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Aris Loukisas ( See Fate Photography ), the well know Greek photographer in Athens, talks to us about Cosplay, photography and his work!

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THAT SOMETHING THAT CLICKS WITH YOU !

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You’ll find him at every big convention in Athens! Always holding his camera, looking for the next Cosplayer to put in front of his lens, and not only. If you are a frequent visitor of said conventions, you most likely have already met him! Aris Loukisas, also known as See Fate Photography!

Starting on October 7, 2017 at FantastiCon 2017, he continues steadily to this day, having already covered 13 events with Cosplays and a total of over 920 Cosplays, while doing coverage for Geek Cultura! But it’s not only Conventions that catch his attention, as far as Cosplay is concerned, having also done 5 solo outdoor Cosplay photoshoots!

He is currently one of the 4 remaining active  Cosplay photographers in Athens ( and Greece ) who shoot as many Cosplays as time allows during an event, thus providing a more comprehensive picture of all present Cosplays at an event to the viewer.

His involvement with photography, however, is not only limited to Cosplay! Let’s talk with him in detail about everything!

Find See Fate Photography and his work on the following media!
Page - Facebook - Instagram - Instagram
 Page - Facebook - Youtube - Instagram

Check out his photographer profile and his covered events list on our website, HERE!

PHOTOSHOOTING LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW !

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1) Tell us a few words about yourself! What do we need to know about you?

I really like photography, music and good alcohol.

I have a female dog called Nemesis that I love very much. Nemesis doesn’t drink alcohol.

I was born and raised in exotic Burnazi ( Greece ). Meaning, I’m from Peristeri and not an Athenian. Oops, what happened Athenian friends, acquaintances and others?

I lived during the analog era, but I belong to a micro-generation that has fully harmonized with the digital “something need to be shining even if it’s rubbish” era. I grew up in a time when artistic stimuli and the whole world were really angry, either through “grunge” or through the start of postmodernism, towards the previous generation, the one of baby boomers. If you say “ok boomer” because they are your grandparents, just imagine if they were your parents. Ah those years during PASOK ( a past Greek political party ), how bipolar they were.

I studied civil engineering at “City” in London. I lived in London for about 7 years. Through my work in Greece I was able to go to some places and experience situations that helped me gain a fairly cosmopolitan worldview. Traveling to the United Arab Emirates and Syria ( before the war ) made me appreciate what we have here and take for granted, such as gender equality and democracy in general.

Sometime during 2015, I wanted to completely overhaul my life. It took me a year to figure out what I wanted, and somewhere around then photography won me over.

I never looked back since then. The more you deal with Art, the more it wins you over. It changes your entity, the quality of your spirit.

Besides the professional part of photography, I’m also a member of two photography groups, “443 Photographica” and “Fotoditika“. I also write articles and take photos at “Geek Cultura” and for 3 years now I’ve been into web radio at “Dreamcity“‘s show “Alien” with Efi Vagianou.

AristosPower Cosplay as Ant-Man from Ant-Man

2) When and how did you start your engagement with photography? How did you acquire your knowledge on photography and what kind of photography do you do?

In 2007 I hit my back and as a result had to spend several months at home since I couldn’t walk. I got bored and started learning Photoshop and Japanese. I finally wasn’t able to learn Japanese, but I learned Photoshop. After two years I got bored and got a “Sony α300” camera. I was terribly impressed by the clean look of its photos and of course the Raw menu in Photoshop.

After a few years I realized that I wanted to shoot something more than sunsets and memorial statues and somewhere around 2013 I started art photography classes at Kallitechneio in Acharnes ( Greece ) with the teacher Ioanna Georgopoulou and a bunch of photo-companions. That’s how “443 Photographica” was created, which I am a member of until today, and 2 years later I became a member of the group “Fotoditika” which gave me another important stimulus in terms of different types of photography and artistic extensions, and of course even more companions. At the same time I attended a class with Vassilis Gerontakos.

Waify Waifu Cosplay as Katarina from League of Legends

3) Do you consider your engagement with photography to be a hobby or something more serious? How does this determine the way you photograph?

