So you wanna shoot cosplay with film?!
So you wanna shoot cosplay with film?!
I might be able to throw you a few pointers...
In frame: @silverbacksenpai
Cosplay photography is a fun and creative way to capture people who dress up as their favorite characters from video games, anime, manga, and more. It can also challenge your skills as a photographer, as you need to work with different lighting, poses, and settings to bring those action packed images to life.
But what if you want to shoot cosplay photography with film instead of digital? Film photography has its own charm and advantages, such as the grainy texture, the rich colors, and the unpredictability of the results. As niche as it looks, film photography requires more planning, preparation, and patience than digital photography. You must also work with memory to be more careful and deliberate with your shots, as you have a limited number of frames and cannot see the results immediately.
If you are interested in shooting cosplay with film, here are some tips to help you get started:
Choose the right film for your theme. There are many types of film available, each with different characteristics and effects. For example, black and white film can create a dramatic and timeless look, while color film can vary from vibrant and saturated to muted and faded.
In my case, I use black & white film because it puts more priority in contrast, and tone as well as the matter of having the subject in frame. The film I use specifically is Kodak T-Max 400 for its high fidelity in sharpness and perfect balance in contrast.
Use natural light whenever possible. Natural light will give your photos a more natural and flattering look. If you are shooting indoors, shooting at an aperture of 2 or 4 is the best result as you’re letting in more light on your camera lens.
Use a tripod if you intend to use a slower shutter speed, shoot at night or in darker areas. You may require using film that is best used in the dark. For example using Cinestill 800t is perfect for night photography. the “t” labeled on the film stands for tungsten, which can brighten up and mimic daylight photos in dark areas. The “d”stands for daylight which is used for outdoor shoots.
Preferably you can develop the film yourself. Understand that you’re gonna have to shell out a lot of money. I recommend taking your film to a lab. Overall, shooting with film photography can be fun. With a bit of practice, you can create some truly unique and beautiful images.
