Dear Janolytes,

 

I hate being sick. Thats it. Thats the tweet.

Shit is the fucking Trenches, on Kami bro. My girlfriend and I went to San Antonio, Texas last week to see Lupe Fiasco, Gym Class Heroes and B.O.B in concert…..well that was the goal but they canceled the show. But the flight and hotel was already booked, soooooooo niggas went to get away from cotton field fuckery.

Problem was the weather was ass. misty, damp, dreary ass. Sounds like the smell of the flight down there because some one was musty. Some ones actually. Combine the weather of last week with the fact that I already had slight issues with the changing of the seasons and you get SNOT FEST 2027.

YEP!!!! * Trey songs voice

On top of me still not finding my freedom from Cottonfield 12. Yep Still there. I’m over this shit. Anyway.

On a positive note I saw Kelela in concert a few days ago.

*Insert Eupphoic feeling

This is the 2nd time I didn’t release an issue when I had a show that month. Maybe that is a good thing. My bandwidth can only expand so much. That probably doesn’t sound correct, but you get the point. Couple my limit bandwidth with cotton field depression, existentialistic depression that occurs every September, and me prepping for a show you get me not doing my monthly internet duties.

SMH.

Anyway this issue is a long one, its similar to the Season 2 finale issue from 4 years ago. None of these photo shoots were planned, but since I took shots I actually like I am inclined to share and talk about them on this here internet.  Originally this was going to be called summer side quest, but the last 3 of these didn’t occur in the summer. And I didn’t have any other side quest shoots that occurred around the time it occurs.

So here we go.

I wish I had a latte right now.

Spoiler Alert, it some point it will sound like I am blaring through these.

Photography walk

2023 had started. Cotton field 11 had shut down at the end of March. I was unemployed for what would turn out to be 3.5 months before I started cotton field 12 in July 2023…..my last months of peace. The plan was to just work on the last few issues of my comic. I was still on a social media hiatus. There is peace in not being online. I promise you.

Anyway I was browsing somewhere on the inter webs and discovered that there was going to be a photography walk. I had never done one and decided to check it out. One Sunday I headed up to Camp North End and waited at the destination on this windy day. It was hosted by The Light Factory and had equipment that was provided by Bigg’s camera. It was to give photographers a chance to experience different lenses which was pretty dope. The entire event lasted maybe 2-3 hours. I made note of which lenses I would want to use for further projects. At some point during the walk this actor approached me about what was happening.  He told all the projects he has been apart of……and I didn’t know none of them.

I told him what the event was about, and how he is looking for a photographer. Then proceeded to tell me about how he can get a whole studio, etc etc, etc.. I say etc, etc, etc, because even though he asked for my information, pay me, and  how he wanted to do something I never hear nothing from this man again in my life. If I were to see him randomly on the street I wouldn’t recognize this man what so ever.

This is the type of shit I don’t like and why I have no faith when people say they want to do something.

Anyway for images of this equipment experience. click here.

Con Carolinas 2023

June 2023 came and so did my urgency to find a job since my unemployment was quickly running out. Also my cpu had died on me.

Yep on June 5th, 2023 I opened it up and the screen was fragged. I took it to get it repaired and was told it would be $500 to fix…….and with that I had an artless summer. Which wasn’t bad because I felt no pressure to get anything done. Hell I couldn’t I didn’t’ have the money I need to get this cpu fixed.

Unpopular opinion. Unemployment should last longer than 13 weeks and you should get paid an amount more than the current pay outs are. Especially if your former cotton field shuts down.

The week of I applied to work at Hobby Lobby out of sheer desperation. They told me to come back on Saturday because the manager would be there. Saturday came and I had decided to go to ConCarolinas this year as a guest and a not a photographer.

Yep, the same Con Carolinas my actress friend went to as a guest years prior. On the way there was Hobby Lobby, packed with humans. I flash backed to years ago when I was at Ikea (ironically in the same shopping district a few buildings down), and I said fuck it. 

I don’t know who needs to hear this but customers can be the lowest form of man at times. The one’s that act entitled are the fucking worst. Especially the ones who refuse to put their payment method in your hand.  

UGGGH!!!

I’m a far cry from the version of me that worked at Ikea and Party City years ago. At this point I may slap you. 

Anyway. 

I arrived at the hotel with my camera in tow and acted like a regular con goer. At some point i got stopped by this nerd cosplay group, and they told me what they do. I showed them Street Fighter shoot I did. Interestingly they knew my friends I shot. At some point I posted up on the nearest wall and shot some candids.  2 people came to the table and the leader of the group introduced me to them. I didn’t think too much of it until I asked myself why is this Veronica Mars looking bitch starring at me the way she is??

I literally just finished watching Veronica Mars a few weeks prior to this, so that reference was accurate.

It was moments later that I realized who it was….it was my friends ex from 2003-2011.  *Lightbulb goes off.

