Despite what you see, I'm the last person to call myself a creative. If anything, I'm only creative about 15% of the time. The other 85% is all technical skill.
This is why photography is a medium that works for me. I create my images predominantly using technical skills: knowledge of how a camera works, how light behaves, principles of colour theory, and a very good understanding of what Photoshop can do.
The creative side of photography is what drew me to it, but it is the technical side that allows me to produce anything with it.
30 second video showing the build up of all the layers that created this image.
History of Cosplay Photography
I've always been in awe of those who can craft costumes and props. They bring beloved characters to life in ways that bring joy to others and a little bit of magic into this world that so desperately needs it.
Photographing cosplayers showcases their skills and creations, but using Photoshop to re-create the worlds those characters live in creates a little bit of magic of my own.
The Move to Self Portraits
I first started doing self portraits to better help me learn posing. But it's fair to say I got distracted by the freedom this gave me. On my own in an empty room with no restriction on time, I was able to refine my studio lighting skills and further experiment with what could be done with compositing images together in Photoshop.
From there, stories and visual concepts born from my own personal experiences and emotions were the obvious next step. These thoughts and ideas - always difficult to truly convey to others - came far more easily when I had only myself to contend with.
However, I also learned there are definitely limitations to what I can do just by myself. More inspiration can come from working with others. Better ideas, better solutions. Encouragement and support when things get hard or complicated. The motivation to keep going. And the celebration of success.
Future Direction
In a world full of imagery and short on time, I no longer have the desire to produce "just another pretty photo." I much prefer creating my own original works with deeper purpose and meaning behind them.
Whether they're my own self portraits or collaboration projects with larger teams, I want my images to tell their own stories and to reveal those deeper emotions left unspoken inside all of us.