In its fifth year running, Anime Festival Asia Indonesia 2016 took place in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, over three days from 16 to 18 September 2016. Many cosplayers and photographers who were mostly anime fans turned up for the exciting event. We bring you a report on the fun-filled festival and the voices of the EOS camera users we met.

 

Photos taken in a variety of sets and a printing service for them

Anime Festival Asia Indonesia 2016 is an event in its fifth year since it was first held in 2012. At the venue, there were merchandise on sale, such as anime and games, and performances by cosplayers dressed as popular characters. The event is well-known locally and attracted large crowds creating much activity.

Canon set up photo booths with specialized 3D background to reenact scenes in the anime so that visitors could have an immersive experience. Popular camera models such as the EOS 750D, EOS 700D, EOS 1300D and EOS M10 were also on display, a draw factor for photo enthusiasts among the event-goers.

Four photo sets featuring the streets of Shibuya and Akihabara in Tokyo, a recreated Japanese school classroom and more were also available alongside a photography service for participants, as well as a free gift of a photo printed with a SELPHY CP1200 or a PIXMA MG7770. Many amateur photographers gathered at these photo sets and were enthusiastically taking photos of staff cosplayers.

Also, guest artists from Japan and various Southeast Asian countries, and cosplayers performed show segments one after another on the Akiba Mini Stage set up within the Canon booth. The bustling venue was packed throughout the day with attendees and amateur photographers.

Plenty of activity fills the Canon booth. Participants could enjoy taking souvenir photos with cosplayers in photo booths that recreated the streets of Tokyo.

 

As a gift, participants who had their photographs taken at the Canon booth could get them printed on the spot with PIXMA printers and inserted into a souvenir holder.

 

The Akiba Mini Stage where artists put on their performances. This was so well-received that there was hardly any standing room left.

 

Photographers who enjoy taking photos of cosplayers

AFA Indonesia 2016 was a huge success and welcomed many cosplay photographers using EOS cameras. We hear from them and ask why they enjoy cosplay photography and what they hope to achieve with their photographs.

 

Paying careful attention to perspective

EOS 600D/ FL: 20mm/ Shutter-priority AE (f/11, 1/80 sec., EV+1)/ ISO 800/ WB: Auto
Photo by Kirene Naomi
Kirene Naomi is a high school student who has made the long trip to the festival venue every year since 2013. This year, she is attending the event for the fourth time. She tells us she chose an EOS camera "because it is easy to use and captures bright photos.” She likes cosplay photography so much that she says, “Cosplay is very creative and cool, and I would like to try it myself someday.” When she takes photos she is “very careful about perspective”.

Kirene Naomi has been taking photos for four years, and aspires to “shoot beautiful subjects beautifully and stylish subjects stylishly, and get better at photography”.

 

Photographing the variety of costumes

EOS 500D/ FL: 25mm/ Manual (f/5.6, 1/40 sec.)/ ISO 3200/ WB: Auto
Photo by Salahuddinnur Ramadhan
Salahuddinnur Ramadhan, a young high school student, says he started photography after joining the photography club in his high school. He says cosplay photography is “different from shooting fashion models because the variety of costumes makes it fun”.

The ever-cheerful Salahuddinnur Ramadhan says, “I can’t resist photography because it is so fun.”

 

 

Using angles to get the actual look

EOS 5D Mark II/ FL: 35mm/ Manual (f/2.8, 1/80 sec.)/ ISO 320/ WB: Manual
Photo by Muhammad Fikri
Muhammad Fikri is an advanced amateur who uses Canon’s EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens with the EOS 5D Mark II. He says the camera is easy to use and that he likes the lens because they “can be used anytime”. About photographing cosplayers, he says, “I work with angles to depict expressions similar to the actual anime characters’.”

About photographing cosplayers, Muhammad Fikri says, “One of the reasons I enjoy cosplay photography is because I can see people dressed up as my favourite anime character.”

 

A collaboration with cosplayers

EOS 60D/ FL: 35mm/ Manual (f/2.2, 1/320 sec.)/ ISO 100/ WB: Auto
Photo by Alvin Ryan Ricardian
Alvin Ryan Ricardian gives detailed directions to cosplayers on aspects such as poses, expressions and how their hair falls on their shoulders. He smiles as he says, “I work together with the cosplayers so I can capture better photos.” His camera of choice is the EOS 60D because it is “tough and light" and therefore "easy to carry”.

When asked what he likes about cosplay photography, Alvin Ryan Ricardian says, “There are many challenging factors to consider besides the makeup and costumes.”

 

The radiant colours of cosplay

EOS 600D/ FL: 50mm/ Aperture-priority AE (f/6.7, 1/90 sec., EV-1)/ ISO 1600/ WB: Auto
Photo by Muhammad Syauqil Haq
Muhammad Syauqil Haq says cosplay photography is all about bringing out the vivid colours of the cosplayers’ costumes and hair. His EOS 600D, he tells us, is "just nice for taking photos of cosplayers because it can capture radiant colour tones.”

Muhammad Syauqil Haq, a university student, says, “I have been obsessed with cosplay and photography ever since I went to an anime event in high school.”

 

Becoming engrossed in cosplay photography

EOS 1200D/ FL: 18mm/ Flash Off (f/3.5, 1/30 sec.)/ ISO 800/ WB: Auto
Photo by Alfira Aulia Rosa
Alfira Aulia Rosa is only in her first year of high school and seems to enjoy shooting with her EOS 1200D. She took up photography because of her love for anime characters, and is a beginner just five months into the hobby. She happily says, “It is easy to use a camera.” According to her, she gets “engrossed in photography thinking about how best to photograph cosplayers, composition, angles, etc.”

Alfira Aulia Rosa says, “The point at which I capture the photograph is something to remember, and the photo also becomes a souvenir.”

 

Capturing brightly-coloured beauty

EOS 600D/ FL: 53mm/ Manual (f/4.5, 1/250 sec.)/ ISO 800/ WB: Auto
Photo by Ridwan Kia
Ridwan Kia takes photos energetically with the EOS 600D and is “more than happy with the pixel count of the camera”. He has been using a DSLR for about four years but is only two years into cosplay photography. He says, “I got interested because of the bright colours and beautiful images involved.” Currently, he is learning techniques to adjust camera angles and colours for shooting.

Besides taking photos of cosplayers, Ridwan Kia also shoots music concerts. He says, “I like photographing people.”

 

Adjusting for just the right brightness

EOS 6D / EF50mm f/1.4 USM / Manual (f/1.6, 7.322) / ISO 800/WB: Auto.
Photo by Luki Widjaja.
Luki Widjaja says he tweaks for just the right brightness when taking photos. He adds, “I always spend time adjusting brightness so I can get a bright image that still has a soft look.” This perfectionism extends to the cosplayers he photographs. When taking photos, he enjoys ensuring that “the makeup and costumes look just like the actual anime characters’ and whether the overall look is in place down to the facial expressions”.

Luki Widjaja has been a fan of anime since his days as a student. He says, “I like fashion so I am very interested in the costumes.”

 

The next Anime Festival Asia will take place in Singapore on 25 - 27 November 2016. For more details, please visit the official AFA SG 2016 website.

 

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