Wassup everyone, hope you're all doing well! This will be a short blog entry sharing my recent three new uploads on YouTube. First one is a song cover of GLIDE originally by Niki feat. vocaloid Lily. I covered bits and pieces of this song before but then after seeing friend's covers on the song and asking me to join the "bandwagon", I thought might as well since I know the song. So yeah! Please check that out :
Please also check out my friend's cover of GLIDE as well which really motivated and inspired me to cover the song :)
Second video is just me playing an online game called League of Legends also known as LoL and yeah just my first attempt at the role known as jungling. And to show how much of a derp I am when I play games haha! Warning - heavy screaming at 4.11 and 5.10
Lastly, another short song cover I covered today. Actually I discovered the song today and did a test and thought the test was alright so just had to post it up on my channel. The song is called World Wide Love by 砂粒 feat GUMI Whisper. I only discovered 砂粒 today and I just simply love their songs because it just matches the genres I like; if you really like songs with beats then you may like their work.
Now, once again this is another personal thoughts and opinion thing from both Tina and I so it's possible that you may not agree with us but yeah. Just us sharing our thoughts out there. :)
→ Purpose of contact lenses (in cosplay) Contact lenses does so much wonders in cosplay because it changes the color and enhances the eyes through various patterns and vibrancies along with being able to change the size of your eyes with enlarging properties. In saying that and wearing contact lenses when cosplaying, it makes the cosplay more accurate/precise and brings the character more to life especially during photoshoots where having close up portraits of the face, since the eyes will be a pin-point of the picture and the cosplay. Also contact lenses when bought with power, helps gives vision which allows you to see without the need of wearing glasses which is a YAY since we like to see where we're going and what's going on around us. → Contact lenses vs No lenses There is quite a difference since the normal naked eye doesn't give it that pop, 3D-ness, surreal look especially when having makeup on, the normal eye's color and shape is overpowered by the makeup which loses look's purpose. As mentioned earlier, contact lenses comes in all different size, pattern, color in which these properties does change the eye completely- even if the lense is the "natural type". → Personal opinion whether necessary in cosplay In Tina's opinions, she thinks it is necessary in cosplay because it makes quite a difference and brings the character more to life. In my opinion, I think it is quite necessary having them being the same reason as Tina's opinion. However it is understandable that there are circumstances in which contact lenses cannot be worn especially health concerns. If for some reason the contact really stings the eye on the day of wearing the cosplay, and you decide to not wear lenses- it doesn't mean you'll be hated or harshly judge. It is for the best. In sharing our opinion that it is quite necessary, we are not encouraging and saying that it's a MUST, it's just more preferred to adapt in wearing them with cosplay.
→ Handling
Be sure that your hands are properly cleaned with soap before beginning
Wash your fingers/hands with the contact lens (saline) solution before handling the lenses
Handle the lenses with contact lens tweezers with rubber tips
Be sure the lenses are clean when looking through the lens, it should be free from marks/tears (if so, clean by rubbing the lenses with your finger and solution)
Try best not to tug on the eye when inserting lenses, this causes the skin to stretch and cause it to prematurely sag/wrinkle especially when the skin around the eye is super delicate and thin
Remember to change the solution being stored in the case often and every time lenses are being handled
Always wear lenses before applying makeup/skincare
→ Prices & Availability The availability of contact lenses is so vast nowadays as they can be found online via websites, blogs, facebook stores etc; optometrists and beauty stores; people/friends who bulk buy etc. I usually get my lenses online at http://www.honeycolor.com (as you can see in the ad on the right -i'm not sponsored, just a support for them) . Their lenses are legit, decent priced and the shipping usually takes around 2 weeks to get to more. The legitimacy of lenses vary every store, you really have to check on feedbacks of the stores and the lenses. Don't hesitate to ask them for details and pictures of seals etc because this is for your own good and theirs too. :) The prices of lenses vary upon each stores depending on the style, brand, size, popularity, quality, water content etc. But the prices usually range between $16US - $30 for the Japanese/Korean ones.
→ Alternative to contact lenses - Photoshopping When not wearing lenses, there is also the alternative of photoshopping in lenses. There is a trick when photoshopping lenses and that is to make sure the pupil is still your original color (black/dark) and be sure to add some light definition so there is life in your eyes. Also when adding colors, remember to keep the color opaque so you still see the natural patterns in the eyes. IN THE END~ Wearing contact lenses is quite a big step as it involves putting something into the eye which is extremely dangerous and scary as well, so please do be careful, take it slow and take care when wearing lenses. Be sure to have great hygiene when handling them from beginning to end. Also to consult your optometrist prior to wearing lenses to see whether you can wear lenses or not, and to know how to handle the lenses more properly. Eyes are something that is pretty much irreplaceble so do cherish them and take great care of them. Vision is a great gift, make great use of what you can in this life. :) Anyway, hope it is somewhat informative. I will try to add pictures tomorrow. Until then, stay well & take care!
