The CICF Free Pass application channel is about to close, so I rushed to sort out various photos of different styles taken recently, preparing to submit them as application materials.
To shoot this red-and-black themed Japanese style outfit, I tossed and turned in the studio for a long time. The details of this outfit are extremely rich, with the obi embroidery and sleeve prints both very exquisite. After wearing a half-face fox mask, to match the tension of the costume, the pose design leaned toward expansive dance-like postures. In particular, the single-leg standing pose actually tests core strength quite a bit, losing balance at the slightest inattention. The red background cloth echoes the costume's color very well, and during lighting, a main light and rim light were purposely used to outline the leg lines and the layering of the costume. The red ropes and bells of the leg wraps must not be tied too tightly during the shoot, otherwise leaving marks will make post-processing very troublesome.
The motorcycle night view set was one of my most satisfying shoots. The purple motorcycle had a great texture under the night lights, with decals on the body. I wore a black jacket with purple stripes, wore black-framed glasses, and had long straight black hair. To match the biker girl vibe, I wore black stockings on the lower body. The hardest part of late-night shooting is lighting; once the fog machine blows, coupled with the headlights and side fill light, the atmosphere immediately comes out. I also put my own chibi plush doll on the motorcycle's front as a prop, adding a bit of contrasting cuteness to the cool style. When shooting this style, you must scout the location in advance and pay attention to safety.
Besides the cool and edgy styles, I also prepared some gentler looks. The blue-green attire paired with a pearl necklace, holding an embroidered round fan in hand, and matched with green contact lenses, overall presents a classical sense of beauty. To match this outfit, the hairstyle involved many complex braids and hair accessories. Another light blue short hair look was paired with an umbrella with tassels, and post-processing added falling petal special effects, creating a great atmosphere. There is also a white-and-green themed short skirt with plenty of lace and ruffles, resembling a combination of a maid outfit and fantasy elements. I took a photo holding the skirt hem at the convention site; although the convention's top lighting was complex, using a wide aperture to blur the background allowed the character to stand out very well.
To enrich the diversity of the application materials, I also shot a school-style set. A bright blue wig paired with a white shirt and a gray plaid skirt, with a blue-and-yellow bow on the chest. The lower body chose black over-the-knee socks and uniform shoes. The shooting location was just an ordinary outdoor staircase, with the yellow-and-blue alternating steps showing very vibrant colors. This set's shoot turned out to be the simplest; natural light plus a simple reflector for fill light, mainly capturing casual daily sitting postures and gazes. Photos with a strong daily feel also score heavily in Free Pass applications, as they demonstrate the ability to handle different styles.
Sorting out these photos took me half a day. Every shoot—from selecting costumes and styling to scouting locations and post-processing—is a cumbersome set of procedures, but seeing the final photos makes it all worthwhile. Packing up and submitting these works in different styles this time, I hope the Free Pass application passes smoothly. It would be great to see everyone at the CICF site; I am already looking forward to exchanging shooting experiences with everyone at the convention.