This time, I am preparing to apply for the Dongguan Firefly independent anime convention tour, and along the way, I've sorted out a few groups of finished sets in different styles shot recently to share.
This cover photo is considered a close-up I'm relatively satisfied with recently. The pink short hair is paired with a black flower hair accessory on the side, and the red eyes look quite spirited under relatively dim lighting. This set incorporated elements of black, white, and red clothing alongside black leather gloves. To foster a bit of an autumn atmosphere, ginkgo and red maple leaves were placed in front of the table as the foreground. Side-backlighting was used during the shoot, giving a beautiful rim light edge to the hair strands. In post-processing, a slight red-and-blue 3D chromatic aberration filter effect was added, providing a rather strong visual impact. Personally, I really like this slightly cold yet mysterious texture.
Figure 3 was an outdoor photoshoot taken in a sea of flowers. The purple flower clusters were extremely dense, and it was almost dusk, with the sunlight being a warm gold. I chose this white off-the-shoulder long dress, pairing it with long black gloves and black chunky high heels, capturing dynamic shots while spinning around in the flower sea. This set used a very large aperture, completely blurring out the background bokeh, making the subject look as if they melted into that warm light. Although outdoor photography is very tiring, having to carry equipment through vegetation to find angles, the ethereal feel it produces is indeed completely different from studio shoots.
Figure 4 was completed in a classroom. The scene is very classic: wooden student desks and chairs, a globe, and sunflower faux flowers in the corner. This time, I had the model lie flat on her back on the tiled floor, with one foot hooking the crossbar of a chair. Her long straight black hair spread out, paired with a grey-and-white school uniform skirt and a red bowtie, creating a post-class laziness and casualness. I think what makes this set interesting is the perspective—shooting from top to bottom combined with a warm-yellow tone gave an ordinary classroom space a powerful sense of storytelling.
Figure 5 is a group of very dim, vintage-vibe photos. Silver-white hair is paired with a sparkling crown, and she wears a light blue-grey ruffled camisole dress. The creation of this scene relied entirely on candlelight and natural light filtering through white window curtains. Several scattered yellow cylindrical candles were placed on the floor alongside a small plaster angel statue. The lighting of the entire set was very dark, but the texture of the firelight hitting the face and clothes was highly delicate, carrying the feel of a classical oil painting.
Figure 6 features a completely opposite style—bright, clear, and dreamy. It's a light blue-and-white tulle dress paired with white over-the-knee socks and matching bow high heels. The model lies on a white wrought-iron bench, and the lighting is very soft and clean. The light blue skirt hem looks exceptionally ethereal in the white environment, giving an overall impression of being very lightweight and pure.
Having gone through these shoots, I've experimented with warm outdoor light, everyday classroom vibes, dark studio light, and bright dreamy light. Communicating about lighting and composition with the photographer before every shoot always teaches me a lot of new techniques, and seeing the final finished set feels truly amazing. As someone who frequently takes finished sets, I usually prefer finding specific outdoor locations or studio shoots, but the unique atmosphere of the Firefly convention is also something I have always wanted to experience. Therefore, seeing this independent tour recruitment for Dongguan Firefly, I really want to apply under the dual identity of photographer and coser. If the application is successful, at the venue on March 21st and 22nd, I should be able to meet many fellow anime lovers and record some completely different frames in the bustling convention environment.
Sorting out and uploading these recently shot finished sets can also be considered a look back at my previous stage of creation. With photographic equipment and techniques under constant exploration, I hope to shoot more interesting moments when I get to the convention venue.