So, this week in Photography class, we've been given a new assessment (despite only just finishing our last one - WOE IS ME), which involves making a photograph documentary on.... Something.
For once, I have an idea of what I'm going to do for my project straight up (top of the class - woo!).
And that, my friend, the internet, is the upcoming Anime Convention in Sydney; Supanova.
There's going to be a ton of nerds dressed up as characters from some comic, series, game, whatever, and it's perfect for this assessment.
And now, as a way of
1) "observing the methods of professional photographers in taking totally legit and non-edited pictures of cosplayers"
2) filling up space on these blogs so that I don't have a teacher hounding my ass.
The pictures below are, to be honest, just spontaneous photographs I got off spontaneous sites.
Now, bear with me internet, it's Monday morning and I am suffering something of a hangover (mind you I always feel pretty shit on most Mondays so it's hard to tell if it's an actual hangover or just my body being an uncooperative asshole), so whatever analysis of the next whatever amount of pictures I've uploaded is probably going to be somewhat incoherent and nonsensical - or just plain stupid.
First up, Miku and Kaito the Vocaloids, specifically from the song/music video 'Love is War'.
If you haven't seen it, take my honest word for it, this picture and the cosplayers are pretty freakin' spot on.
This picture has been edited, but I'm ignored that, because even without Photoshop's blessing, it would've been a damn good picture. 'Why?' You may ask (though you probably didn't), well I'll tell you (even though you probably don't care).
I'm not even going to focus on the cosplayers themselves, since this is about the endearing photograph, so I'll start with the scenery. Since this has been in Photoshop, I honestly can't tell if the day this was taken was actually grey and depressing as all hell like it looks here, or if it was actually a super nice, cloudy, blue day,
but whatever, whatever, I do what I want.
The original mv featured Miku (or whomever) on a rooftop, and that's exactly where they've shot these photos.
The angle is tilted, and shits me how much it causes me to subconsciously tilt my head along with it, but I digress, it's a damn good angle, and the perspective goes well with;
1) the theme they were following
and
2) the way the original music video flows
I can't comment much on the lighting in this, since the more I look at it, the more I suspect it too has been altered, along with the colours and whatnot, but nonetheless, they've done a good job.
I have conflicting emotions towards this particular photo, considering it was shot in the country the characters themselves originated in, the country that actually has a reputation for being the best at what it does - dressing up as cartoon characters and tentacle porn (but that's a story for another blog).
It seems they really went all out on this photo in making it identical to the Anime, even the angle/perspective is incredibly similar to one of the featured originally. Disregarding the cosplayer's work (no matter how crazily they've managed to hit the mark in being awesome cosplayers), the photo itself is quite good - even without the eyecandy in the middle. The lighting on the girls' is simply awesome, highlighting all the important features and lighting up each of their faces to create an honestly extremely appealing effect without intimidating the viewer by being 'too perfect'. The natural and oddly gentle lighting adds the illusion of the classroom effect.
I can't even begin to imagine how long it must of took to get those card just right - unless of course they totally fluked and got a great shot straight up, in which case, they are obviously lucky bastards.
The background features a seemingly old and badass brick wall, which contrasts with the complex and mesmerising character design. Admittedly, I have no idea who this character is, and therefore can't comment on the background as much as I'd like to on whether it's relevant or the photographer just thought it would be an effective place to capture some images or even if it was a last resort since every other decent place was taken or non-existent . Either way, it did the job, though not as much as it probably could of, it still did.
Black Rock Shooter. An immensely good Black Rock Shooter - at least, better than my failed, improvised version of Kuroi Mato cosplay I performed last weekend for a costume party....
This picture has without a doubt been edited, but hey, whatever photographs I take this upcoming convention are probably going to fall victim to my depressing Photoshop skills anyway, so whatever.
While the effects added in do actually make this photo a hell of a lot cooler than it would've been initially, the photo itself was no doubt done very well to begin with. The location along with the lighting gives off a mysterious and somewhat eerie effect, which is a pretty good effort for Black Rock Shooter.
I know I'm supposed to be analysing the PHOTO, and not the actual cosplayer, but DAAAAMMNNN.
Her pallid skin and physique is just fap-worthy spot-on..... Just sayin'.
I don't even know where to begin with this...It's so good it gives me tingles (I say that as if the photos above didn't, trust me, they did). The people involved in this photo were awesome and deserve at least THREE high fives each. THREE!
I guess I'll narrow it down by starting with the lighting, since it's easy. Obviously, they've gotten a dark spot, and highlighted the Witch with a spotlight, which not only adds to the relevance it has to it's original source, but helps create something of a 'mood' if you will - hell I feel tense and uneasy as fuck just looking at this.
I can't make out where these people are exactly, but wherever it was taken, it was a good choice. The bars next to Witchy-poo gives a feeling of enclosure (despite the fact it would do jack shit if she was startled enough to come after you), which kind makes you feel a pang of sympathy for the poor supposed abandoned bride. The lighting on the hands is the only thing I feel needs criticism. It makes them stand out, which was probably desired, but with whatever texture the cosplayer used for them, it makes them stand out slightly too much, my eyes keep being drawn back to her hands, when all my brain wants to do is focus on everything else.
But despite that minor flaw, it's a pretty damn good picture.
Outside the convention, right before we left. Amazing Bioshock cosplayers.
Apparently the girl in the middle made the costumes.
