Group cosplay shoots are hard to organize and pull off, but if that group gets lucky, the result is often an amazing and worthwhile project like this Air Gear Cosplay Group Photoshoot we became a part of a while back.
Air Gear is a story about people drawn to the world of Air Treks, a futuristic evolution of aggressive skating. It has become a very successful franchise, starting from the manga around 2002 and anime and OVAs around 2006. It had a Tagalized version here in the Philippines and has since become part of the childhood of many Filipinos who enjoyed the adventurous, quirky and funny story. On one particular day in February, a group of fans made up of cosplayers and photographers set out to pay homage to Air Gear with a group cosplay shoot they worked very hard for, and arkadymac.com was glad to be invited to be part of this exciting affair.
With preparations made months beforehand, a bulk of the group met one sunny morning at a nondescript fast food joint in the old quarter of Cubao in Quezon City. After a generous allowance of time given to the lost, the hungry, he terminally confused, the incontinent (a long line at the restroom that screamed “May forever, Bae), the group finally caught their van ride to Marikina. Despite the fatigue and lack of sleep, everyone seemed wide awake and chatting animatedly, all excited for the shoot.
After a while we arrived at the Marikina Riverbanks Park. With the driver and the passengers not quite on the same line of thought, the group was inadvertently dropped off of the park, some kilometers away from the intended destination. Left without really much of a choice, the group set out on foot along the scenic bike trail along the serene riverbank. The group made the most of the (tiring) situation by enjoying the scenery and chatting about the silliest things. As much as we got the chance to admire the thoughtfulness that went into making the Marikina Riverbank a beautiful and useful place for the public, the gear we carried didn’t exactly weigh like air, and we just dutifully trudged along the path.
After what seemed like forever Bae we got to meet up with the rest of the group who had already known beforehand where the location was. They picked a roman-esque structure as the location of the first shoot. It had a weathered dome supported by slender white pillars. The group settled down at a clearing, took a breather then began preparations in earnest. The photographers readied their equipment in anticipation of a grueling afternoon open-air shoot.
The cosplayers took to their art and craft with diligence, as only few people can truly appreciate the meticulousness and effort that goes into preparing the best cosplay they can muster: makeup, costumes, props, lenses, wigs, eyelashes, are only a few of the details they need to contend with. However, these are things they consider as a labor of love, and that half of the enjoyment from cosplaying comes from helping each other out with their makeup and wardrobe and having fun while doing it. NSTP students, residents and passers-by looked on in curiosity as the group prepared.
With the constant threat of the event devolving into a board game session, the photoshoot finally commenced later that afternoon, with test shots fired and the initial group shots taken. All wanted to do their best, of course, as the cosplayers gave their best poses and photographers exploring the best angles. It wasn’t always serious of course, as there was always time for a joke or two, or horseplay, followed by riotous laughter.
The group then moved to the second location: a barge along the other side of the river. It had a modern, derelict feel to it, and with the strange machinery and ropes and towers and junk, it offered us a unique place to shoot in. Crowds of residents, visitors and children gathered. Some curious, some amused, some took photos with them, some supportive, some not so supportive, but the group just took it in stride as they’re already used to it and has been part of being cosplayers.
The weather suddenly became cloudy later on and it drizzled a bit, so it became quite of a challenge. But everyone was still lively and energetic, having fun in and out of character.
The shoot went on till dusk hen it was already hard to see. The last shots were taken and everyone trooped back to the other side of the river to change clothes and pack their gear. After the many thanks and goodbyes, everyone headed out for their homes, tired but happy that they pulled off a fun and worthwhile shoot.
We’d like to thank the organizers for inviting and accommodating us. It was a great experience. Many thanks as well to the cast and crew:
Cast: Rei as Ine Makigami, Dei as Dauntless, Tsubaki Katsueki as Spitfire, Ace/John Hay Supetran as Black Burn, Aruiko Hatsuhara as Kilik, KC Caravana as Rika Noyamano, Johnson Guansing as Falco, and Rikki Mae Cawaling as Sora.
Photographers: Francis Legarda, Dale Perias, Thomas Regala, Vincent Noir, and Christopher Prince Mortell.
Till next shoot, everyone.
Thank you for dropping by, and do visit us again for more cosplay features here at arkadymac.com.
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