[Youmu Konpaku cosplay] Wielding the sword amidst cherry blossoms and lake light, a travel photography memory of Touhou Project

This Japan travel photography trip felt truly complete after finishing this set of Youmu Konpaku photos amidst the falling cherry blossoms by the lakeside. Wearing the iconic white hair and hair accessory, putting on this dress that blends Japanese style elements with lace stitching, and standing by the water with the long sword in hand made me feel as if I had truly crossed over into Gensokyo. The photographer captured many moments of natural light, using the cherry blossoms as a blurred foreground and the deep blue lake water as a background, making the character look exceptionally translucent. The shooting process actually tested my physical strength quite a bit, as I had to control the flowing feel of the skirt hem while striking poses of holding the sword or looking back. Especially for that last action of lifting my leg and raising the sword, the sense of balance needed to be very steady. However, being able to complete such a highly replicated work in this season and at this location made all the hard work worth it. The costume details were handled with great care; the black, white, and green color combination with red accents showed great texture under the sunlight. Although the prop tachi sword was light, it could pull out very sharp and clean lines when coordinated with the movements. The wind by the water came and went, so capturing the exact moment the skirt hem flew up relied entirely on luck and shutter speed. Beyond the scenery, this travel photoshoot aimed to convey the character's composed yet slightly sharp temperament. Looking at the final photos, I feel that the Youmu in my heart has finally been materialized.