[Ibaraki Kasen cosplay] Hermit and Oni in Touhou Project: Spinning into Flowing Aesthetic Photos

Facing this shoot of Ibaraki Kasen's two forms, the main focus was indeed placed on expressing that flowing sense of dynamic motion.

The settings of the hermit form and oni form inherently bring a strong contrast in aura, so when creating these Flowing aesthetic photos, I needed to distinguish between these two feelings through body language and the fluttering skirt. During the shoot, my mind was filled entirely with spinning around, as this outfit's skirt has so many layers—red, white, and teal ruffles stacked layer upon layer, looking like a blooming lisianthus when spinning.

However, spinning gracefully was by no means easy. The metal chains and Iron ball prop used that day were quite heavy. Gripping them in my hands required maintaining an extended arm posture while making sure the iron ball didn't hit the wooden steps. Especially for the pose shown in the photos where both hands pull the chain apart, I had to firmly tense the wrist lines to convey a visual effect of resilience amid restraint. To capture the skirt's layers, the photographer specifically searched for low angles and side perspectives during framing, having me turn repeatedly on the steps.

Speaking of details, tailor Paomian put a lot of thought into this outfit. The red outerwear with white inner layer, paired with the white flower ornament on the chest, blends wonderfully with the overall red-white-teal color scheme. Coupled with the gold trim along the cuffs and waist, the entire look appears exquisitely sharp. The black horn accessories of the oni form carry a strong aggressive feel, while the fluffy white spherical hair ornaments of the hermit form feel considerably softer—wearing them made me feel as if I had switched souls.

During the shoot, as hair flew with the spinning motion alongside various props, capturing and freezing those moments with the shutter severely tested the photographer's snapshot abilities. Huge thanks to photographer Syuuji for constantly zooming and half-pressing the shutter on the spot to capture the exact moment my spinning looked most graceful. Thanks also to assistants Liangye and WaTer-VON for helping adjust the skirt and props—because when the iron chain dragged on the ground it was easy to trip, having them keep watch nearby provided immense peace of mind.

In fact, many players may have seen this character's sense of mystery in game lore, but what I wanted to present this time was not only majesty, but also her vibrant and nimble side. When I pushed movements to the extreme and let the skirt float completely outward, that sensation of blending costume, character, and setting together into one was the most satisfying moment for me. To achieve these Flowing aesthetic photos, we repeatedly refined movement ranges and positions while experimenting with various lighting setups before selecting these final images, sharing these Cosplay insights.

Possessing both static elegance and dynamic explosive energy, this shooting process combining stillness and motion was truly enjoyable. Whether it was the substantial feel of the props or the detailed textures of the costume, this shooting experience was filled with freshness and challenges, and the final results made all our previous efforts feel completely worthwhile.