raloria

Thanks for all the wonderful comments to yesterday's post/photo. It spurred me to fix another old con photo, this time of Jared from the VanCon 2013 Sunday Gold Breakfast Panel. Beanie, scruff, hands, arms! *sigh*

// Click to view at full-size. //

Rob, Emily, Richard, Matt & a couple of fans belt out this B52s hit. Enjoy! :D

I still need to fix and prep my main photos taken with my big Canon camera, but here are some pics taken with my new point & shoot camera: the Canon Powershot S110. My plan had been to post these each night during the con to give everyone a taste of what was going on, but the schedule was so packed that I didn't have any time. So you're getting them now. It's all good, right?

Please keep in mind that the photos from my other camera will be better than these. Thx. ;)

    

The boys panel was as much fun as ever. Again, I can't remember much of it, but I must admit it wasn't quite as fun as last year's, but I'm splitting hairs here. Like last year we got another auction which provided more amusing interactions. We also got Robert Singer! What a thrill! I regret I didn't get to meet him personally. Darn! Ty was so different than I expected. He's just go, go, go...a mile a minute. I thought it was hard to take photos of Richard! He's slow compared to how much Ty moves around. LOL It was really interesting to hear about Ty's life though and how much adversity he's overcome. After everything ended at the comm, I was lucky enough to get to hang out with writer Adam Glass and a few fans. Then he called writer Robbie Thompson over for some photos! Awesome! I'd gotten to meet Robbie on Saturday, but to have them both there? Terrific! :D

This is the end of my Powershot pics, but NOT the end of my VanCon photos. Stay tuned for more!
I'll also be posting a few videos I shot. :D

( 17 pics behind the cut... )

I still need to fix and prep my main photos taken with my big Canon camera, but here are some pics taken with my new point & shoot camera: the Canon Powershot S110. My plan had been to post these each night during the con to give everyone a taste of what was going on, but the schedule was so packed that I didn't have any time. So you're getting them now. It's all good, right?

Please keep in mind that the photos from my other camera will be better than these. Thx. ;)

    

Talk about contrasting guests. LOL Felicia was amusing and sweet and Seb was wild and raunchy! Felicia answered a lot of questions about gaming, which went right over my head, but it was cool to find out her other interests (romance novel book club anyone?). It was very cool to find out the reason she was added to the con at the last minute was all Jensen & Jared's doing. They told her she HAD to attend and set it all up. Yay! boys!!! Seb, of course barely answered any questions. It was more like being part of a giant orgy. :P I know Seb's not everyone's cup of tea, but he's not all that bad either and once you meet him in photo-ops and during autographs you see a whole other side of him (which is quite different than his on stage persona).

( 17 pics behind the cut... )

I still need to fix and prep my main photos taken with my big Canon camera, but here are some pics taken with my new point & shoot camera: the Canon Powershot S110. My plan had been to post these each night during the con to give everyone a taste of what was going on, but the schedule was so packed that I didn't have any time. So you're getting them now. It's all good, right?

Please keep in mind that the photos from my other camera will be better than these. Thx. ;)

   

It was wonderful to see Jim with his own panel this year. I remember speaking with him a couple of years ago when he was just hanging out at the con (as many crew members do) and got his autograph. Then, as now, he emphasized that the fans are the ones who have kept this show running, that we're all one family, and how much the cast & crew really appreciate us. The trio panel of Richard, Matt, & Rob was completely fun! Poor Rob got picked on a bit (especially by Richard), but you can tell these guys are really close friends, thanks to attending cons all over the world. It's one of the things I love about the show...how it's brought together not only fans who wouldn't have met any other way, but it brings actors who've never even worked together and made lasting friendships. :)

( 25 pics behind the cut... )

I still need to fix and prep my main photos taken with my big Canon camera, but here are some pics taken with my new point & shoot camera: the Canon Powershot S110. My plan had been to post these each night during the con to give everyone a taste of what was going on, but the schedule was so packed that I didn't have any time. So you're getting them now. It's all good, right?

Please keep in mind that the photos from my other camera will be better than these. Thx. ;)

   

Chad & DJ each had great panels. The whole bit with Chad and his spirit detector (or whatever it's called) was downright creepy! It totally said Richard's name! I heard it. Plus, when he was trying to get the spirit to speak, the memory card in my big camera showed an error message! Oooooooh. No lie. Luckily, it turned out to be fine and I didn't lose any pics. DJ is kinda like Garth...but more southern. Hee!

( 20 pics behind the cut... )

:: Misha should come with a warning label, especially for sandwich photo-ops! He likes to body slam into you and if you're not careful or ready you could end up in a heap on the floor (not that that would entirely be a bad thing *g*).

:: Having too many photos printed out for autographs is really a bad idea. Commit to a decision at home...and do it early!

:: Post-it notes for auto personalization do not interact well with certain photo papers (like Epson's Lustre). I now have sticky patches on some of my autographed pics. Bleh.

:: Mark Sheppard refuses to smile in any photo-op.

:: Making Jensen do the whole throw-head-back-and-laugh is the best feeling ever. :)

:: Jim Michaels gives awesome hugs...and is a big flirt!

