Welcome to the GeekShot Photo Exclusive Series. This will be a weekly post featuring cool, interesting, or just plain awesome moments we have captured during San Diego Comic-Con. Each week we’ll post a photo by Beth or James of GeekShot Photography. We may include a short story about the photo, but sometimes we’ll just let the photo speak for itself.

[Editor’s note: GeekShot Photo was named Best Photographer in the 2014 Steampunk Chronicle Reader’s Choice Awards. We congratulate James and Beth on this fantastic achievement!

Now go and enjoy their awesome photos!]

About This Photo

Nerd!

This portrait of Zachary Levi is from the 2012 Nerd HQ Chuck Conversation for a Cause. It was the only Nerd HQ panel I managed to get to that year.

One of the things I like to try and capture during panels are close portraits – the emotions and moments you might normally miss while watching a panel are a special achievement every time I manage to catch one.

Doing this at Nerd HQ is easier than at SDCC and other conventions for a few reasons. First, the lighting is better than all but maybe Ballroom 20. Next, they don’t have tables in front of them to obstruct the view, or hold things like water bottles that get in the way. Finally, the mics are hand held and they will put them down when not speaking. If you’ve ever tried getting a clear shot between the mics, water bottles, cups, etc. at SDCC, you know the difficulties I’m talking about.

For those reasons alone I’m glad Nerd HQ is coming back for 2014. But the Conversations for a Cause, atmosphere, hangouts, parties, movies, Operation Smile fundraising, and so much more make Nerd HQ one of the best things going outside Comic-Con. I hope they are successful and can keep coming back for many years to come.