Camera Cart with Jay Tablante (on Cosplay Photography, Lighting an MRT and Paying the Bills)

Our heads almost burst with excitement when shiz photographer, Mr. Jay Tablante, agreed to sit down with us for a short chat to discuss about his cosplay and commercial work. Read on!

Hey Jay! What are you up to these days?
I took a short hiatus from shooting cosplay to concentrate back to doing more mainstream beauty and fashion shoots. Of course the commercial projects are still there to pay the bills. 
Yes bills, we've got lots of those! You've been doing this for how long?
As of date, about 9 years. 

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That long? Pretty prehistoric! So what do you love about 'em taking pictures?
Every shoot is something different. There's always a new challenge to overcome. Always a new image to make.
And the cosplay thing, how long have you been doing that?
Four years.
What lured you into it doing cosplay?
Shooting cosplay brings two major passions in my life: comics and photography. It was that "what if" where I thought of bringing superheroes into another medium. I also addresses my frustration for illustration. I've been a frustrated artist as a kid, and despite numerous art workshops, I never really got to draw decently. Photography solved that need for me to be artistic. Since I can't draw superheroes, I might as well take pictures of them.

Photography by Jay Tablante

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Photography by Jay Tablante

Very good point! When shooting cosplay, what is your creative process? Do you start with a model, a location, or a concept?
We always start with a character. It's not my style to revolve my ideas around the model, since I should feel more passionate about the character first. We then proceed to cast for the model who would best fit our character. We then develop the concept for the shoot, and this determines everything else from the location, pose, angle, post-production treatment, etc...
Interesting! So how would you describe your style?
I can't really say I have a staple style. I love experimenting and diverting from what people would usually pinpoint as my "style." I always try to strive a lighting style that's necessary for shot. My work is concept-centric rather than technique. By virtue that each concept is unique, so would the lighting style be. 

Let's go to your bag. What's usually in it?
I only have one camera at the moment, a Canon 5D Mark 3. Lighting equipment varies depending on the scenario, but as much as possible, I bring a complement of eight lights in a shoot. My workhorse lens is the 24-70mm, which produces about 90% of my work.
Eyeing on anything next?
Maybe perhaps a Canon 1DX, but I've been happy with my lights so far.
That would make us drool, too. Most memorable assignment you've done in all those nine years?
Getting to shoot for Survivor Philippines in Thailand.
How about the hardest assignment you've done?
A print-ad campaign for Nature Valley. They made us construct an interior of an MRT and I had to light it.
Whoa! An MRT! A hefty achievement! Anything else you're proud of?
Guesting in comic conventions within the region. Not really sure if this has anything to do with photography. 
We're not sure either! You've been exhibiting your works. Do you think that as an artist it's essential to do exhibits?
I do it to express my passion work, and it's a healthy way to exercise your imagination at the same time get pressured to perform. We tend to get lazy with our imagination if there is no external pressure to bring it out.

Photography by Jay Tablante

Photography by Jay Tablante

Ditto! Words of advice to photographers who want to go into cosplay photography?
Read your comics and watch your anime.
And for hopeful photographers out there?
Master the basics. So-called advanced photography is simply a marketing term to hand-hold your imagination. CC

Jay Tablante's website
http://www.jaytablantephotography.com/