The Witcher

Geralt investigates the forest with caution.
Cinestill 800T (+2 stops)

Character: Geralt of Rivia
Sauce: The Witcher
Cosplayer: @squirtlesquadphotography

Kikori is the only convention I have any particular interest in shooting at. The con has a forest just out the backdoor and often has snow. These things are both unavailable to me in my desert hometown of Phoenix. Indeed, we got quite a bit of snow this year and it was terribly cold. That meant that while cosplayers were suffering, I was bundled up tight! It also meant that we had unique opportunities for photoshoots. This session was with a fellow photographer, Stef, in his Witcher cosplay.

Taking rest doesn’t mean letting down your guard.
Cinestill 800T (+2 stops)

Flagstaff in winter presented an excellent opportunity to feature this cosplay, as the desert just doesn’t vibe with the source material. This is a challenge for cosplay photography. Many characters are from series that are active in Japan, lush forests, or other greener adventure zones that Phoenix, Arizona is sorely lacking. However, the desert and mountains often provide a unique avenue that most parts of the world lack for the cosplays that do favor such a venue. Arizona is one of the most biome diverse regions of the U.S. and that is truly a boon if you are willing to drive a few hours. This area is only about two hours from my desert abode, but you’d never guess by these images.

Sometimes, missing focus ain’t so bad.
Cinestill 800T (+2 Stops)

Film has the privilege of being inherently aesthetic. That is to say, even if I miss focus or otherwise “ruin” a shot, the resulting photo can still be pleasing to the eye. Pictorialism is strong evidence for that and a genre I would like to explore more. It is very difficult to focus in the dark via analog means and thus missed focus is a common affair. Here; however, I feel it did some justice. It adds to the menacing and uncertain aura of The Witcher approaching. There is a sense of danger or fear that a crisp shot may not convey. Learn from your mistakes and then do them on purpose; you just might break the mold.

It’s going great!
Cinestill 800T (+2 Stops)

It was obvious that I was going to use Cinestill 800T for this shoot. Not only is it my favorite C-41 film stock, but the ever-present blues were exactly what I wanted in blue hour and the night. These blues added to the cold feeling of the snow and ominous darkness of the night. I addition to this, I deployed a single orange LED light for skin tones and “lantern/torch light” effects. The combination of an orange light and natural blue hues resulted in an in-camera color grade that would have taken an unreasonable time in post for me to replicate in Photoshop. The color grading was exactly what I was going for and I was pleased to see the results when I received my scans. Beyond the tones, the other benefit I wanted from 800T was the low light capability. I shot at 1600iso, often overexposing by a half-stop to 2400, as blue hour in the woods was quite dark. I have pushed 800T +2 stops in development a few times before, so I had a solid understanding of the results. The film also likes to be overexposed. The film handled the challenge with grace. Fine grain with deep blues and no unpleasant color shifts. 800T is truly a capable film and I comfortably rely on it in any situation that might be difficult or even impossible for other films stocks. Cinema quality is the way to go.