During the last years ( since 2017 ) I have been collaborating with professional photographers and also do applied photography and make a living from it. I also got a “Canon 5D mIII” and in time some lenses with my favorite being the prime lens “Canon 50mm f1.2”, until now. The freedom of professional equipment combined with powerful editing leads to results really close to the ideal, meaning, the photo that the photographer has in his mind as an idea and tries to immortalize and present. I also provide Photoshop lessons. I really love it when you do a lot of Photoshop and the result looks natural.

Photography is divided in my opinion into two large equal parts. One is related to shooting and the other to editing.

Photography as the art of shooting has so many directions that I feel very lucky to have got to know about it. From classical photographers who transmit the mind flow of connecting feeling and look to photographers who know how to use a model and / or artificial light.

Editing is the other half of photography in my opinion. It largely determines what you want to stand out in a composition, while in the meantime setting restrictions or freedom to the artist’s personal style. Editing has always been done even in the era of plates and films. Meaning it’s as old as photography itself.

I like working on it for a long time until I find the right pose and light for my model. Also, hitting the streets and walking for hours, until I find something that will make me take up my camera to serve my decisive moment. And when everything is over, a small ritual with wine follows at home to decide what I like, and what I finally like enough to edit. Then I hug my dog Nemesis and watch some Nickelodeon or Sci-Fi.

Cassiopi Cosplay as Sabrina Spellman from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

4) What was the reason that pushed you to specifically get into Cosplays photography? What was your first contact with the subject? How do you think it differs from other photography subjects?

During the first “AthensCon” I was just left stunned. When I noticed how seriously and passionately cosplayers deal with their costumes and props, I realized that I have to photograph this passion, this externalization of emotions, the love for those characters, the franchises, the culture and why not the subculture too.

This very narrow feeling a person has for a fictional character is so tangible and true that it materializes acquiring a realistic involuntary existence. And this, as true as it is, is just as magical. And of course because magic is rare nowadays, you have to capture it and become part of it.

If you see me ask me to take photos of you, and if we know each other tell me, because I don’t recognize you, since some cosplayers are a lot in character and incognito!

In cosplay, the fact that hiding behind a character reveals the greatest emotions is extremely creative and unique.

Yungloli as Krul Tepes from Seraph of the End

5) What kind of characters, sources or types of photography do you prefer in Cosplay photography? Are these choices based on personal interests, and if so, when did you get in contact with each of them? What are your favorite Cosplay characters you’ve shoot so far?

I have a serious issue, almost fanatical, with Sci-Fi and its aesthetics. Everything that has to do with “Star Trek” and “Mass Effect” drives me crazy. I love “Rick and Morty”. It’s this interdependence of emotion and quality. At least subconsciously, if you see me shooting, I try to make a character have an expression that shows emotion.

I can’t stand posing, I want the character to surpass himself, to be to the taste of both the cosplayer and the artist, to create a voluntary coexistence between them. On that note I will shoot the character’s poses, but then I will ask for more, and then more, and when the cosplayer gets tired or uneasy then the best photos get made, because that’s when the comfort to express emotions is reached and a person meets his imaginary character. When there is comfort and feelings, that’s when photos exist.

I also really like shooting in ideal places that are abandoned. It works really well with cosplay. For me, cosplay is purely anthropocentric portrait photography. Whenever I see an attempt to connect it with dead nature or something else through editing I just laugh disparagingly. Yes I know, the burn.

Abyss Arts & Crafts as Mera from Aquaman

6) What equipment do you use per occasion when shooting Cosplays and how important is it in the end result? How important do you think is the corresponding knowledge on photo editing in the end result?

Generally in photoshoots I use the “Canon 50mm f1.2”.

It’s not a lens with tremendous sharpness and absolute color fidelity, but it’s so expensive because it can and does filter adorably at f1.2, maintaining a very fluid portrait and a wonderfully unique bokeh. Basically I haven’t seen such wonderful bokeh and such fluid portrait in another lens and I take “Fuji” lenses into account too. Sometimes for reporting purposes I also use my “Canon 24-105mm f4.0L” lens to take group photos or reportage photos.

I use a lot of tricks in photography to create light. I know I blind people, but the result is quality and ophthalmologists get to make a living.

Photographic equipment is important if you know how to shoot pictures. I see a lot of DSLR “photographers” out there who just don’t know light means. I’m very sad that many people think that just because they have the equipment and the means, it’s an easy “come on it’s just a click” and think they have something decent. They don’t. I want to show what photography is and what is just shooting. In my photos the composition, the light and the pose are what I make them to be, nothing is by chance.

