For this edition of CICF, I cosplayed the blue-and-white porcelain cheongsam version of Saber. I fell in love with this concept the moment I saw the fan design, completely charmed by the idea of fusing antique porcelain motifs with modern cheongsam tailoring. While Saber in the Fate franchise typically dons her signature armor or classic blue-and-white casual wear, this doujin porcelain concept possessed such a distinctive flavor that I had an ensemble custom-tailored. To complement the outfit, I prepared a black folding fan as a hand prop. For the wig, I styled her classic blunt-bangs updo, deliberately pulling out an authentic ahoge strand at the crown to push accuracy to the max. Makeup emphasized the eyes, pairing pale blue contacts with vivid blush to keep the complexion lively even under harsh overhead lights. The printed satin fabric carried a subtle lustrous sheen, demanding careful lighting management to avoid blown-out highlights. Hall lighting at the convention was complex and heavily dominated by downlights. To conquer these conditions, I brought along a Sony A7M5 body mounted with a 28-75mm F/2.8 G2 lens. This setup proved incredibly practical in crowded convention halls; the zoom range covered everything from medium-bust portraits to full-body framings, while the constant F2.8 aperture creamy blurred the chaotic background crowds.
Photos 1 and 2 explore two distinct perspectives. In the first shot, I knelt on a white plush rug, holding the black folding fan with both hands while gently spreading the outer robe outward. This effectively highlighted the chest cut-out and sculpted waistline while pulling visual gravity to the upper torso. In the second frame, I sat atop a folding stool with legs elegantly crossed, allowing the elongated robe sleeves to drape naturally on either side, evoking an airy sense of fluid motion. To elevate leg texture, I wore shimmering white Stockings paired with white pointed stilettos. Striking these poses across the unyielding concrete floors of a convention center was physically taxing—especially holding tension along the calves in Photo 2 while simultaneously managing facial composure and fan angles. The high-neck halter bodice and open midriff meant I barely dared to eat all day. Moreover, despite the venue's air conditioning, dense foot traffic made wearing satin prone to perspiration, necessitating frequent makeup touch-ups.
The photographer's eye for angles was spot-on. Against the venue's raw industrial backdrop, the white porcelain attire and plush white rug crafted a dramatic visual contrast. The deep shadows of the distant hall paired with overhead spotlights isolated the subject cleanly. I particularly adore the dynamic flutter of the robe in Photo 2, caught in a burst while an assistant flicked the hem from behind. Despite challenging venue constraints, the final shots are deeply satisfying. The costume's intricate accents, from cyan edge-piping to delicate floral prints, translated beautifully on camera. Checking the raw files on the camera screen right after the session, the straight-out-of-camera colors were already stunning; post-processing only needed subtle refinements to contrast and skin tones to preserve that clean, porcelain blue-and-white harmony. Though the convention schedule was jam-packed, producing such a textured set of convention photos made every bit of effort worthwhile.