Autumn nights on Mount Daikichi remained sweltering, giving us a firsthand taste of the sheer agony of hauling heavy gear up a mountain. The sweat soaking through the back of my t-shirt never dried, and I swear I never want to experience hiking uphill carrying that much stuff ever again. Yet for this Sound! Euphonium shoot, everyone gritted their teeth and lugged the hefty brass instruments and photography equipment to the summit.
This was also my very first time visiting Uji for an Anime pilgrimage. It had been in the planning for so long, and being there in person, I discovered the city's tempo is wonderfully serene. Free from the hurried pressure of big metropolises, walking down its streets naturally puts you at ease. Immersed in this unique ambiance, we decided to capture this preview set at the Mount Daikichi observation pavilion.
The characters portrayed for this session were Kumiko Omae and Reina Kousaka. I took charge of Kumiko Omae Cosplay: long black hair paired with a white spaghetti-strap sundress, complemented by that small purple shoulder bag, looking clean and understated against the night backdrop. We brought along two brass instruments—a trumpet and a euphonium. Pursuing authentic texture, the euphonium was genuine solid metal; hauling it up the mountain proved a brutal test of both stamina and patience.
Once we reached the wooden pavilion at the summit, we began arranging lights and camera angles. Shooting a Night portrait is notoriously demanding, and with the night's high temperature, staying in character in cosplay attire within a humid environment was no easy feat. To transform the city lights below into gorgeous bokeh circles, we made countless fine-tuning adjustments to the lens aperture and fill light output. The summit's wooden gazebo framed our compositions beautifully, while the thermometer and clock mounted on the pillar served as organic environmental props.
Throughout the shoot, finding flattering angles was a continuous endeavor. Holding the trumpet for extended takes made arms ache, while the euphonium required constant balance checks to hold poses atop narrow wooden benches without scratching the instrument. Behind every single photograph lay countless angle tests. Whenever a sporadic night breeze brushed past while gazing down at Uji's glittering sea of lights, an immense sense of peace settled within.
Though physically grueling, this shoot was richly fulfilling. Navigating the twin hurdles of weather and heavy gear provided invaluable night location experience. I hope this preview allows everyone to feel the captivating charm of brass instruments woven into a nightscape.