When temperatures rise, all I want is to soak in the water. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I recreated the summer swimsuit cosplay version of Kitashirakawa Chiyuri from Touhou Project. During a pool photoshoot, the biggest fear is harsh light completely blowing out facial details and the background, but this time the photographer controlled the backlit lens flare very gently, making the shimmering waves on the water surface act as a perfect natural backdrop.
This outfit has quite a few clever details. Although it features the iconic sailor style, its tailoring incorporates plenty of skin-exposing designs; off-shoulder sleeves paired with ruffles keep the overall look light without losing summer vibes. What satisfied me most were the anchor elements on the hair accessories and hat. I originally thought wearing a sailor hat might look too formal, but posing by the pool actually made it look quite playful. Combined with the mechanical-looking water gun prop in my hand, the summer entertainment vibe was instantly maxed out.
Speaking of the shooting process, stepping barefoot on these mosaic tile stepping stones actually tested my balance quite a bit. The water-slicked stones were slippery, so for every photo, I had to be careful not to shift my center of gravity. To capture that natural refreshing feeling of stepping into water, I intentionally dipped my feet into the pool; the icy cool water surged up instantly, providing a very real cooling sensation. The photographer let me interact freely—whether holding the hat brim while gazing into the camera lens or posing dynamically with the water gun, everything fit the fan-made alternative design ambiance of this character.
I feel the charm of cosplay lies in breaking the fourth wall, bringing vivid Anime girl characters from the 2D world into our real daily lives. Shooting under outdoor natural light this time offered a casual, vivid vitality compared to studio shoots. The splashing water drops, the slight tilt of the hat, and the lace-textured accessories around the ankle all recorded this refreshing moment of midsummer in the photos. Although this fan-made Summer swimsuit cosplay design doesn't have elements as complex as the original design, its clean and refreshing color scheme is incredibly photogenic, and I personally love the relaxed vibe this photo set brings.