Yoko - Cosplay - Gun - Special FX - C&C PLS

DGMPhotography · Dec 4, 2016

Hey folks:

Here's an image I put together from a cosplay shoot. I have the cosplayer in the air (she was originally sitting on top of a dude, whom I cloned out), and I added the gun firing and dust and what not. Would love some C&C, and if you'd like to take a crack at it yourself, I would welcome that as well.

OGsPhotography · Dec 4, 2016

Hey man nice shot.

Neat concept. The one thing Id like to see is more movement, which direction is she travelling? Being blown back or jumping forward?

Was the background a layer? the light isnt mixing real well, more ground and a shadow could add tk the realism.

DGMPhotography · Dec 4, 2016

Yes, the background is a layer from an exposure taken in the same spot with the same lighting, just without the subject in the photo. I did add a shadow in that image but perhaps it's not pronounced enough?

She is sort of jumping back as she fires her gun. Any suggestions on movement? I should have had a fan blowing her hair the opposite direction, but eh.

Granddad · Dec 5, 2016

LOVE it! Could you perhaps move the beads hanging from her bra? Cut and paste them so that they're showing the backwards movement.

I may have a go with it if I can steal the time. What a FUN concept!

OK, I stole an hour and enjoyed it thoroughly!
I moved the beads, moved the hair under her left arm, warped the gun strap, moved the breech smoke forward a bit and raised her about another foot off the ground to match the length of her leg (it's a pity her right leg wasn't bent at the knee a little - 20/20 hindsight

).
Anyway, this is my take.

zombiesniper · Dec 5, 2016

The only thing I would watch if doing this again is the explosion around the action (where her hand is). Cosplayers are very good at seeing things that don't work. If a gun sent out an explosion there it would destroy her hand.

DGMPhotography · Dec 5, 2016

zombiesniper said:
The only thing I would watch if doing this again is the explosion around the action (where her hand is). Cosplayers are very good at seeing things that don't work. If a gun sent out an explosion there it would destroy her hand.

Well... it's anime xD

And she's seen the image and loves it so far.

DGMPhotography · Dec 5, 2016

Granddad said:
LOVE it! Could you perhaps move the beads hanging from her bra? Cut and paste them so that they're showing the backwards movement.

I may have a go with it if I can steal the time. What a FUN concept!

OK, I stole an hour and enjoyed it thoroughly!
I moved the beads, moved the hair under her left arm, warped the gun strap, moved the breech smoke forward a bit and raised her about another foot off the ground to match the length of her leg (it's a pity her right leg wasn't bent at the knee a little - 20/20 hindsight ).
Anyway, this is my take.

Thanks for the edit, Grandad! I appreciate the different perspective - I may try emulating a few of these changes myself!

FITBMX · Dec 5, 2016

Granddad said:
LOVE it! Could you perhaps move the beads hanging from her bra? Cut and paste them so that they're showing the backwards movement.

I may have a go with it if I can steal the time. What a FUN concept!

OK, I stole an hour and enjoyed it thoroughly!
I moved the beads, moved the hair under her left arm, warped the gun strap, moved the breech smoke forward a bit and raised her about another foot off the ground to match the length of her leg (it's a pity her right leg wasn't bent at the knee a little - 20/20 hindsight ).
Anyway, this is my take.

You nailed it grand dad!

You also may want to soften the edges of her, this may blend her in a little more. Also maybe drop the vibrancy and brightness of the background just a tiny bit, so it doesn't distract from the subject.
If I have some time (and that is a big if) I may give some editing on it a shot for fun, I love PS composite work.

Great job though, I really enjoy seeing this cosplay stuff.

DanOstergren · Dec 6, 2016

Did you use a flash? I feel as if the temperature of light on her is a bit too cool in comparison to the environment as well as the fire that's near her face; a warming gel on the flash would help, or processing the raw file used for her layer to be a warmer tone would fix it since you can't exactly go back and add a color gel after already taking the shot. I also feel that there could be a bit less sand flying around her feet. I agree that the explosion by her hand looks like it would injure her and looks sort of like the gun is malfunctioning. Just my two cents; otherwise it's not a bad shot.

DGMPhotography · Dec 6, 2016

Thanks for the help and insight, folks!

Here is my latest, and I think, final version. Is the lens flare too much, or no?

Frank F. · Dec 6, 2016

very interesting action shot. Did you think about MUA on the skin I mean prior to shooting. I feel the comic style would profit immensely from that. Great model work apart from the missing full body MUA.

Designer · Dec 6, 2016

zombiesniper said:
The only thing I would watch if doing this again is the explosion around the action (where her hand is). Cosplayers are very good at seeing things that don't work. If a gun sent out an explosion there it would destroy her hand.

Yeah, I've got concerns with the realism. Which is to say this is not at all realistic as it pertains to firearms.

Now that you've done all that work, it would be difficult to re-shoot, so never mind I guess.

DGMPhotography · Dec 6, 2016

For reference, this is the image I was inspired by....

http://i.imgur.com/wjxuym4.jpg

The gun in our photo was a bit more shoddy looking, so I used the sparks to kind of cover that up, but maybe went a little overboard.