DECLAN SCAMMELL
8 years ago, I was 21, in some respects an adult, and in other ways still a child. It was on a random October just before a comicon, I learned I had cancer.
I had been attending comic cons on and off since the age of 14 with friends at school, and had always loved them. When I started my journey as a hobbyist makeup artist and photographer, later turning professional, comic cons became like a Mecca for me.
A smorgasbord of creativity that I could only aspire to have. I didn’t go to that comic con in 2015, in fact it would be my last for a while.
Over the next 5 years I went through 5 types of chemo, three types of immunotherapy, 3 bouts of radiotherapy and two stem cell transplants.
I wasn’t able to take a lot of photos during this time due to a weakened immune system, and not being able to go to crowded events. So I turned to instagram, a world of creativity at my fingertips.
I found Jordan (@Emerald_Archer_uk) through a friend in the USA, I randomly sent him some makeup advice when he posted asking followers' opinions, and then an online friendship was formed.
Jordan knows now, but I don’t think he realised at the time just how amazing his friendship was during my treatment, when I went into remission we were looking at arranging a shoot, but sadly I relapsed.
It wasn’t until MCM October 2022, when we finally met in person, and we shot together. And from there our friendship has just gone on!
This isn’t the typical talk of diversity, especially as a member of the lgbtq+ community. But the world of cosplay got this lost soul through chemo, and some amazing friends and images!
This image was taken at secret con, down a dark tunnel, using a 50mm 1.2 lens, a surprisingly fast shutter speed for the low light and lightsabers for key lights.
Allowing me to really focus on Jordan’s face. I wanted to make the viewer think he was running past them in a dark alley.
emerald_archer_uk as Green Arrow, photographed by declan_scammell