Imagine yourself strolling hastily through the narrow pathways of a town called Whiterun. Located in the Province of Skyrim, it is an interesting mixture of Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings. The sun is mostly at an over cast, bringing to life the rustic tones muted by the monotonous gray. At a distance, a squad of waterfalls are heard while mystical staircases decorate the hills you constantly journey on. An honorable armor houses your body along with a powerful helmet upon your head. Your stare is strong, determined, and undefeated. The relenting force of your spear sword surges through your entire being. There is a readiness to hunt, to fight, to kill your opponent: the menacing dragon.
For Maddy Mesa, sitting in front of the television playing The Elder Scroll V. Skyrim on any given evening is a thrilling combination of exploration, moody lighting, jaw dropping landscapes, and mystical creatures. For me, it was the first time hearing of it. In fact, besides the occasional Mario Kart, Crash Bandicoot, and Fifa 14, I never really dabbled into the video game world.
Yet, sitting at a coffee table with Maddy, I was being introduced to the ever growing world of Cosplay. You see Maddy and her friend Chris had intricately designed, sewn, and painted the entire costume of Skyrim’s iconic dragon slayer or Dragonborn, as the experts call them. On their most recent Comic Con. appearance she received an award for it and wanted her vision to be captured through photographs.
However foreign the topic sounded to me, I was seriously intrigued. Every stitch, every pattern, every embroidery, and every paint brush was an emblem of their time and dedication, therefore; I wanted to be part of this experience. We brainstormed locations and talked lighting. I read Cosplay Magazines, studied the video game play, and even listened to the soundtrack before bed. This costume is Maddy’s child and my goal was to look beyond the costume and capture the face of a beautiful obsession.
Maddy Mesa: @maddog_cosplay
Armor by: @monstermoth_props
Photography: @themariamor
On the day of our photo-shoot Maddy and I stood together and visualized going on a dangerous adventure through the unpaved roads of Whiterun. We were no longer in Florida, but in Skyrim. She was the lead and I, her companion. In the end, I believe that through our time together we accomplished a portrayal of a powerful, confident, and poised beautiful Dragonborn. Through all the mosquitos, spiders, and bruises we enjoyed every bit of it. It was no longer Maddy playing a Skyrim character as an actress, but Maddy as a female figure in the most noble of forms.
