Convention photos from May 2nd Shanghai AnimeMarket03 Day 2 are finally organized today. This time I cosplayed Komeiji Koishi from Touhou Project. Although it was an expected venue, when paired with the actual lighting on site, it matched the effect I had previously imagined quite well.
First, let's talk about the overall look. The mint green short curly hair paired with matching contact lenses looked very cohesive in front of the lens. The makeup focused on softening the eye contours without making them overly sharp, aiming to fit this character's casual, natural state. The temperature on the convention day was already a bit warm, but for character accuracy, I still wore this beige long-sleeved loose shirt. The large black ruffled folds at the collar and cuffs, though increasing fabric thickness, provided the exact details that gave the character richer layering.
The lower half featured a dark green puffy skirt with finely crafted layering, where black lace and beige fine lace trims alternated to give the hem a solid sense of weight. Paired with pure Black over-the-knee socks and platform black leather shoes, the overall outfit carried a touch of vintage dress flavor amidst its flowing feel. The blue sphere on the chest and the purple-and-blue pipelines served as the soul props of this look. The sphere was modestly sized, and its dark blue color was especially eye-catching against the beige clothing. The purple thin cable dangled down naturally, forming a striking color resonance with the blue tube, gently swaying while walking to look very dynamic.
The venue for the shoot that day was AnimeMarket03 in Shanghai, where lighting inside such large convention halls is actually quite hard to manage. Venue lighting heavily relied on environment settings, but fortunately photographer Lizho·Xiaocheng captured snapshots with extreme precision. Utilizing ambient venue light plus reasonable fill light, he slightly brightened my entire figure out from the background. The chaotic props and crowds typical of conventions in the background were blurred out, making me in the foreground stand out even more. The silver reflective foil material on the floor was genuinely a stroke of genius—it not only provided a clear reflection for the shoes but also brightened the lower body lighting, preventing the black socks and black shoes from blurring into a dark blob.
When posing, I instinctively recreated the character's playful and casual charm. Touching the hat brim with one hand, lifting one leg for balance, or holding the hat brim with both hands close to the camera—these dynamic moments were captured wonderfully. The pose in photo one, where all weight rests on one leg while the other swings backward, actually tested core strength, but holding it for the sake of great photos was completely worth it. The entire shooting process was quick, and because the photographer was highly experienced, I didn't need to redo wig or makeup adjustments. Cosplaying this character felt so liberating; no need to hold oneself too stiffly, as long as the character's spirit is conveyed.
Finally, thanks to all on-site staff that day, and thanks to the photographer for patiently capturing so many fun moments. As a classic series, Touhou Project always brings plenty of silent mutual understanding with fellow fans during convention cosplay—that's probably where the true joy of cosplay lies.