The Day 2 Convention photos from the October 1st Wuhan CGF are finally organized. Shooting multiple looks this time was quite a big style experiment for me—from casual athletic hooded sweatshirts to pure white angelic or clergy-style looks, and then to dark combinations with gothic elements, we practically tried every outfit style imaginable. The interaction between models and props was especially crucial, such as those duo interaction shots: when handing flowers to a friend, expressions and positioning had to align precisely, otherwise the visual tension would be heavily compromised.
The 2nd-floor foyer of the Optics Science venue is truly incredible for photos—a conclusion I feel compelled to emphasize every time I visit. Today we mainly relied on natural light pouring through glass curtain walls combined with fill lights. Equipment-wise, I used a Nikon D750 paired with a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART lens for subject texture, and a Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 for wide-angle scenes and environmental tension. For flashes, three YN685 speedlights were deployed as key and rim lights, alongside Zhiyun M40 continuous lights and Godox LC500R for facial fill and ambient color rendering—especially in creating that cool white atmosphere. This combo gave raw photos a remarkably solid foundation.
Speaking of the Wuhan Comic Convention experience, Wuhan CGF's organization and atmosphere never disappoint. Special thanks to Guo C for approving my first-batch photography media pass application; getting official recognition is truly gratifying for a photographer. Although crowd density was huge that day, a few of us managed to find time in the 2nd-floor foyer to scout some clean backgrounds. Natural light coming through floor-to-ceiling glass formed lovely geometric shadow slices, which could be easily leveraged with slight angle adjustments in Anime-style photography.
Honestly, we were so busy on the convention day that we didn't even get time for lunch, which was a pity, but seeing finished photos made it all worthwhile. Under high-intensity shooting, high tacit understanding between photographers, models, and assistants is essential. Especially for complex actions—like characters wielding greatswords or holding staves—temporarily adjusting on-site was required to prevent props from blocking facial highlights while keeping composition balanced. Skin tones produced by this gear setup are extremely translucent; despite complex venue lighting, as long as contrast and color temperature are managed, photos are ready straight out of camera without complicated editing.
I'd particularly like to mention duo photography. Compared to solo shots, duo interaction poses higher demands on composition and facial expression. For instance, in scenes interacting with flowers, ensuring matching eye lines and lighting effects between two people while keeping prop proportions balanced without overpowering subjects is key. Fortunately, my lighting setup performed excellently in controlling light ratios, highlighting facial features naturally without drowning out ambient lighting.
These Convention photos serve as a personal summary as well. Beyond capturing recreated character states, I felt the complete convention ecosystem—from well-equipped master photographers to exquisitely styled cosplayers, and those adorably soft beast-ear plush props that filled the space with vitality. Being part of the photography team and seeing models provide amazing feedback gave a profound sense of achievement.
Although shooting all day leaves the body aching, all fatigue vanishes the moment a framed composition takes shape in the viewfinder. The venue lighting coordination and equipment choices met expectations perfectly. I deeply enjoy this unrestricted, creative photography atmosphere and look forward to continuing to collaborate with such professional teams to craft more cosplay works. The joy of photography and publishing photos ultimately stems from the pure feeling of people gathering together for shared passions.