Chasing the Event Horizon

Step into the Magna Science Adventure Centre during a Secret Con event, and you are stepping into a photographer’s nightmare. It is pitch black. The background glows with low-intensity, hyper-creative ambient lighting, but the air is empty of the clean illumination photographers crave. Cameras hunt desperately for focus; flashguns fail to cut through the gloom. It is an environment that leaves even seasoned professionals sweating.

"I really struggled, as did many others," recall this talented photographer, known exclusively to the community by his sharp professional moniker, Event Horizon Cosplay. "It was extremely technically challenging—balancing flash, continuous lighting, and a low-intensity background. Focus was difficult, even with the assist beam."

Most would retreat to the safety of a daylight studio. But he is a man who spent twenty-five years mastering standard portraiture before he ever set foot at a comic-con. He didn’t retreat; he adapted.

"The second time I went there, I came with new, all-continuous lighting and a new mirrorless camera with excellent high ISO performance," he says with the quiet confidence of a veteran. "I absolutely nailed it. It’s now my favorite type of environment for shooting cosplay."

That relentless pursuit of the perfect shot defines the UK-based photographer. From the historic backdrops of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to the bustling convention floors of London, Forde has spent the last five years turning costume fabrication into cinematic art.

For Forde, the magic doesn't happen in a Photoshop menu weeks after the event. It happens on the floor, in real-time, through the deliberate manipulation of light and shadow.

"Most of my look is created in camera, particularly using creative lighting," he explains. For the makers reading this—the ones who spend hundreds of hours hand-stitching fabric or texturing EVA foam—Forde’s methodology is a masterclass in respect for the craft. He doesn't wash out details with a heavy, flat flash. He builds dimension.

"Contrast is the key," he notes. "A single light is enough, perhaps using Rembrandt lighting. You use the position of the light source, artificial or sunlight, to highlight the textures and details of a costume that might otherwise be lost."

This technical epiphany wasn't instantaneous; it crystallized during a lighting workshop that changed the trajectory of his career. Forde recalls setting up a shot of cosplayer carlaa.cosplay, who was wearing a stunning, self-designed Barbie in the Nutcracker gown.

"I set it all up myself, based on what I’d learned during the day," he says. "When I saw the result on the back of the screen, I said I could not believe I had taken that. It made me realize what I was capable of, and I have never looked back since that day." That image remains pinned to the top of his portfolio—a permanent reminder of the day a veteran photographer found his true calling.

Yet, for all his technical prowess, he insists that the most critical piece of equipment isn’t the camera body or the lens—it’s the unspoken contract between the person holding the camera and the person in front of it.

"I’ve found that some cosplayers are a little intimidated by photographers," he observes, a hint of surprise still in his voice. "Often they’ve never worked with a professional before and are a little overwhelmed that someone thinks they are worth their time. To be honest, I feel a little the same when photographing a prominent cosplayer."

To shatter that anxiety, he operates on a strictly "flat hierarchy." There are no egos on an Event Horizon shoot. He begins not by clicking the shutter, but by asking for their Instagram handle, writing down the character’s name, and asking about the source material. It breaks the ice. It shows he cares about the why just as much as the what.

"For many cosplayers, the costume means far more to them than just an outfit to wear," he says. "The amount of work and time that goes into creating them can be substantial. Do everything you can to make them feel good about the process."

"Nothing bad is going to happen. Just be yourself and live the character that you want to be."

When working with a nervous subject, he doesn't just bark orders. He coaxes the character out of the artisan. He asks about personality quirks, backstory, or specific signature movements that can be translated into a dynamic pose.

And the payoff? It happens right there on the convention floor, long before the images are edited and promptly delivered to the client's inbox.

"I always show them the back of the camera images," he smiles. "Some of those immediate reactions—seeing their eyes light up when they see themselves as the hero—that is what makes this so rewarding for me."

With dreams of hitting massive European events like Focus Cosplay and an ultimate bucket-list trip to Japan, Event Horizon Cosplay is nowhere near done chasing the horizon. For the anxious cosplayer looking to book their first real shoot, his parting advice is as comforting as it is definitive:

"Nothing bad is going to happen. The very worst is that you might see a photo that you don’t like. The photographer will guide you through the poses and deal with all the technical sides of things. Just be yourself and live the character that you want to be."

Steven recommends checking out fellow community visionaries: 

• @JREcosplayphotography

• @mini_photoshoots

• Hover Media (hovermediacosplay.com)

Connect & Book:

• Instagram: @eventhorizon.cosplay (Direct Message for bookings and portfolio review)