:: Trying to find locations in the woods is really HARD! A tree is a tree is a tree.

:: It pays to ask the volunteers if a guest is personalizing during autos. You might just get lucky where others will not. ;)

:: Make sure the guests use the right colored pen (black or silver) for your pic to sign. If you can't see it, what's the point?

:: Some filming locations that are no more: Oasis Hotel and Accurate Iron Works.

:: Bring an umbrella!!!! It does rain in Vancouver in August sometimes. D'oh!

:: Make sure a guest's auto does or does not come with the Gold Ticket. I missed out on getting Rachel Miner's auto. Had a photo all printed and everything. :(

:: Stop getting photo-ops with short, female celebrities. Unless it's Felicia Day and then it's alright.

:: Always grab 2 copies of the schedule. You'll need them.

:: Being last in a photo-op line is actually pretty cool, especially if the guest doesn't have to dash off to be somewhere else. Added chat time! :D

:: Don't bother bringing things to do during "down time". There is no "down time". It's just extra stuff you gotta carry around.

:: Have more than one battery for a camera.

:: Even members of the crew recognize that Season 6 was not one of their best.

:: Put episode numbers & titles at the beginning of each Filming Locations list. Will save on having to remember what scene happened in which ep when you're out location hunting.

Hi all! Sorry about the lack of posts or even Tweets. I did warn you this could happen. VanCon was simply one crazy marathon of a weekend! I'm exhausted....but oh, the sweet memories that were made. :)

A few thoughts...

:: Richard....he should host all the SPN cons. He's awesome. He dubbed this one Porn-couver. Yep, every guest was introduced by their porn name (1st pet + street you grew up on). Made for quite a irreverent and fun weekend, to say the least. :P
:: Chad Lindberg is quirky and fun and....fellow Washingtonian. Whoohoo!
:: Rob & Emily were fun. Love the idea they came up with the fans for a spin-off for Chuck & Becky: "Slash/Fiction".
:: DJ Qualls was a blast and a lot like Garth in some ways.
:: Alex Zahara was surprising and informative (and passionate) about his acting...and being killed on TV 33 times.
:: Jim Michaels is a big flirt!
:: Rob, Matt, & Richard...one of the best panels all weekend. Poor Rob! "Banana hammock!" :P
:: Russ Hamilton...drinking and locations/filming info. all in one.
:: Mark P., Mark S., and James were another knock out panel. Shame that Sheppard got most of the questions, but ah, well.
:: Felicia!!!!! She was adorable, geeky, and fun! Love her!
:: Sebastian....X-Rated almost doesn't cover it.
:: Misha...only during his panel would a fan end up tied up with duct tape and mashed on the head with cookies.
:: Rachel Miner was quiet and shy and every much the professed "book worm".
:: Jensen & Jared....Loads of fun and an awesome auction!
:: Ty Olsson...oh, so wild. Half the time I was trying to figure out what he was saying he was speaking so fast!

:: Met writers Robbie Thompson & Adam Glass. What a thrill! Half the fun of VanCon is getting to meet this awesome crew, but to meet two of the writers...OMG that's extra special! :D
Also saw Kevin Parks, Serge, Jerry, a couple of the VFX guys, and Robert Singer himself was in attendance!

That's the weekend in a nutshell (a very small one, believe me). I've got lots to share, lots of pics, even a few videos, but the schedule was so packed and crazy I've had no time to share them. Sorry to make you wait. Heck I shouldn't even be making this post, but I simply had to post something about this weekend. :)

To all who I met up with....it was so wonderful to see you and share a chat or just wave hello. To those that I missed...I'm so sorry. As you know there was little time to do much of anything except line up, get a pic taken, get autos, or sit at a panel. I know there are people I wanted to meet up with and didn't. Next year, alright?

Ok, off to bed now. It's already quite late. Location hunting in the morning...but not too early. :P

A little info. post about VanCon...

:: Meant to post this earlier, but just in case: I've got a great CONVENTION GUIDE FOR NEWBIES post that is helpful whether you're new to SPN cons or are a seasoned veteran who'd like some advice.

:: I hope to share some photos each day from the panels, etc. that I'll post here to LJ.

:: You can also check out / follow what I'm doing throughout the con on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Valerie613

:: If you're location hunting on your own in Vancouver, be sure to check out my updated for Season 8 Locations List over at spn_locations. The Google Maps are especially helpful.

Wish everyone a great weekend and I'll do my best to keep you all updated on the excitement! :D

VanCon is right around the corner (15 days!) and I'm looking forward to not only revisiting the beautiful city and enjoying the guests, but meeting up with fellow fans. Many of you I've been fortunate to hang out with every year, but I'm always eager to meet new friends as well.

I'll be in seat C20 all three days, so feel free to stop by and say Hi! :D



Please fill out my little questionnaire (only 5 questions). Helps me to know who all is attending and where to find you. Thx :)
<b>Username/Name: </b> <b>Row/Seat: </b> <b>How long are you staying? </b> <b>Going around to see SPN's Filming Locations? </b> <b>The best thing about VanCon is? </b>