Cosplay Photography in the Green Heart of the EGA Park
The Comic Park in Erfurt’s EGA Park has quietly become one of my favorite conventions in Germany. What started as a rather spontaneous visit a few years ago has now turned into an event I genuinely look forward to every year.
After missing the 2024 edition due to my 84-day trip to Japan, I was especially excited to finally return for Comic Park 2025.
Ironically, my very first visit in 2023 almost didn’t happen at all.
First Impressions – And a Wrong Assumption
When I first heard about Comic Park Erfurt, I was actually a bit skeptical. The word “Comic” in the title initially gave me the impression that the event might focus more on traditional comic culture, collectors, and general nerd fandom rather than cosplay.
In other words: I assumed it might be more of a comic convention than a cosplay-focused event.
Luckily, I was completely wrong.
Friends convinced me to come along in 2023, and the experience turned out to be far better than expected. The event was full of cosplayers, photographers, artists, and fans from many corners of pop culture.
Since then, Comic Park has firmly secured a spot in my annual convention calendar.
What Exactly Is Comic Park?
The EGA Park (Erfurter Garten- und Ausstellungspark) hosts various events throughout the year, ranging from garden festivals to cultural exhibitions. Among these events, Comic Park has developed into a unique gathering for fans of:
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anime
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manga
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cosplay
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gaming
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comics
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fantasy and pop culture
Rather than taking place inside convention halls, the event unfolds across the entire park landscape, which makes it feel completely different from typical indoor conventions.
And that difference is exactly what makes it so special.
Why the EGA Park Is Perfect for Cosplay Photography
As a photographer, my focus has always been portrait photography with a strong artistic approach. When shooting cosplayers, the goal is usually simple: the cosplayer should be the clear subject of the image.
Ideally, no other people should appear in the frame.
I jokingly call unwanted background visitors “human image contamination.”
At crowded indoor conventions this is almost impossible to avoid. But the EGA Park offers something that most convention venues simply cannot: space.
The park is incredibly spacious and diverse, which means it’s always possible to find a quiet corner for a photo shoot.
Even better, the environment itself becomes part of the storytelling.
Nature as the Perfect Backdrop
The EGA Park feels almost like a giant outdoor film set.
Lush green vegetation surrounds the pathways, creating a vivid natural backdrop for photos. Different themed areas throughout the park add even more variety.
Within a short walking distance you can find:
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wide meadows perfect for relaxed portrait shots
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a wooden pavilion that works beautifully for staged scenes
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a small artificial waterfall
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forest areas with Japanese maple trees that evoke subtle Asian garden aesthetics
All of these locations function like natural accessories for photography. Instead of building artificial sets, the environment itself provides the stage for visual storytelling.
For photographers who enjoy experimenting with composition and perspective, it’s almost a dream location.
Perfect Playground for Camera Gear
The wide open spaces of the park are also perfect for some of my favorite photography equipment.
One lens in particular shines here: my more than 20-year-old Canon EF 300mm f/2.8, mounted on my Canon R5.
In tight indoor convention spaces this lens is often impractical, but in the EGA Park it can truly perform at its best. The long focal length allows for incredibly clean backgrounds and dramatic subject isolation.
Beyond that, the park encourages creative experimentation with different techniques:
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Tilt-shift photography for surreal perspective effects
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GoPro fisheye shots for exaggerated compositions
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classic portrait photography with the Samyang RF 85mm f/1.4
Every part of the park feels like a new opportunity to try something different.
Community and Collaboration
Another reason Comic Park has become so meaningful to me are the people.
Over the years I’ve met many new cosplayers here, and some of those encounters eventually turned into long-term collaborations across different projects.
One particularly memorable highlight has been the presence of last year's Monster Hunter cosplayers. The armor-heavy designs from the series look absolutely fantastic in natural environments, which makes the EGA Park an almost perfect stage for them.
At one point there was even a dedicated Monster Hunter group with its own stand, bringing together fans and cosplayers of the franchise.
Seeing those detailed costumes among the park’s greenery felt almost like watching characters walk straight out of the game world.
A Perfect Day… Until the Rain Arrived
For most of the day, the weather was absolutely ideal.
Bright sunshine, warm temperatures, and a relaxed atmosphere made the event feel almost like a summer festival.
But toward the evening, the mood shifted dramatically.
Out of nowhere, a heavy summer rainstorm rolled in, turning the clear sky into something that almost resembled a tropical monsoon. The sudden downpour ended the carefree atmosphere rather abruptly, sending visitors searching for shelter.
Still, by that point most of the photography had already been completed.
And the results were more than satisfying.
A Look Back at Comic Park 2023
This section is a perfect place to revisit some of my favorite images from my first visit in 2023. Many of those photos played a role in shaping how I approach outdoor cosplay photography today, especially with all of my different lenses.
Looking Ahead
Despite the sudden rainstorm, Comic Park Erfurt 2025 once again confirmed why this event has become such a highlight for me.
It combines everything that makes cosplay photography enjoyable:
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creative costumes
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relaxed community vibes
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an incredible outdoor location
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and endless opportunities for artistic experimentation
With each year bringing new cosplayers, new costumes, and new creative ideas, it’s impossible not to feel excited about what the next Comic Park might bring.
One thing is certain: I’ll definitely be back.