Finally, editing is important to highlight the photo and not create unrealistic views. If you put a lot of filters and polish it’s not a photo, but a painting or collage. Especially for colleagues there is no excuse. Stop polishing the universe, stop all your photos from looking the same!

Konina Arts & Cosplay as Spider-Gwen from Spider-Gwen

7) How did you end up covering Cosplay events regularly and what experiences did you get from it after all that time?

From 2017 onwards I shoot intensively because I appreciate the community unimaginably. I trust it and it trusts me. Sometimes there are people who try take advantage of situations, but I’m so much open and have that much clarity in the way I work, that no matter how malicious the other person is, I always get to keep my name clean.

I try to convey to each cosplayer that I will confront him seriously and with courtesy, and I’m clear on where the photos will be uploaded when it’s an event, and respectively clear on the finances and photos when it comes to paid photography.

RainbowKat as Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender

8) Was the theme and size of an event ever affected your decision to cover it? What would you say were your favorite events so far?

Certainly the big events attract me in sense that they have a lot more people and therefore cosplays. But other than that, it does not affect me much. I think my favorite event is the one in Peristeri because I go there on foot! Yes as I said utilitarianism, I hope all events come to Peristeri so that I can go on foot! Just kidding … or maybe not. Please “AthensCon” come to Peristeri in Attica ( Greece )! And “GameAthlon“, and the Beijing Olympics!

Fantasy Fairy

9) What result do you strive for during your outdoor Cosplay photoshoots and what determines the choice of their location and time?

When it’s an event I act as much in “reporting” mode as I can to cover more people and all the activities. Especially when I get paid I try 100% for all the activities to be present, with nothing missing. I think this part of coverage has been influenced by you, I try to cover as much as I can. In outdoor photoshoots, either paid or “my own”, I try to collect 10 to 15 good photos per cosplayer, I consider this a success. I love golden hour and I believe that natural light is irreplaceable.

Aspa’s Cosplays as Luka Megurine from Vocaloids

10) Are you generally satisfied with the the people’s response to your work during all these years?

Yes! Apart from a few exceptions ( you can not get along with everyone I guess… ) cosplayers who see me want to be photographed again by me and there are some who I speak to on friendly terms too and this fills me with even more love for the community. Aside from business, it’s nice to see a cosplayer, and him wanting to be photographed, expecting something good from me, and not be thinking “oh him again”. A special thank you to those of you who I talk to and get to socialize with, you are part of my life now! I hope to get to know the community better step by step.

Bullet Witch Cosplay as Brite Bomber from Fortnite

11) Do you think that Cosplay will continue to be a part of your photography as a subject for a long time? If so, what plans do you have on that for the future, that you have not yet been able to realize? Is there a long term goal or personal dream that you want to achieve in this regard?

For sure! I want to continue with events and outdoor photoshoots. My TOP dream is one day to be able to do something special related to “Mass Effect” and “Star Trek”! I’m looking forward to it! I also really like Japanese culture and tradition, in Anime and J-Metal, even fashion, it’s just wonderful! I hope the opportunity will be given to me to do something soon including a heroine with a sword, I just love it! The relationship that can exist between a woman and a sword is uniquely special. I think they do it better than everyone in Japan!

I have so many things to photograph and the community introduces so many ideas every time!

Itsundere as Touka Kirishima from Tokyo Ghoul

12) What is your opinion, in proportion to the size of Greece, in terms of the number and level of Greek Cosplays, as well as the level of events where they appear? What is the evolution that you have noticed over the years on that regard?

The level goes up every year! More and more people are involved and there has to be a healthy competition between them in general! I hope the level goes up even more.

All I want to say is that I would like there to be more references from series, movies and characters, and the scene to be more multidimensional. Sometimes I feel that a game can be 50% of all cosplays and I don’t like that. Unless it’s “Mass Effect”, I would love that!

I hope that cosplay will become even better known in the future as an art form and not as a fad.

Also for there to be events exclusively for cosplay. Guys let’s get a bit organized!

Kostatina as Jigsaw from Saw

13) Do you think that the provided Cosplay activities during various events are satisfactory or is there something you would still like to see in them regarding Cosplay?