OH SHIT!!!!  words I verbalized as the adjacent crowd starred in concern. We hugged and both were surprised to see each other.

Honestly I forgot all about her and I had no reason to think I’d see her again., but here we are in the random side quest of 2023. We caught up and walked around the convention.  The rest of the convention was random shots, a dance party, and hotel room parties.

Spoiler Alert, a lot of  this issues side quest stems from this interaction as does future issues.

Anyway to see the images from this random day, here is the link homie.

Inari Shrine

After running into Veronica Mars, she started to invite me to a lot of cosplay, anime related events. One would think my geeky ass would know about this stuff, but nope I don’t.

As I told her Idk shit. I just pick cotton and go home. She was surprised when I told her I hadn’t been to that many anime conventions, and usually that was because of finances.

Jano, I thought you picked a lot of cotton?

Absolutely, but also despite being a grown ass adult with a degree the only places that have hired me are jobs that don’t pay a lot or they shut down, have lay offs or are seasonal projects. Or all of the above.

Sad but True.

I think the last convention I had  went to prior to Blerd Con in 2024 was……Heroes Convention 2013, no it was this random small comic con which I met my mermaid friend when cosplaying as Deadpool.

Yes so sad or whatever Loki said.

Veronica told me about this group that was doing an anime thing the next week. I literally don’t remember how she described it, but I said yea I would go.

Adventure time come on tell a friend.

Side note, I miss the chapter of my life where I was doing side quest and I wasn’t exhausted. Felt like college years. Unemployment is fun if life allows you to have it.
Side note this a month before I start Cottonfield 12.

A week passed and I went to the Vapa Center. I texted  Veronica Mars to let her know I was there.

No response, I assumed she was busy.

I walked in and they the group told me the price. I forgot how much it was but internally i was like hold up. I just told them I was meeting someone here. I didn’t see her or the group I met her with and went outside. Eventually they walked up and we walked in together.

I’m not sure how I got in without paying, but I guess I was with the Kool kids.

IDK.

They had manga volumes, video games and other things. Honestly if I was working I prob would have paid…..probably, but I was part of the kool group so I didn’t have to.

Yeet bro.

Anyway it was short lived my time there, they invited me to hang out with them. I went to Showmars and then met up with them.

See images here for this arc.

In case you haven’t noticed this is why I dedicated a whole issue to these adventures. Legit short blurbs like ol Looney Tunes, tiny toons, and adventure time episodes.

 

Durag Fest and Haylos Fire Party

Jano why is this 1 section?

Simple because it happened on the same day homie.

Durag fest had been a thing for a while here in Charlotte. I think since 2018 or 2019. But then that pesky super virus Covid occurred, so things obviously halted with good reason.

I think this was the 1st year it came back. I think, don’t get me lying cuz I have no idea. I had ran into some friends the week prior and hung with them at bday party. They talked about it, internally I thought i’ll check it out. Because why not.

So the next hot as fuck Saturday in June 2023 I went to Camp North End.

Side Note, R.I.P. to the version of my life that had consecutive free Saturdays off and not this alternating slave shit I’ve been enduring for the bulk of the last 3 years.

I arrived at Camp North End and BOY it was packed. Packed as fuck bro. But it was koolio tho.
Due to finances I had just got the basic general admission ticket. There were other levels but it didn’t make sense given my financial status.

There was arcade cabinets designed by artist. I think I saw an artist who I met at a gallery 2 months prior. There were  food trucks, vendors, a fashion show and art installments. 

Honestly it was just a big ass party.  Black people stunting in custom Du rags and stunting in general.

It was pretty dope…hot as fuck, but dope still.

At some point I ran into 2 friends. For the link purposes we are gonna say Friend 1 and Friend 2.

For some reason I was surprised to ran into anyone. That makes no sense but it makes sense at the same time.  I ran into another friend at some point, but I don’t have a past photo issue to reference.  At any rate Durag Fest is just seem like a big party. Niggas were dancing and frolicking.

Love to see it. Click here to see it too.

I told my friends I was gonna go check out my Tattoo artist Fire Party. I left around maybe 8 toward 9 ish and headed out.

Jano what is a Fire Party?

So my tattoo artist had been throwing this for a while, probably when she got her own studio a few years prior. We reunited when I finally got my chest tattoo that took a decade to fuckin get.She reminded me of it and I decided  I would go.

Why hadn’t I gone in prior years?  Honestly Idk. Schedule conflicts from cottonfields or just simply forgetting.

But I arrived with camera in tow. In retrospect I wish I had charged my flash batteries since this was outside with very little lights. There was vendors, artist and other people who supported over the years. Hayley is a dope and chill artist and as of right now the only person who has inked me down.

 

There was a ceremony with a fire pit n the middle. On the ground there were words written out in 4 directions Understanding, Intimacy, Presence, and Generosity. If i remember right the speaker asked for people to come forward if that is what they want to call more in their life.

