This set of mirror-reflection convention photos shot on the second day of the DC32 Qingdao Anime Festival just got back from post-processing yesterday. Striking while the iron is hot, I'm here to share some shooting insights from this session.
Let's talk about the shooting gear first. The main camera was a Nikon D750, paired with two lenses: a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art and a Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8. For flashes, we used three YN685 speedlights plus a Godox V850III, coordinated with a Zhiyun M40 continuous pocket light. Facing the complex and messy overhead lights of the convention hall, this combination effectively overpowered the messy background light sources, ensuring the accurate restoration of skin tones and costume fabric textures. In actual shooting, the 50mm prime lens was used to capture medium shots and close-ups, with the wide aperture doing wonders for blurring the background, while the 24-70mm was used to compose shots containing the full-body mirror reflections. This gear selection is perfect for high-quality Anime-style photography.
The main credit for such high output efficiency this time goes to the sheet of mirror paper we brought along. Finding a slightly open space on the convention floor, laying down the mirror paper, and bringing the lens low right against its edge allowed us to extend the character's visual proportions through the reflection. At the same time, the floor reflection perfectly integrated the complex ceiling light sources, drastically enhancing the spatial layering of the frame. The glowing prop in my hands in Image 1 was already very bright, and placing it in front of the mirror paper created a top-and-bottom echoing glow that instantly maxed out the atmosphere.
The four stylings shot this time each had a different vibe. Choosing one as the cover for Image 4, it features a blonde hair, red eyes look paired with a pink-and-white checkered skirt, making a finger-heart gesture. Combined with the soft, diffused ambient light on-site, the overall frame looks incredibly translucent and vibrant. Image 3 features a styling holding a crown, with hands clasped and eyes closed, showcasing black-and-white dual-toned hair paired with a blue-and-red gemstone forehead piece. Capturing such a quiet, focused expression in a noisy convention hall was no easy task, and the light hitting from the side perfectly highlighted the hair's texture. The double white veil styling in Image 2 was shot from a high angle, which demands higher standards for three-dimensional lighting; the photographer utilized a large area of diffused light to soften facial contours, with pink petals scattered on the pure white skirt hem, projecting a sense of pure beauty.
I especially want to thank the photographer, who was incredibly responsible. In the crowded aisles of the convention, in order to find a clean background, avoid passing pedestrians, and simultaneously adjust the angle of the mirror paper, he was almost half-kneeling on the floor, blocking the crowd with his body. Moreover, the output efficiency exceeded expectations; quite often after a sequence of continuous shots, the raw images already had outstanding light and shadow effects.
Standing at the convention for two consecutive days indeed left my body quite tired, but looking at these frozen moments, I really feel everything was worth it. Every time at an anime expo, I meet so many interesting and professional photographers and fellow enthusiasts. Sharing makeup, styling, and lighting insights with each other makes for a fantastic atmosphere. The venue and organizers of the Qingdao DC Anime Expo also provided a wonderful environment for taking photos, with everyone queuing up in an orderly fashion, which greatly enhanced the quality of the convention photos.
The most charming part of offline events like anime conventions is that they allow enthusiasts to temporarily escape daily life, put on carefully prepared outfits, and gather with like-minded friends. Whether it's the light and shadow on set, the details of the props, or the frozen facial expressions in that split second, they are all unique memories belonging to this summer. I hope to have the opportunity to participate in similar events in the future and continue to use the lens to record more cosplay works full of passion and creativity.