You may remember that last year we held an online cosplay competition for both cosplayers and photographers. One of our photography winners, Belfast based Dean Irvine, shares his path in photography, the people he looks up to, and what it is about manipulations that really inspires him to push the boundaries!

Interviewed by Megaera Amis

How long have you been photographing for, what drew you to cosplay?

I’ve been into photography off and on growing up it wasn't really a full interest  till my late teens so about 20 years now, I had always been more into illustration, but it was always there. Ironically one of my favourite comic characters was a photographer so the influence was there.

 The fascination with cosplay came from the same background as my enjoyment of drawing. Like most kids, I had always had a love for animation and comic books starting from when I first saw Who Framed Roger Rabbit and learning to read and draw by using comics, it’s what I wanted to do with my life be a comic artist or animator, so that was always there somewhere in the back of my head.

As I went deeper into photography, I was mainly focusing on studio-based work and began to see more and more cosplay stuff online and I loved the idea of being able to create a piece of art with these characters in the real world, much like mixing a toon and a real actor, take a comic character and shoot it like a portrait shoot, similar to what started my love for animation and illustration, but didn't think there was much of a demand for it where I was.

 That changed when I saw a post on a local photography Facebook group from a model looking for togs to work with, her name was Morgan Lawless, and her post was getting a few responses and I joked with reply where is listed off the variant versions of Harley Quinn she had posted. We started to bat some ideas about and that was the first cosplay shoot I did. Which started to snowball afterwards.

Morgan and I became good friends and have worked together many more times. I always joke with her that every shoot we do together I'm gonna get at least one or two shot that gonna be award winners do well for me in competitions.

What is your preferred shooting style, what is your go-to kit?

I tend to do a lot of my stuff in a controlled studio, with a 2 to 3 light set up. I shoot almost every shoot with my Canon eos RP with either a 24-70mm or a 70-200mm. It’s a simple set up but it covers most of the range I need. 

I like to keep it simple, side lighting on the model and background with either a 3rd softer light above or below the model for better coverage. I prefer to shoot on plain backgrounds as this allows me a much easier job of cutting the model out for composite work. I have a folder of textures background buildings random items I’ve photographed over the years to help build the final image.

One element I’ve always enjoyed from comics is the interconnectivity of the stories, be it just cross overs or Easter Eggs and I try and do the same with my photos, due to my graphics background I like to know where each part is of my image is going and how it will affect others. I tend to overthink and plan each part of an image.

I enjoy building the world, adding things that tie back to the source, trying to make them as close to the comic counter parts as possible.

I once did a Batman image where the final shot was Batman standing in the rain in an alleyway. I sketched joker and Riddler graffiti on a wall in the background - most people aren't gonna see it, but if someone spots it, I like that it can add to atmosphere.

I know a lot of cosplay shoots are done on location and it’s something I'm hoping to explore more in the future.

What techniques have you recently learned, or would like to learn?

I could and have spent hours just watching you tube tutorials on shooting styles or editing and manipulation of images how to balance colours or add SFX to enhance the already amazing costumes. You never stop learning.

Recently I’ve been playing with a lot of effects glows, elements, powers etc. and image concepts mixing illustration with the cosplayer, I recently tried painting my own matte painting backdrop for an image. It’s difficult getting them to match with what you've shot but if you can get it right it looks great.

I’d love to learn 3d modelling. I enter my images in a lot of competitions and every element must be your own creation. So, the idea of being able to build skyscrapers, urban aspects or even just props to add to the image is a very interesting skill that has always amazed me. I’d love to do a shot of spider-man web slinging, but I don't live in New York so haven't done it yet lol

What is your favourite photograph to date, why is it your favourite?

That's a tough question to answer, I'm always changing my favourites for different reasons.  I have a shot where a model was cosplaying Jessica Rabbit where I hand sketched Roger interacting with her and it was disqualified by a judge as he thought I had screen grabbed from the film, it was kinda strange to be annoyed but proud. Another is a homage to the cover of the killing joke only done with Harley and a baseball bat rather than a camera. It’s an image that became every well-known on camera club circuits and I just loved the idea of something from the cosplay world having an impact with a lot more traditional ideal.

The others I love would be the underwater Mera shot or my ghost rider shots. I really enjoy being able to create an image some aren't sure how I did it. I mean the ghost rider shot was done in my computer room with a pair of desk lamps, myself in the leather jack a prop skull and then a bunch of photos from my lit fireplace all brought together in editing, it was a character I didn't think I’d ever get a photo of.

Are there any photographers, outside of the Cosplay community, that inspire you?

First and foremost, while she's not a photographer my girlfriend Michelle is a big influence with her constant support of my work and my geeky hobbies in general. Same for my family they've always been there and will encourage me but are always honest if they feel something could be better.

While I follow a lot of cosplay photographers, there is a few big names have work I really like, Glyn Denis, Andrea Hardgreaves, Jake hicks, Annie Leibovitz, while she is usually not cosplay related her portrait work is legendary and I adored her Disney images.

There is a lot in my camera club that that have been an inspiration and help push myself usually when I'm feeling unsure about my own work. There is a select few that I trust a lot to tell me if something's in any of images is working or not. I'm not just gonna list names as id be here all day but they know who they are.

Along with them there is my two mentors Anne and Bob Given, a married couple who both amazing photographers, in a huge range of styles, portraits, sports, nature, landscape you name they've shot it lol. Along with being two of the nicest people I have met

 In all honesty they taught me everything I know about studio and portrait photography I wouldn't be anywhere near where I am now, and that's not an exaggeration. I always love working with them, plus when I organise a cosplay shoot with them, they have absolutely no idea what to expect.

What conventions can we see you at going forwards?

Once everything gets back up and running and everyone is safe. I'm hoping to get back to a few of the annual ones I go to such as Dublin Comic Con, and hopefully some of the newer ones in Belfast. I really need to get over to Scotland and England as I’ve heard nothing but great things.

I’ve never actually been to a con as a cosplay tog with a booth etc. like some. I usually just get tickets go with friends, bring my camera and try and get some shots of the amazing costumes, trying to make some new contacts but mostly to enjoy the atmosphere and spend way too much money on stuff I don't need.

I of course would love to go as a guest with a small studio set up, I think it would give a whole new side to the con experience and allow me to spend more time with people there rather than just a quick chat and photo, I just never considered myself a big enough name to apply of a spot. Who know what may happen at a future event? For the moment I'm just going to keep shooting cosplay, try and learn new things hopefully cross of a few of my holy grail shots and continue to build up my portfolio while enjoying being part of the community. 

If you love Dean’s work as much as us, check out his portfolio on social media:

Instagram

Youtube