I think.

I really don’t remember. But it was very moving at the time. I didn’t move, i just shot as the event went on.  The ceremony ended and there were fire dancers which was illuminating.

HA, fire light at night pun.

I’m glad i got to experience esp since that may not happen again. The venue has been dissolved and hopefully my tattoo artist is finally relaxing.

There is joy in not doing shit.

For a hot time click here.

Ok no more fire puns.

Cosplay Shoots: Street Fighter and Spider Verse

These didn’t happen the same day but honestly they felt about the same.

To a degree.

The Street Fighter cosplay shoot literally occurred the day after the aforementioned events. It was back at Camp North End, only difference it was less crowded on a Sunday morning. I met up with Veronica Mars and her lil band of friends.  There was another photographer there and people just broke off in groups. I bounced from location to location shooting with no direction in mind. The only notable  moment was that someone had heat exhaustion. The event halted at that point as everyone tended the heat wounds. Despite it all I got some good shots that you can view here.

Fast Forward to Labor Day w.end.

I am now employed at the dreaded Cottonfield 12 and getting slutted out by BBC, Big Brown Cardboard.

I didn’t think I’d still be here. But here I am.

Here the fuck I am.

UGH!!!!

Anyway it was day 3 of my 5 day w.end and I was at Camp North End, a new record for the year since I barely went in prior years. Not just just for the events listed but also random art show that happen there at times. My homeboy had asked me to pick him up since he was a victim of the recent tik tok trend of Kia car theft.

SHOULD HAVE NEVER GAVE YOU NIGGAS THE INTERNET!!!

We caught up on that and other things since I saw him last the w.end before Du Rag Fest. Veronica Mars arrived and we  all joked in the heat before this show started.

The same formula occurred as the Street Fighter shoot, there was a few more interesting shots and sequences that were inspired by the recent movie. As I type this the next movie has not occurred and yet I have lived through a good amount of canon events within the last 3 years.

Anyway, web sling here for said moments.

THWIP.

Licka House Podcast

Fast Forward to February 2024. I’ll fill in the gaps later. It may take a few moments based on how I operate this website, but the gaps will be filled. Same homeboy I mentioned last issue, came in town to celebrate his bday with us. Our friends house was packed with niggas.

So fucking packed. It was cold as fuck outside so niggas were really inside trying to stay warm, but it was a fun time. It was the usual group from past events and this group who was in the cosplay photo shoots. Hours passed and we dispersed to meet up for brunch as we usually did post liquor based shenanigans.

Some of us decided to meet up afterward while an episode of their podcast was recorded. I told them I would stop by after I got groceries for my slave week. I stopped by later and bought my camera.

Again I wish I had my flash batteries charged, prob would have helped out some. At. least I bought my tripod. I alternated between my camera and cell phone for footage. It was a chill hilarious time, 2 of my boys  who were officially on the mic talked about music and other things, and the rest of us chimed in randomly or just laughed at the jovial nigga times we were having.  Would I do it again?

Absolutely. 1 of my boys had messaged me asking if I would shoot him recording and I told him yea. An answer I meant but never followed up. Partly because I was planning my 1st art show and the majority of the other part was that I became very lazy creatively after I finished coloring my book later that month of February 2024. I didn’t wanna do shit except exist. I had a whole 2 part photoshoot that I did that month but I didn’t work on it until May 2024. I vegged out so hard post slave pit.

One day though. Shit was fun times and its always fun to do hood rat shit with ya friends. Or support your friends projects and you photograph it.

Or Both.

In the meantime here goes the images from that day.

Side Note, I got food poisoning the week after this party.

THAT SHIT IS ASS!!!!

On Kami I need a less exhausting job. I swear to fuck I do and free w.ends. This alternating w.end shit is ass. I get like 26 free Saturdays a year. Its ghetto here.

 

Anyway yall thats all folks. Technically I have 2 more shoots to display but I don’t feel like talking about them to the extent as I did the other side quests, So I’ll make this quick.

Maid Cafe was done by the same cosplay group, which was dudes dressed as Maids to serve women since it was Women’s appreciation month.   It was in this moment that I realized my flash was ass. It must have sttopped working after the shoot I did in Novemeber 2023.

Con Carolinas 2024. I met up with Veronica Mars and we walked around the con and taked about things. The amount of images I got weren’t that great, but i got some so thats koolio. I think this occured the week before my 1st art show.

Like I said we will get to that at some point.

Felt like I breezed through this, but honestly I didn’t have much to talk about. These events weren’t  planned shoots on my part. I was just a nigga enjoying life and I took my camera. Take me back to November or whatever Tyler the Creator said, in this case Spring-Fall of 2023, I hadn’t been enveloped by the trenches just yet.

Moral of the story, not every thing  will be a full blown anime saga. Some are just 10 min shorts like Adventure time and Tiny Toon Adventures.  Adventure time c’mon tell a friend.