[Remilia Cosplay] Touhou Project, A Dark Gothic Convention Record of Red Apples and Skulls

This time, I tried a look with gothic vampire elements, with an overall temperament leaning towards cool, aloof, and mysterious. The dress is paired with dark bat wings, and we did a few test shots at the convention. To match the theme, I specially prepared two props: a red apple and a human skull.

The wig chosen is a misty gray-blue, paired with custom-ordered large red colored contacts, which still look very translucent even under the chaotic overhead lighting of the convention scene. For the makeup, I didn't use heavy eyeshadow; instead, I focused the visual center on the eyeliner and lip color, bringing a slight hint of Dark Gothic style. The thin black collar on my neck is a fixed, sharp contrast piece, presenting a classic black-and-white color clash with the white ruffled collar, which also tones down the sugary sweetness of the purely white outfit.

The fabric layers of this white-based red rose dress are exceptionally rich; the outermost layer is a sheer white gauze, with a corset-lacing design inside, adorned with pearl chains and red roses, tightening the body lines just right. Because it is a tube-top design, it demands a lot from the shoulder-neck lines and collarbones, so I specially did some stretching preparations before the shoot. The detached lace sleeves on the arms and the flower decorations at the wrists beautifully enhanced the richness of the physical gestures. To match the overall look, the hair ends of the wig were slightly curled to add natural volume, and the bangs were trimmed quite precisely, which not only frames the face but also helps focus the gaze in combination with the colored contacts.

The shooting environment was actually quite limited. The convention hall's overhead lighting was very chaotic, and the surroundings were packed with passing visitors and exhibitors, so this convention photography mainly relied on on-site fill lights for localized illumination. You can see the array of light stands behind me in the pictures, creating a cool-toned artificial light atmosphere within the chaotic environment. Utilizing a large aperture and telephoto lens compressed and blurred the background, which successfully kept the main subject of the frame clean. The floor at the venue was concrete with a somewhat industrial roughness, forming an unexpected contrast with the soft fabric of the dress, which also added a touch of unintended realism to the frame.

In terms of poses, we tried several angles, including sitting, low-angle shots on a high stool, and high-angle shots on the ground. When sitting on the ground holding the apple, the key is to let the elbows relax naturally to present a petite visual effect; for the shots holding up the skull, I tried to keep my back as straight as possible to extend the lines of my arms. The combination of red glossy criss-cross strappy high heels and white stocking garters is the finishing touch of this dress. Low-angle shots can maximize the leg proportions while displaying the glossy, reflective texture of the shoes. I specially selected a red apple with a smooth skin and even color as a prop, which catches very beautiful specular highlights under the fill light, while the skull was chosen as a lightweight resin model, making it convenient to hold up with one hand for a long time.

Every time I do an Anime cosplay with this kind of multi-layered skirt and wings, it is actually highly physically demanding. The exhibition hall was crowded and packed, and when moving between spots, I had to carefully shield my wings from being bumped into by others while constantly controlling my expression and posture. After shooting over a dozen poses, my shoulders and waist were extremely sore. In managing my demeanor, I didn't deliberately create an overly proud or cold look; instead, I maintained a calm yet mysterious sense of distance. My gaze didn't necessarily have to focus on the camera—more often, I looked toward the apple or skull in my hands, and this unforced, candid feeling actually carried more atmosphere.

Although the immediate presence of the convention was noisy with passersby frequently entering the frame and interrupting the shoot, the lighting combined with the large aperture blur indeed gave the frame a dreamlike quality of a closed space. Honestly, the most troublesome part of every outdoor or convention shoot is handling the chaotic silhouettes in the background. Fortunately, the timing of the snapshots was excellent this time, seizing a few moments when no unrelated people were passing by. These photos include close-ups, half-body, and full-body shots, recording both the costume details and the overall atmosphere through different camera setups. This cosplay attempt, while restoring the character's temperament, also did its best to display the unique texture of this look at the convention scene, making it a rather unforgettable shooting experience.