Welcome to pireze.net

This is the latest incarnation of my photography gallery. Previously known as Pixels on Pireze, and co-hosted on pireze.org, this gallery hosts mostly cosplay photos taken by me (icie).

Like many others, I first used the camera to document the mundane - the birthdays, the events, the places I visited, and of course, anime conventions. But one day, I came across a group of cosplayers in the city.

These cosplayers were out on a meet/shoot, and I was very excited to recognise the series they were cosplaying. So I asked them for a photo, and took a shot.

Somewhat stupidly, I forgot to tell them who I was or where I was from. Until a mutual friend linked us up, and I asked them if I could tag along on shoots and help take photos.

The rest is history.

At the beginning of the cosplay photography journey, I approached it with curiosity: documenting the meetups, the costumes, the people. Then I slowly started "getting" what cosplay photography was about: style and narrative.

It dawned on me that my photos needed to tell a story, and that I couldn't just work with flat fill lighting all the time. And so I started exploring ways by which light and composition can be used to influence the narrative of a picture, to depict a mood which complements or comes into tension with the cosplayer and costume.

So I credit cosplay with the development of my photo skills. Indeed, without the constant meet-ups and shoots, I very much doubt that I would have gained this much experience and interest in photography.

I am also very much indebted to the cosplay community for some very long lasting friendships and relationships.

For your welcome and friendliness, I thank you.

You can contact me by email here