First "proper" night shoot! Planned as a Durarara!! shoot with Christie, Ita and Minami originally, but Tsubaki and Rinne came along with fantastic Soul Eater costumes and so we started the shoot with them. Along the way, we played with some GIFs for chance and luck.

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For Durarara!!, we continued using the alleyway for some time, before moving on to an area near the highway/Harbour Bridge approach, and then near an under-cover pedestrian crossing.

Technicals: As the concept from the start was for a night shoot, we actually started past four, as dusk fell over wintry Sydney. The forecast was for a cyclone-force storm to hit the city during the evening so I was rather apprehensive. Fortunately for us, this did not eventuate.

I had been experimenting with Aperture Priority recently, but for this shoot I just went back to manual for everything. From the start, it was important to get the wireless light system up and going since there was no way I would try shooting in twilight conditions with available light (not unless I had a D700, of course).

As per usual for me, a two-light setup with one flash going through an umbrella on a light stand and the other flash on a GorillaPod to be positioned anywhere I want, though usually used as hair light for a dramatic touch. For once, I used every piece of equipment I packed, including the oft-underused tripod. Lenses used were the Minolta 20mm f/2.8 for wide/squeezy places and the Minolta 50mm f/1.7 for near-telephoto reach and portrait-type shots.

I think key to this shoot was the feedback that the cosplayers supplied regarding the shots, meaning we could keep adjusting things (especially the light) until they work and they also had an instant mirror to adjust their poses on the go. Christie, an extremely good photographer, also aided in composition suggestions to ensure we got some epic shots. This is a way of working I will definitely keep in mind for future shoots. Being too secure in your "first shot perfection" capabilities can really cause some lost opportunities.

BTW: cosplayers can request raws for this shoot on DVD ROM. Establish communications via Twitter: pireze_icie 

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For this Hetalia shoot at the University of Sydney, I wanted to change the area, so after limited shooting just outside the Quad (again, that place is overused), a security guard kindly moved us along and we went to another building where we did some stair shots. We then moved to the Old Public School building to get out of the rain and also did a few shots there.

First time meeting cosplayer Kurobane. Thanks for the awesome cosplay and for waiting around while I put up lights!

Technicals: most shots done with Minolta 20mm f/2.8. Available light shots mostly using Minolta 50mm f/1.7 (including the one above). Dual light set up with 1/2 and 1/4 CTO gels. Lens flare in picture 2 is real. 

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