[Sound! Euphonium] Collision of Light and Shadow: Retro Sailor suit cosplay and Brass instrument

On the day of the shoot, it was heavily overcast with very flat natural light, which easily results in a dull, grayish texture. So, I placed an AD200 with a standard reflector in a side-backlit position, firing at 1/1 full power output to simulate the sun. The hard light from this artificial sun created extreme contrast on the cloudy day, and foliage in the woods partly blocked the light, letting dappled light beams filter through and instantly creating spatial depth. The gear used this time was a 5D Mark II paired with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. This setup produces noticeable flare under direct backlighting, but it is precisely these uncontrollable flares that added a warm, nostalgic, filmic atmosphere to the entire Atmospheric photography set.

The biggest challenge during shooting was actually the props—the weight of that brass euphonium was staggering. To recreate the playing posture, I had to keep it propped on my thighs or raised up, leaving my arms intensely sore after extended periods. The trumpet beside was lighter, but supporting and pressing the keys with fingertips for long was just as exhausting. When looking for angles, we tried the seating in the wooden corridor and the lawn; the heavy wood of the benches and the dazzling luster of the Brass instrument created a wonderful textural contrast. The reflection of leaves cast onto the euphonium bell was gorgeous, becoming one of the most captivating elements of the photos.

For composition, I intentionally took more half-body and full-body shots because the costume featured a classic retro Sailor suit cosplay paired with a red ribbon tie, and its brown fabric made colors pop vividly against the lush green background. To accentuate leg lines, I arranged for one person to wear White stockings and the other black stockings; combined with the pleated skirt folds, the rim lighting along the legs under backlighting was mesmerizing. Whenever shooting this genre of photography, I strive to capture the focused expressions of the characters—whether closing eyes while playing or looking directly into the lens, each was documented across different storyboard frames.

Post-processing didn't involve drastic color grading shifts, focusing mainly on softening the contrast ratio. The entire process was immersed in a quiet and dedicated musical atmosphere. Although moving back and forth through the garden carrying such heavy instruments was exhausting, seeing the flawless golden rim light and the sheen of the sailor uniform on screen made every bit of effort worthwhile. This set achieved high completion; I'm very grateful to my cosplay partner and thankful for my own passion, proving that even older camera gear can produce images with delicate and rich texture.