One of my favorite aspects of photography is its ability to capture and freeze a moment in time. It allows the viewer to express their creativity, tell a story, and share their perspective with the world.

The Inspiration

The inspiration for this specific photoshoot concept hit me as I was walking into a room, a mundane action I do hundreds of times a day, and noticed a forgotten moon lamp casting its glow on a nearby plush Pikachu. Fairly simple and basic but too captivating to ignore, the scene of Pikachu seemingly lost in the presence of the moon sparked an idea for a photoshoot that would combine the world of Pokémon with the beauty of space.

The Evolution

From that initial moment of inspiration, the concept began to evolve and take shape as I was flooded with countless variations and ideas to pursue. The initial photoshoot only envisioned Pikachu staring into a yellowish-colored moon to somewhat match Pikachu’s unique hue. The idea then developed into incorporating other Pokémon, like a Valentine’s Day-themed Bulbasaur paired with a similarly colored moon. Then, from there, combining a Bulbasaur with a blood-red moon.

The Execution

Despite the grand plan taking shape in my mind, time constraints meant that I would not have enough time to do all of these photoshoots, unfortunately. As much as I wanted to do nothing but explore this concept and spend all day shooting and editing, I had to prioritize. I decided to capture a few initial images that primarily reflected the original concept and use that as a base to finely tune future shoots. This test trial would act as the first step in exploring the concept and establishing what works and what does not. At the end of the day, the shoot resulted in some cute photos that I was not entirely displeased with, although not my favorite work.

The first photo uses the natural light of the moon to illuminate Pikachu’s face, while for the next two, I decided to play around with the colors. Admittedly, a small adjustment, but I believe it does alter the overall aesthetic of the photo. In the last photo, I added a small amount of vignette to really emphasize the center of the photo.

The Conclusion

While the initial photoshoot may not have been my absolute best work, it served as a valuable learning experience. The overall process of turning an abstract thought or concept into the world helped me work through and get a better sense of where and how to start next time. One thing I often forget is how important it is to be flexible, adaptable, and willing to experiment. Just because it is not what I envisioned in my mind does not make it a failure. Learning how to pivot when necessary is something I need to work on both in my personal and professional life.

Photography is both a science and an art. It is vital to understand the technical aspects, such as lighting and camera settings, but also the artistic elements, like composition and story-telling. Despite time constraints and some other unforeseen challenges, I think this initial photoshoot managed to capture the main concept I had in mind while laying the groundwork for the evolution of future photoshoots. This serves as a reminder that even in the face of challenges, creativity, and passion can lead to out-of-this-world results.