The weather has been sunny, and cosplayers have finally survived the summer heat. Without the threat of strong ultraviolet rays, cosplayers can now go out and take beautiful photos of the outdoors without fear. Photography is a technical skill, and shooting on location is one of the biggest challenges in cosplay photography. Here are some notes on location shooting that I’ve collected online to help you out.
Avoid direct sunlight
Bright sunlight can provide good lighting conditions and make a location shoot full of color and life, but strong sunlight can also cause many problems. The most prominent problem is that bright sunlight makes it difficult for cosplayers to open their eyes, and it can also cast heavy shadows on the faces of cosplayers, making their skin look dull. So, try to avoid direct sunlight when shooting on location.
Avoid getting too close to the colorful environment
Under strong sunlight outdoors, the light emitted by an object will be enhanced. In this case, if the cosplayer is too close to brightly colored scenes, the colors of those scenes will be mapped onto the cosplayer, resulting in color shifts that will dominate the scene and cause chromatic aberration. For this reason, when shooting on location, you should stay as far away from brightly colored scenery as possible, such as brand new buildings with painted facades, large reflective awnings, etc.
Cosplayers should try not to stand on concrete floors when taking pictures
Nowadays, concrete floors are rare, and there are still cosplayers who try to create a classical, old-fashioned aesthetic by looking for them to photograph. There’s nothing wrong with that, but when looking for one, be sure to look for a darker color, because a light concrete floor will cause strong reflections, and this bottom-up “backlighting” will often have a horrible effect on the final cosplay image.
Try not to take photos standing next to trees in the sun
Light and shadow go hand in hand; the stronger the light, the deeper the shadow. When a cosplayer stands next to a tree in the sun, the light often projects leaves onto the character’s body and face, creating dappled shadows or streaks of light. This is especially true in fall and winter when the trees are less dense, the sky is less cloudy, and the sunlight is more intense, intensifying the contrast between light and shadow. When shooting cosplay on location, it’s not unheard of to shoot under a tree, but try to avoid strong sunlight.
Cosplayers should avoid wearing costumes that reflect too much light when shooting outdoors
Cosplayers have many costumes with patterns or designs, but if the material is too reflective, the patterns and designs will be covered up by snowy white patches or patches of light, losing their beauty. When the sun is strong on location, it is best for the cosplayer not to wear a white shirt or a costume made of reflective nylon to avoid losing the original texture of the cosplay costume.
A lot of photography is based on personal experience, but don’t forget to talk to other photographers who may be able to inspire you. If you are looking for a cosplay costume, Cosplaylab is your best choice, with a wide range of affordable products, from character clothes to props, you won’t be disappointed.