Hope you're all doing well! :D Sorry for the lack of posts, just having a mind blank lately but yeah! Uploaded a video on Youtube on my thoughts on Cosplay & Photoshop. Which can be viewed here:
So this post will just be a more detailed or clearer version of the video since I mumbled and stuttered alot in the video which was quite difficult to understand. Just a disclaimer note before I begin that I understand that you may not agree with me and what I say but these are just my thoughts and opinions, and it is totally understandable that everyone has their own opinions as well. ^_^)v Photoshop is a program that allows you to manipulate an image according to the user's preferences, in saying that- photoshopping is the technique of manipulating the image. In my opinion, Photoshop is quite crucial when relating it to cosplay/cosplay-photography. Reason being is that it's very difficult to capture a perfect image as there's so many factors that contribute to a photoshoot which where the photographs are taken. Some examples are : → Weather → Lighting → Location → Cosplayer → Photographer → Atmosphere
Now when I mention cosplayer and photographer, I don't mean that they are at fault- so you shouldn't really (ever in my opinion) blame them. I mention cosplayer and photographer in terms of the interaction and the comfort level to product whatever atmosphere. For me- I really think a good connection between the cosplayer and the photographer is super crucial in producing great photographs. A good connection/relationship between the cosplayer and the photograph creates this really comfortable non-awkward atmosphere where both will get along and work together without worrying so much about the surroundings. Cosplayers feel less tense and more confident which shows alot through the expression they give along with the poses. Sometimes the surrounding such as the location or weather turns out not what you expected it to be, and to be honest- with such good connection and atmosphere between the coser and the photographer, automatically (in most cases) both will work around some way with whatever situation. Overall, whatever problems you have- you should really just work your way around with whatever situation you're in :)
Moving back onto topic with photoshop, when I mention photoshop- I don't mean overdone or overkill photoshopping or shopping for short. I mean a way of editting so that it enhances the photos to capture the right feel for it. For me, there are four different types of level of shopping: → Minor → Tolerable → Godshop → Overdone/Overkill So lets emphasise each level of shopping: → Minor
Minor photoshopping is when you do very little editting on the photo to the point where it looks more natural and not even noticeable.
Here's an example of minor shopping done on the Eager Love Revenge Kagamine Len photo taken by my good friend and photographer Kenny. (thanks!)
So the left one is the original and the right one is after photoshopping it.
As you can see-
→ the random thing floating in the air is removed
→ lighting adjustments was made.
Looks somewhat natural as if taken from the camera without editting.
→ Tolerable
Tolerable photoshopping is editting photos with a heavier hand than the minor shopping, where used to enhance the photo to please the eye, makes it more appealing and photoshopping may be noticeable or not. Tolerable shopping is commonly what I aim for.
In the following example; from the minor shopping-
→ the color balance was changed
→ light flare added
→ wig ahoge fixed to look like the actual character.
→ Godshop
Godly photoshop is editting the photo at a high level to the point where it's super obvious however looks super appealing and catches people's attention. Requires alot of skills and care as sometimes it may overwhelm the eyes or even go towards the overdone/overkill category. This form of editting is commonly used amongst "pro" cosplayers as seen on the front page of worldcosplay as it captures the audience's attention because it's flashy *A*)b
The following picture is an example that was godshopped by amazing Alan (http://zfx-design.deviantart.com) [THANKS ALAN!]. No words- BAM. haha! Looks super good an amazing even though its obvious it has been photoshopped.
→ Overdone/Overkill
Over-shopping is the process of editting the photo to the point where it doesn't please the eyes and just overdone because it's just too much or not done properly.
The following is an example which I overexaggerated because I honestly had no idea what to do but yeah. The photo has been killed by badly photoshopping it and there was another edit where my face was fully editted to the point where it didn't even look like me.
So that sums up my thoughts on cosplay x photoshop.
As I said earlier, I try my best to edit my photos at the tolerable level where you know it's photoshopped but editted in a subtle manner.
Please leave a comment in the Youtube video or on the blog for your thoughts and opinions as well, love to see it as well! :D