I think that step by step more and more events will take place and people will stop judging cosplayers as something meaningless or a fad. I have a very positive future in mind and I think it will open up more to many more people. It’s up to the community to grow and have demands! I want more cosplay events! Also during events, let there be a place where we can properly shoot photos, it’s free advertisement … Also pay attention to air conditioning, since with cold or heat you go on to show that you don’t respect your audience.

I will say it again guys let’s get a bit organized! Reserve a smaller space, include 2-3 sponsors, since in that or similar ways we can have cosplay events!

Konina Arts & Cosplay as Schoolgirl
Angelina Zero as Black Widow from Avengers

14) Is there anything else you would like to see happen in general in regarding Cosplay in Greece?

I would like there to be better payments and incentives in the field. Also for cosplayers to stop being paid pennies because that way there will never be professionals! Personally, I’m saddened to see people say they’re professionals and not have a steady, even secondary income from cosplay as a job.

The community must get organized and set minimum fees, especially in places that have sponsors, since they have commercial profit and a respective margin. Why shouldn’t a part of it go to the community and so much work and passion be left unpaid and without substantial reward?

Kawaii Demon Cosplays as Yuno Gasai from Future Diary
Alexa Chan Arts as Captain America from Captain America

15) Is there an important or funny experience from your engagement with Cosplay that you’ll never forget?

I consider it important that I made friends and know people from the community by now. This is irreplaceable. It emphasizes my microcosm and motivates me.

I would consider as funny all those situations when someone comes up to me and says “How are you Aris, take a picture of me”, and I don’t know who he is and I keep looking dumbstruck … until he tells me a name and sometimes I still don’t know who he is until he describes a specific photo. Another funny thing is when they don’t serve alcohol and I have to go out to get beers.

One day I was photographing a product in Glyfada ( Athens, Greece ), finished shooting, went straight down to Faliro ( Athens, Greece ) to shoot an event, went to get a beer and saw the cashier feeling down and telling me, there’s nothing to be done, she only has soft drinks. I couldn’t even complain to her, she had already managed to complain for both of us, just by seeing the look on my face!

Other funny things are when I’m asked to clean something in a photo from an event because I totally forgot, like dirt on their clothes or something similar for example, and it’s something really noticeable. I just tell myself “you are unacceptable” and laugh, because the frenzy to upload an album quickly leads usually to omissions.

Another comical situation is, when they ask me where the toilet is, where the information desk is, if I can get them into a private event, if I know an influencer, I always answer no you should know. And of course a girl once asked me what character I was dressed as while I was wearing my normal clothes.

Alexa Chan Arts & Kawaii Demon Cosplay as Booette & Chompette from Super Mario
Marilena as Himiko Toga from My Hero Academia

16) What is the first thing you would say to someone who wants to seriously get into Cosplays photography?

If someone wants quality in his photography, he should collaborate with an older photographer, to help him go one step further. To study the work of other photographers. To have patience and know that everything is done one step at a time. No one makes any progress unless he improves himself first. Show kindness, show positivity, show honesty. We may come from different social conditions, ages, and backgrounds, but emotions are common and they are what unites us.

Learn to recognize light, and stay away from paintings and collages. Also stop hitting on others, a camera is not an extension of your thing and stop showing your photos while shooting and saying “do you like it?” “well do you like it?” “ehm do you like this one?” “good heh?”.

Whatever the photographer photographs it’s him photographing. So go home and choose what you will post. Make a selection!

Bullet Witch Cosplay as Jaina from Heroes of the Storm
Art.e Make-up Artist as Schoolgirl

17) Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I know it’s easy to get a light and just click but that’s not enough.

I know you are used to bright colors and creamy skin but that’s not right because such photos don’t stand the test of time and your personal substance is lost. Instagram is unsightly by now.

Calm down on filters and Photoshop! If something is obviously photoshopped or has filters then it has problems and it’s not a photo, simple.

Thank you for having me on your page, and let me tell you that such work on your part is one of its kind! I don’t know if such an amount of reporting will ever exist again!

I want to thank my friend Efi who in addition to being good company has helped me in countless photoshoots. And Manolis too who in addition to being good company, helps in the selection of photos!

Thanks to the whole community for the trust they show me.

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