Cosplay Photography
What is Cosplay?
Cosplay is an abbreviation of Costumed Role-play. In short, to cosplay is to dress as a character from a Japanese animated TV show or a video game, and to act as that character. Most Cosplay is done at Anime Conventions, which have large Cosplay contests as main events.Anime fans, sometimes called Otaku, are the most prevalent participants. They like to don costumes, go to events, and hang out with people with similar interests. Costumes can consist of various parts and accessories. The main body often includes several layers, as the outfits worn in these shows are often very elaborate. Additionally, important care is taken to get the hair/wig just right. Some costumes include props, like giant staffs or over sized plastic guns. [http://whatiscosplay.com/]
Cosplay photography is a form of photography where the subject of the photo focuses mainly on a cosplayer and their attire and/or prop making skills. A majority of this form of photography is done at events or conventions, such as San Diego Comic-Con where cosplayers attend in costume, however, it is becoming more popular to schedule individual photoshoots at various locations and outside convention schedules.
This form of photography is a combination of fashion photography and portrait photography where both the clothing and the portraiture are the main subject. Cosplay magazines, such as Cosmode, have developed a focus on the photographer and the different styles of cosplay photography. The photos can be black and white, colour any size or shape with any lens, so long as a coslayer is the main subject.
The photography of these individuals is becoming a style of photography that photographers can now be hired for a shoot rather than as a hobby, which it has been up until recent years. Groups like The Enthusiasts have begun to capitalize on this growing trend by setting up booths at conventions to take photos of cosplayers and sell them the photos for a certain price per photo, either digitally or print. But there many others who still do cosplay photography on-location and in private, scheduled shoots.
What is the purpose of Cosplay Photography?
The purpose of Cosplay is so "cosplayer's" are able to be different and stand out. Also it give the opportunity to leave the real world and enter their favourite amine characters word. The cosplayer's purpose is generally to be sorted into 1 of 3 categories, or maybe even a mix. Most cosplayer's draw characteristics of all three categories.- The first is to express their love and adoration for a character, or in feeling similar to a character in personality, wanting to become that character. This type of cosplayer may be associated with being a fan and is often labelled as an 'otaku'. Other characteristics may be an enthusiastic manner and less attention to detail and quality. Some cosplayers are also most likely to adopt the character's personality and are known to criticise other cosplayers for not having a full knowledge of their character, or not also adopting character mannerisms.
- The second is those people who enjoy the attention that cosplaying a certain character brings. Within the cultures of anime and manga specifically, as well as science fiction and fantasy, there is a certain level of notoriety that is attached to cosplayers. Some cosplayers are usually characterised by attention to detail in their garments and their choice of popular characters. They are also noted by participation in cosplay competitions.
- The third is those who enjoy the creative process, and the sense of personal achievement upon completion. These people are more likely to have a greater budget dedicated to the project, more complicated and better quality outfits with access to more materials. They are also more likely to engage with professional photographers and cosplay photographers to take high quality images of the cosplayer in their garment posing as the character.
Where?
Cosplay Photography is mainly takes place at Anime and Cosplay conventions. At these conventions people go dressed up as their favourite Anime character. The word "anime" is an abbreviation of the the word animation. In Japan the word is used to refer to all animation. Outside of Japan, it is the term for animation from Japan.History of Cosplay Photography
http://www.cosplay-ftw.com/
Literally speaking Cosplay is the contraption of the words "costume" and "play", and people who take part in cosplay are known as "cosplayers". The term "cosplay" was coined by Nov Takahashi in 1984, while attending a sci-fi convention in Los Angeles. He was so impressed by the costume masquerade that he wrote about it in Japanese sci-fi magazines. Word spread quickly through Japan of this new performance art, and since then Cosplay in now something that people worldwide now take part in, to meet other people who also enjoy taking part and share a similar love for anime. Because Cosplay became very popular, people wanted to capture others creativity. This is when people started attending cosplay conventions and take photographs of 'cosplayers' costumes and creations. I was unable to find who was the first cosplay photographer, but since many companies have started up and have a few different photographers that all focus on Cosplay. Cosplay Photographers is one of those companies and they have a few photographers working for them, going to cosplay events and taking pictures.
Cosplay Photographers
Shiro Ang
Shiro Ang is a photographer, specializing in portrait, fashion, and live music/concert photography. During his personal time, Shiro Ang also enjoys shooting portaits, animal photography, and also doing the coverage on Anime/Gaming/Manga and Cosplay related events, both locally and internationally.
(http://www.facebook.com/shiroangphotography/info)
Here is a small amount of Shiro Ang's cosplay and anime photography work which are designed for anyone to see on his deviantart.com page.
http://shiroang.deviantart.com/
- Nikon D800
- Nikon F3HP
- Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 ED
- Nikon AF-S 24mm f/1.4G ED
- Nikon AL-S 28mm f/2
- Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4G
- Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G
- Carl Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 ZF Planar *T
- Zoom H4N
- Rode Videomic Pro
- Adobe Lightroom
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Premiere Pro
Z3LL
Z3LL is another cosplay photographer. Z3LL is from the Philippines and has several years experience in this hobby. He started attending Cosplay events in 2007, and just started out using his camera phone, but a year late, he bought his first DSLR. Some of his friends took part in cosplay and that's what got him started with the photography, and as he attented more events he met more cosplayers, and that's what got him started with being a cosplay photography.--- http://www.cosplaygen.com/z3ll-cosplay-photographer/
I think that Cosplay is a very interesting type of photography, because it is something that is quite new, and is a way for people to express their creativity through dressing up as their favourite anime characters in the costumes that they have created. But because it is a new thing, many people have yet to hear about, so this makes it harder on the photographers, because there are not conventions all of the time and close by, so Cosplay photography can only really be a hobby for now, as they are not many opportunities to go out and capture this. Unless the photographer knows people, who are willing to be posed and the subject for an organised shot.
