The Convention photos from Day 2 of Chongqing Dreamland Comic Exhibition on October 2 have finally been organized.
My condition today was leagues better than yesterday—fully locked in throughout the session, with seamless coordination alongside the photographers that yielded several mind-blowing shots that surprised even myself.
The gear brought along this time was a Nikon D750, paired mainly with a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART and a Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8. To tackle the complex ambient lighting within the exhibition hall, we set up three YN685 speedlites along with a Godox V850III on site, supplemented by a Zhiyun M40 fill light. Once this lighting array was deployed, the texture and clarity of the images were immediately pushed to the max, lending extraordinary three-dimensional depth, especially when capturing the Dark style cosplay looks. Although overhead lights in convention halls are numerous, they tend to be cluttered and messy; relying primarily on our own portable light kit allowed us to carve out facial contours and body silhouettes with precision, while alternating warm and cool lighting enhanced the mysterious aura.
Today featured several complete outfits across completely contrasting styles. The first setup was a black leather jacket paired with a massive flag-cape while wielding a sword. This outfit incorporated abundant metallic hardware and leather materials, carrying noticeable heft on the body. Waving that massive banner posed quite a challenge to arm stamina, yet seeing that chilling, regal authority frozen in the final images made every bit of effort worthwhile. The lower half was styled with black hosiery and over-the-knee boots, standing upon reflective floors under top spotlights to establish immense ambiance. When shooting looks with voluminous capes and banners, one must harness the momentum of movement and wind to catch that split-second when the fabric billows into the air.
Later on, I switched into a red-and-black fantasy-style ensemble, sitting on the floor adjusting leg harness props while surrounded by scattered petals. This outfit was richly detailed; seated poses required extra mindfulness over the directional flow of the skirt hem and the presentation of leg lines. The photographer was exceptional at seizing candid moments, utilizing venue overhead lighting to sculpt gorgeous rim lights.
Beyond those, there was an elaborate white wedding dress look, a pink sweet aesthetic, and an anime dress accented with animal ears. Set against varied backdrops using white gossamer drapes and petals, completely distinct moods were created. The veil for the white wedding dress was extraordinarily long, requiring fans and manual veil tosses to capture its flowing grace. The shutter speed had to remain within a safe range, and the aperture was stepped down slightly to ensure image sharpness—thankfully, the lighting was potent enough that facial exposure turned out perfectly balanced. The pink dress, meanwhile, utilized wide-aperture shallow depth of field to melt away background crowds and highlight pure cuteness.
Back-to-back outfit swaps and continuous makeup touch-ups throughout the day took a massive physical toll, but seeing the playback on the camera display washed all fatigue away in an instant. The creative camaraderie at the convention was truly inspiring, with everyone dedicating their hearts to the characters they love. Sincere gratitude once again to the collaborative photographers and assisting friends today—looking forward to creating together at the next convention!