The density of classic retro anime at the Chengdu Comiday 27 convention site was remarkably high, and the foot traffic far exceeded expectations. Many spacious photo spots were packed shoulder-to-shoulder, severely limiting framing and composition options for these Convention photos. Fortunately, we managed to capture several incredibly dedicated cosplayers; from costume textures and wig styling to prop details, you could tell everyone poured a tremendous amount of thought into their makeup and styling.
For instance, the cosplayer holding the large stainless steel colander featured striking red-and-white color blocking, particularly the embroidered sleeve badges and the enticing prop dish garnished with scallions. To capture reflective textures and crisp composition, we deliberately positioned them before a glass curtain wall with even ambient lighting. When photographing the ninja-styled cosplayer, the layered styling of the wig was fantastic, and the metallic texture of the headband avoided excessive glare under natural light; I specifically had them pose with a one-handed hand seal starting gesture to highlight the loose, drooping drape of the sleeves.
The cosplayer with white hair, red attire, and dog ears delivered stellar expressiveness. Their wig fibers were remarkably sleek; capturing the arcs of flowing long hair during dynamic runs or crouching poses required repeated burst-shooting to preserve the most natural single frame. Because their costume was quite heavy, we opted to have them sit on steps, baring their bare feet while wearing a chunky black necklace, which instead created a casual yet subtly wild ambiance. When shooting the blonde character in blue, I zoomed in closely to capture the metal chains winding between their fingers and their micro-expression touching their lips, with the high saturation of blue and gold rendering vividly under the overcast sky.
The red-dressed, black-haired cosplayer sported exceptionally clean makeup, pairing fake red blood plasma around the neck with white long gloves and white Stockings for a formidable visual impact. Their forward-leaning posture while gripping a long prop wrapped in white cloth carried incredible tension. The other two powerhouse female characters sported boldly contrasting wardrobe palettes—the left featuring a red-and-white cow pattern paired with a dark blue plush shawl, while the right donned a blue cropped short sleeve with a pink tasselled long skirt; this vibrant color clash combined with retro sunglasses and gold earrings yielded an extremely high hit rate for great shots.
As for myself, I blended into the mix this time as Usagi Tsukino. To match the vibe of the classic retro anime Convention photos, I readjusted the sailor collar and the large red chest bow of this sailor uniform multiple times. Styling twin-tail wigs heavily tests technique, as the curl of the hair ends required repeated adjustment with a curling iron. Paired with white Stockings and a blue pleated skirt, though it was merely a simple standing pose, blending in seamlessly with everyone brought me immense joy.
Inside such a congested exhibition hall, every shutter click required seizing gaps between crowds. While communication overhead was high, seeing the vivid expressions of every character inside the camera made it all completely worthwhile. That wraps up today's collection of Convention photos.