Sharing a frame captured from behind-the-scenes footage—the blurry, grainy texture actually feels quite special. This was a Kazami Yuuka cosplay shoot from two days ago in a Sunflower field, cosplaying the Touhou Project character everyone fondly calls Flower Mom.
The weather on the day of the shoot was somewhat sultry and humid, but the Sunflowers were blooming magnificently. I prepared extensively in terms of costume, makeup, and props. The wig was styled in light green wavy curls—curled roughly with a curling iron, fluffed up with fingers, and heavily sprayed with styling mist so it wouldn't collapse in the heat. Little yellow flower petals were attached to both cheeks to echo the character's overall color palette. For the outfit, I chose a red-and-black plaid jumper dress layered over a sheer, translucent white chiffon blouse adorned with tiny stars, featuring delicate lace at the neckline and cuffs. In my hands, I held a small bouquet of Sunflowers as a prop, with another clipped onto the top of my head.
Walking through a flower field wearing sheer fabrics and lace was definitely a challenge; the edges of the sunflower leaves were somewhat rough and prone to snagging threads, so I had to tread with utmost caution. Under the blazing sun, the light was glaring. To keep my expressions natural without furrowing my brow, I had to constantly adjust my standing angle and face orientation. Due to heavy sweating, I touched up makeup several times midway, and since the petals on my cheeks tended to fall off, I temporarily reinforced them with double-sided tape. Yet, sitting in the field surrounded by those radiant golden Sunflowers brought a deep sense of serenity to my heart.
When selecting photos, I considered the overall atmosphere with one close-up and one wide shot. The close-up clearly highlights the contrast between the green hair and red plaid pattern, as well as the facial makeup details, while the wide shot showcases the vast Sunflower field and the distant transmission tower, providing a wider perspective. I ultimately chose the close-up still to share because, even though it was captured from video behind-the-scenes footage and has a slightly blurry quality, the candid state caught on camera was remarkably natural without any stiff posed feeling, and the light fell just right on my face. Furthermore, I deliberately applied a grey-green film tone curve to reduce contrast, turning that blurry graininess into a charming vintage aesthetic.
There was also a little interlude during the shoot: a swarm of bees kept buzzing around the adjacent flowers. Though slightly nervous, I found it quite amusing. The photographer guided me while shooting—adjusting shoulder angles or letting my gaze zone out slightly—gradually helping me tap into that composed, leisurely 'big sister' demeanor. This shoot made me realize that cosplaying in natural open-air locations offers a distinctively immersive experience, benefiting both costume texture and the fluidity of movement. The authentic textures of the outfit and props, combined with the genuine living environment, made the character feel far more vivid.
Looking at costume details, the large white bow on the back of the jumper skirt had a lovely drape while walking, which was one of the reasons I chose this design. The semi-sheer white inner blouse shielded from the sun while imparting an airy lightness. Perhaps because Sunflowers themselves represent uplifting vitality, being immersed in them and breathing the flower field's air made me feel completely relaxed. During post-processing adjustments, I dialed the sky slightly muted and greyed to accentuate the linear structure of the steel tower in the backdrop, adding a touch of vintage artsy flair. This shoot provided valuable insights into wind and sun protection when shooting in flower fields, as well as costume selection, which I hope will help with future natural setting shoots.
In short, it was a wonderful experience. Even though I'm sharing a blurry behind-the-scenes still, it recorded the most genuine version of myself that day. From hair and makeup preparation to on-site coordination with the photographer and subsequent post-processing color grading, every single step was full of joy.