This summer holiday's schedule was packed to the brim, with Guangzhou Firefly ACG Expo and Shenzhen Anime Festival kicking off one after another. I stayed at the venues with a full suitcase of gear. From the 17th to the 20th at Firefly, and then moving on to Shenzhen Anime Festival from the 24th to the 26th, it was high-intensity shooting all the way through, but every press of the shutter felt incredibly worth it.
Cosplay convention photos are completely different from studio shoots. The lighting on-site is complex, and there are many passing visitors, which tests one's ability to quickly compose and snap shots. I brought my own lights, so I could try my best to ensure clean lighting on the characters' faces while darkening the background to highlight the subject. Among these sets of outfits, some flowing long dresses required heavy wind to make the hem fly, some heavy weapons required arm strength from both arms to hold steadily, and some intricate accessories needed repeated angle adjustments. Before shooting, I would communicate with each cooperating friend in advance about the movement style, such as whether they wanted a fierce slashing feel, a lightweight airborne feel, or a dignified sitting close-up. Chairs, steps, and reflective floors are all props that can be utilized; as long as you find the right angle, the effect can turn out stunning.
Special thanks to everyone who chose to trust me. Some friends were taking convention photos for the first time and were a bit nervous, but after a few words of posing guidance, they could quickly get into character. I also carried small clips and pins with me to help tidy up the costume at any time if it came loose. During the daytime when it was crowded, I tried my best to find relatively empty corners, utilizing the venue's top lights and ambient light as assistance; when it came to the night sessions, the lights were even cooler, and paired with flashes, they could create a highly atmospheric contrast of light and dark.
Behind every single look lies a long period of makeup and hair preparation. Hair needs to be sprayed for setting, weapons need to be polished in advance, and shoes need to adapt to long periods of standing. Seeing everyone display their confidence and passion in front of the lens, I felt all the hard work transform into creative motivation. After these past few days, hundreds of previews are stored in my phone, and my computer is packed with raw images. I will slowly edit them later, striving to recreate each set so that it retains the original character's temperament while carrying a touch of the dynamic vitality unique to the live venue.
The characters I encountered this time spanned a huge range, from gorgeous trailing dresses to sleek, efficient short outfits, and from cool to warm color tones. Every color palette gave me new insights into adjusting the lights. I hope these live snapshots can make everyone feel the unique fervor and purity of anime conventions through this session of Anime-style photography.