A tip for Cosplayers who would like better pictures

In Photography, light is always the most IMPORTANT thing. Any photographer who has any kind of skill will know this and take advantage of it. When you watch cosplay photographers, the better ones will almost always take you to a spot where the best light is in the convention. Also as A cosplayer if you hang around the area with the best light in the venue, chances are the most experienced photographers will always be there. So anybody who asks you if they can take your picture will have the best possible chances of capturing you in a much nicer image than one that was taken inside a dark convention hall floor. Just a thing to think about if you would like better pics of yourself in the next convention. Look for the best light..=) Happy cosplaying.

The BrownOut Shot

I have been reviewing my fellow con photographers shots and I am quite impressed at what some of them are able to do. I really enjoy seeing people improve and go for better pictures in the place that we all feel mutually at home in "the con".

I have noticed that is some of the pics that I see. It looks like the lights were cut off and the only light working is the flash. To really make your pics go to a different level you must also worry about the ambient light exposure. You must make sure that if you are in a con the surrounding light also gets to the sensor of the cam. You can do it in a couple of different ways here are the some of them.

1. Your shutter speed may be to quick. Lowering it will allow more light to enter the sensor, there by brightening the surroundings. Watch out for blur though there is always a trade off.

2. Increasing your ISO this is what I usually do. Watch out for noise.

3. Get a faster Prime lens. This is one of the best ways. But also watch out for blurring because of the severe Depth of Field. Be prepared to walk back and walk forward to compose your shots. =)

Keep practicing..with a little bit of work your pics will not look like someone turned the lights off in the middle of your shots. =)

Always Shoot Sharp!!

Except for some Special occasions. I always make it a point to shoot as sharp as I can, specially in my con shooting. I always make sure that i get the eyes of my subject as sharp as i can and that i can count the lashes in the closest possible magnification in the back of my lcd screen.

I do this concentrating on one thing The SHUTTER SPEED. It is the only thing that will take away camera shake and subject movement. I know there is Image Stabilization, but i never rely on this because although it helps with lessening movement the blur will still occur. The only real surefire way is SHUTTER SPEED.

Here are the guidelines of what shutter speeds you should use.

So:
if you have a lens that is 50mm in length don’t shoot any slower than 1/60th of a second
if you have a lens with a 100mm focal length shoot at 1/125th of a second or faster
if you are shooting with a lens of 200mm shoot at 1/250th of a second or faster


Actually for me the faster you can go the better. There are usually limitations at how fast you can go. The biggest one is the amount of light available. Here is the way i usually shoot at cons.

I set my camera to TV Shutter Priority I always use flash for cons since the lighting is usually very poor. In fact I use flash on almost a 100% of my shots. In your next con set your cam to TV and use the guidelines above to set the speed. Once you have set the speed. Move around the ISO and keep shooting until you are satisfied with the brightness of the ambient light around you. The flash you have on the cam should take care of the exposure of any subject you will shoot. Please get flashes with ETTL I usually shoot automatic modes. TV most of the time. have fun and till then..SHOOT SHARP

Sickening Behavior by People in cons

I have just seen a whole album of disgusting pictures this will be released by another person but please a warning to other cosplayers especially the younger ones.

-if someone you don't know touches you anywhere inappropriately please walk away and tell someone.

-Please always stay with your group of friends and look out for each other especially when other people are taking pics and with you.

-If any of you see behavior like this and you have a cam please document it. There is no room for these people in the hobby.

This behavior cannot and will not be tolerated by the hobby.

The picture has been cropped by me to preserve the identity of the girl she is a friend and we are asking her permission to post because we simply must show the community what these people are really like. We thank her for her willingness to help.

Preparations in a Cosplay Shoot

I have seen and have been invited to many cosplay shoots and I have organized mine as well. Whatever i am about to say here, I am the most guilty of. I have been looking around the net and i have been seeing the cosplay photography of our peers here in the philippines. In the preparation department we are all really off. We schedule cosplay shoots with out so much as a thought of backdrop or props we will use. We as a group cannot go on doing such works. Those of you scheduling shoots, make it a point to match the location with the costumes of your models. As a country we all have to UP our game. Think of the following.

Cosplayer -

Does he/she match the source anime closely or perfectly?
Does he/she know the perfect expressions of the character from the source anime?

Location -

Is the location I have chosen appropriate for the amime in mind?
Do i have the props necessary to make the shot believable?

Scene's and Interaction -

Which characters interact with each other?
Which scene from the source anime am I trying to copy?

The cosplayers are being asked to raise their standards. It would be only fair if we as photographers do the same as well. Remember, the vision and direction of the shoot is all in the PHOTOGRAPHERS hands. If you release a picture it is a direct reflection of your vision as a photographer. Make the vision as nice as possible, because the buck stops with you.

The new ambassadors of Animax

As a person who enjoys the cosplay hobby and would love to see it grow. This is a very very proud moment for everybody. Animax has recognized cosplay as a means of promoting their channel. This means that a lot of companies will be tapping your hobby in other ways. I've always know cosplay to be a very very good way to get the attention of people and now the big companies agreed with that evaluation as well. They agree with it so much that they are willing to spend their hard earned advertising cash on it.

Alodia and Ashley being put as ambassadors for animax marks a day when cosplayers can become real celebrites in every sense of the word. Right now you can ask anyone who is in the fashion industry and they look as cosplay as a cheap hobby with cheap people. Now they have to take notice. Cosplayers are taking the very buisiness that fuels them. Nothing would make me happier than to have other cosplayers enjoy the success that Alodia and Ashley have shown they can do.

It's all there for the taking guy's, all you need is a lotta work, a lotta drive and loads of talent. good luck.

Otacool 2 through the eyes of a cosplay photographer

I just got my copy of OTACOOL 2 and I am just floored with the beautiful pictures that i has. It has little pieces of information but nothing new for someone who has been cosplaying for any given time. The real beauty of this book is in the pictures that it holds. It's a collection of stunning works of cosplay photography from all over the world. It hosts the cream of the crop in world cosplay. I am sure there are others that aren't in the pages of otacool that are just as stunning but the sheer amount of whats in between the pages is more than enough for any photographer to marvel at and learn from.

Is Otacool worth the price? YOU BET!!!

Where can i get one? I got my piece at MaxiToycollector in Virra Mall

Last i saw there were only three pieces left. The four cosplayers that made it into Otacool will be present at toy con and they will be signing your copies. That alone is so worth it. Till next time Enjoy your OTACOOL. I know i am.

Congratulations to Alodia, Ashley, Monique and Jessica for getting into such a beautiful book. You do your countrymen proud.