The rain on Redland Day 2 definitely didn't fall in vain—we chose the absolute stormiest day to head onto the island. This time, I brought the Fujifilm GFX100S paired with the GF 110mm and Sigma 40mm f/1.4; this kit was an intentional hardcore challenge given the erratic convention hall lighting and downpour outdoors.
The first coordinate featured an open red jacket over a white graphic tank, paired with black multi-buckled leather shorts and black high-top boots. To lock in the full aesthetic, I donned a headset, perched goggles on my forehead, and wielded a black-and-white checkered racing flag as a prop, cultivating an industrial racing vibe. Despite the rain outside, the rusty metal warehouse background provided striking visual contrast against the crimson jacket; medium-format textures shone brilliantly across this backdrop, with glistening rainwater acting as natural specular highlights that made skin and fabric feel vibrant.
Beyond this look, I experimented with a dark gothic warrior style featuring black-and-red armor and an illuminated light sword, as well as a striking gold sequin top paired with fox ears, capturing numerous takes before booth backdrops. Toward the end, I snapped duo photos with my friend who crossed over to the island with me: she wore a peachy-pink paneled outfit carrying a prop case, while I wore an orange jacket paired with ripped black Stockings and a handgun prop; another blue-caped, white-haired Chinese-style fantasy set also wrapped successfully. Every outfit was a distinct exploration, and capturing so many aesthetics in a single convention was a wonderful surprise.
Rainy days are undeniably hostile toward outdoor and semi-outdoor expo areas—hems and boots got splattered with mud, and lenses fogged easily. To frame the right perspective, I squatted beside puddles, leveraging ground reflections to bounce fill light, successfully infusing the wasteland setting with that gritty, hardcore edge. The GFX100S autofocus performance in dim lighting surprised me pleasantly; paired with prime lenses, the raw unedited output made waiting in the pouring rain completely worthwhile despite the harsh elements.
Traveling out to the island for this ACG convention was no easy feat. With the heavy rain, we couldn't visit every booth, and many interactive zones were missed—I truly hope to stroll through properly next time. These images are virtually straight out of the camera; although the shooting process was soaked and chaotic, the final selects are deeply satisfying.