With only one week of summer vacation remaining, I hurried to complete this long-planned campus-style photo shoot before heading back to school. The gear setup for this session was the Nikon Z5II body paired with two prime lenses: the Viltrox 35mm F1.8 EVO and the 55mm F1.8 EVO. The 35mm was used to establish the environmental atmosphere—such as peeling green iron gates and red brick walls—while the 55mm was dedicated to capturing close-ups and emotional nuances. This duo performed exceptionally reliably throughout the shoot.
The first stop was beside the iron railings of an older residential quarter. Peeling green paint on the iron fence set against weathered red bricks lent an inherent nostalgic feel. To harmonize with the youthful essence of the sailor suit, I styled it with black thigh-high stockings and black loafers. Balancing with my feet propped on the railing was quite a workout for core stability; the loafers had stiff soles, making me constantly wary of slipping through the gaps, and the summer mosquitoes meant swatting away bugs between takes. Still, judging from the final selects, this posture proved remarkably effective for showcasing leg contours and the texture of the black stockings, making the overall composition far more dynamic than a standard standing pose. In the shot standing by the door shouldering a heavy instrument case, the light fell beautifully from the front-side, nicely balancing out the visual weight of the prop.
Next, we transitioned to the flower bushes and stairs. The frames amidst the white blossoms were shot under harsh midday sun; closing my eyes and tilting my head back was not a deliberate pose, but rather a way to dodge the piercing glare. Under such high-contrast conditions, the wide aperture of the 55mm F1.8 softly melted the busy leaves and petals into creamy bokeh, instantly lifting the subject out of the visual clutter. The shot on the stairs with both arms raised overhead was actually just an impromptu stretch to relieve neck and shoulder stiffness from lugging the heavy case, which the photographer captured spontaneously from the side. The blue ground and lush green leaves formed a vibrant color clash, enriching the chromatic depth of the scene.
The final stop was the running track and football field. The crimson running track and lush turf are quintessential campus elements. Sitting on the grass to shoot, the ground was baking under the sun, leaving me no choice but to press a cold water bottle against my cheek to cool down—a candid gesture that ended up being a delightful visual accent. The football net served as a fantastic foreground and background element; peering through the white grid or leaning back against it brought together an athletic spirit with the relaxed charm of a JK uniform. Throughout the shoot, we explored countless variations in reading natural light and handling props. Though physically exhausting, capturing such a resonant set of images at summer's end made it deeply fulfilling.