Schnappschuss 68: Markus Igel - Exploring Cosplay | Photography by Foto Koch
From the new Schnappschuss: "Behind the Scenes"
Weirdos, crazy people or "It's not carnival" - these are statements that cosplayers often have to listen to behind their backs. Whether on the way to the next photo session for the Instagram profile or simply for a convention: the costume lives from the image and the staging. This is where I come in.
Ciri Cosplay from the Witcher - Selene HendrickCiri Cosplay from the Witcher - Selene HendrickMy name is Markus Igel and I have been working at Foto Koch for almost two years. I am known on the Internet under the artist name Terobes Arts. My passion for the cosplay scene was awakened in 2010 and later developed into my main field of photography. The scene exists mainly on the internet, mostly on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter (now X). We share our work there, from a simple photo to an elaborate 3D rendering of an image where only the performers are real.
The creativity and passion that everyone brings to the scene drives my motivation to be a part of it and to constantly improve my work. A typical shoot takes between one
and three hours, with travel to and from the location and editing added separately.
Mandalorian Own Character (OC) from the Starwars universe - Mara JadeMandalorian Own Character (OC) from the Starwars universe - Mara JadeA little more about the cosplay community
The community is still quite young. It combines the realization of characters from films, series, mangas, books/novels or their own creations. Many create their costumes themselves using fabric, foam or thermoplastic materials. The costumes are usually worn at conventions or trade fairs focusing on gaming, Japanese pop culture & Co, for example: Dokomi, Connichi, Animuc and many more. Another aspect is the age spectrum: Every age is represented in this scene, but the majority is under 30 or just over. In order to immortalize the elaborate costumes, photo shoots are at the heart of the scene. This is where I come in.
Yoimia Genshin Impact - Hyacinth CosplayYoimia Genshin Impact - Hyacinth CosplayThe first contact
I am usually contacted. I rarely contact my models myself. In the first step, I try to find out whether we get along well. Is the interpersonal relationship a good fit? You introduce yourself to each other and perhaps discuss initial ideas. It's important to have more ideas and text than not enough.
Planning a shoot
First of all, a concept is sought between the photographer and the model, in which the staging of the character should be defined, from the mood board to the choice of location. Once the location has been chosen, it should be checked whether photography is permitted there. Good planning is half the battle, as posing inspiration on a smartphone or tablet can help immensely when guiding the model or capturing the mood.
The execution of a shoot
Always, really always, have your model bring an assistant. This offers the model security, because unfortunately there are also black sheep in the industry. It also means that a "human tripod" is always there, which can be very practical. There is also another person on site to check how the clothes are positioned or how the model looks in the picture. More people, more fun - that's my motto! I usually work with 35mm and 85mm fixed focal lengths for my photos. For some pictures, my 70-200 also comes in handy if I can't stand right next to the model. To be able to place great effects in the picture later, you have to imagine how the picture should look in the end. You have to leave space for an effect or place an effect light during the shoot, e.g. an orange light in the hand that illuminates the hand.
Raw - Wattson Cosplay from Apex Legends - Thanatos Arts Raw - Wattson Cosplay from Apex Legends - Thanatos Arts 
Raw photo after Lightroom - Wattson Cosplay from Apex Legends - Thanatos Arts Raw photo after Lightroom - Wattson Cosplay from Apex Legends - Thanatos Arts 
Photo after Photoshop - Wattson Cosplay from Apex Legends - Thanatos Arts Photo after Photoshop - Wattson cosplay from Apex Legends - Thanatos Arts Post-processing: nothing works without it
Purists are less common in cosplay photography. This is simply because you want to stage a certain character perfectly. They don't shy away from liquefying the face or body at times. The perfect staging relies on Photoshop for the finalization, from a beauty edit to Dodge & Burn to the application of effects such as fire or arcane magic.
I use various stock compositing images or generate fractals for my effects. These effects in particular can easily take two to three hours before I'm satisfied with the result. Lightsabers like those from Star Wars are very quick: draw them in once and add a glow and color using a Photoshop filter tool. For a simple atmospheric image with few effects and a pure beauty edit, I usually edit for around 30 minutes.
Raw Photo - 2B Cosplay - Cosplayer SahhkiRaw Photo - 2B Cosplay - Cosplayer Sahhki
Raw photo after Lightroom - 2B Cosplay - Cosplayer SahhkiRaw photo after Lightroom - 2B Cosplay - Cosplayer Sahhki
Photo after Photoshop - 2B Cosplay - Cosplayer SahhkiPhoto after Photoshop - 2B Cosplay - Cosplayer Sahhki
"Arcane Magic" - Yennefer cosplay from The Witcher - Selene Hendrick"Arcane Magic" - Yennefer Cosplay from The Witcher - Selene HendrickMy tools for my workflow and my work
In addition to my camera, I have a few other things with me on my shoots, such as a Smoke Genie fog machine, Mist-Filter 1/4, other Special FX filters, a Godox flash system, color gels, various continuous lights, graphic tablet and much more.
more info and more works by the artist:
Markus Igel
Instagram: @terobesarts
Website: www.terobesarts.de
