would love to work with or reach back to, but if it never comes to it then I’m grateful for the folks that stuck around with me despite all the hardships I’ve faced over the years.
I still have thoughts about retiring from cosplay photography, but it’s mostly because I have other ambitions in mind. I can’t be shooting cosplay for most of my life, and if I do then it’s most likely going to get old eventually. I’m always looking to experiment more with the medium and kickstart my dream of becoming a filmmaker.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a 26-year old film photographer based right outside of Baltimore, Maryland. Most days, I’m a mechanical engineer working for the federal government. Outside of that, I do a lot of photography work on cosplay, street, fashion, and other things. I’m also an aspiring filmmaker who’s looking to do more short films and music video projects, as well as start my own film production company.
What sets me apart from most other cosplay photographers is that I primarily shoot on film. I notice that a lot of photographers in that field go for a heavily composited or fantastical look, and I was seeking to do the opposite. I wanted to use my skills as a means to capture cosplayers in their most authentic selves, whether it be them as people enjoying the convention or the character they are portraying with their own personal twist.
I feel like a lot of the goals I’ve set for myself as a photographer in the cosplay environment are best achieved when I shoot on film. Regardless of whether you shoot in 35mm or medium format, you get this wonderful aesthetic that makes just about every image you capture look like an imperfect memory. The lesser flexibility of film scans in the editing room also means that you are photographing your subjects in all of their imperfections; not everyone would like it, but I feel that photographing them with all their blemishes intact lends to a more intimate and personal image. Shooting film also trains you to become more methodical in your composition and lighting, ultimately making you a better and more flexible photographer regardless of medium.
I’ve been shooting on film for three years and did a number of photography projects within that time span, but the work that I am most proud of at the moment is the Tale of Riley Escobar series. I was at a rough period of my life last year and I wanted to go around Baltimore with my friend Antione Robinson while shooting some film for the day. We ended up creating a series that not only told the story of my friend as an aspiring musician and creative talent but also showed the beauty of the city we call home.
Riley Escobar was an important break for me at the time because the experience of shooting it felt like going back to my roots in street photography: there was something about the photos that simultaneously felt large in scope and intimate, yet ultimately singular. For me, the series changed everything for me as an artist because it gave me the foundation of the focused visual storytelling I continue to aspire in all of my future projects. It also encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and embrace what I’ve learned in my experiences doing cosplay and street photography to experiment more.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I started doing photography work as a hobby way back in the summer of 2015. My dad had bought himself a Canon EOS Rebel T5i and I decided to borrow it going back home to the Philippines just to see what I could do with it. I essentially took my gear everywhere I went and placed the camera in precarious places to get interesting shots, whether it be from the side of a moving pickup truck to inches above the ocean on the beach.
I also did a lot of street photography work in my hometown of Manila. I spent a lot of time shooting Manila’s denizens from afar, whether it be during heavy traffic or on the streets. I had tons of fun going around experimenting with my craft, and it was where I truly embraced photography as a passion.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: migueltheanalogguy.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/miguel_the_analog_guy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/migueltheanalogguy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rColaJGFlP_8NnxeX85Zg
Image Credits
Anjin-San Cosplay (IG: @anjin_san_cosplay) Camiicatcosplay (IG: @camiicatcosplay) Cosmic Sea Turtle Cosplay (IG: @cosmic_sea_turtle) Dolly Doki Cosplay (IG: @dolly_doki) Marissa Diaz (IG: @m3llowmood) Myklynn Eckerd (IG: @mykie_22 and @myklynn_22) Antione Robinson (IG: @riley_escoescobar and @rz_media_productions) Sugary Fawn (IG: @sugaryfawn)
