[Rei Ayanami cosplay] Attempting to Capture That Inorganic Sense of Detachment

While blending the edges of the red eye makeup, I was already conceptualizing the facial expressions for the shoot. The theme of this convention photo return was to recreate that distant, detached state through cool tones and specific gaze practice. That day at the Firefly ACG Expo, amid the crowded and bustling venue, I deliberately chose a corner with glass reflections and relatively even lighting. Choosing this folding chair as a prop was because it could stabilize my posture and allow me to curl up completely.

During the shoot, I tried my best to keep my gaze unfocused without fixing on any single point, maintaining a vacant, out-of-focus state. Wrapping my arms around my legs was far more tiring than expected, requiring me to hold this rigid-like pose for a long time. The makeup took twice as long as usual; the base makeup had to be pale enough, and care was needed to blend the reddish tint around the corners of the eyes naturally without clumping. For hair, I used a light blue wig styled with a slight messiness, which, combined with the pale complexion, aimed to strip away the warm vitality of a human body and achieve an "inorganic feel."

In post-processing, the overall saturation was lowered and the blue hue was pushed up, making the plastic-textured white shoes, black stockings, and blue skirt appear even more unreal under the cold lighting. This image mainly aimed to embody that static beauty.

The most interesting part of taking this photo was that despite being in a noisy convention venue surrounded by cheers, the outfit and character setting made me feel as if I had truly entered an isolated state from the world. To maintain this cold expression at all times, even drinking water had to be done in slow, tiny sips for fear of breaking that rigid sensation.

Throughout the shoot, I constantly adjusted the angles of my feet and legs, as the combination of stockings and high heels places demands on leg lines. To find the optimal angle, the photographer even lay on the ground, searching back and forth for low angles. What seemed like a simple curled-up pose actually gained much more flavor under the interplay of light and shadow.

The final result—whether the red tones of the eye makeup or the cool blue contrast of the background—made the character stand out remarkably. I think this is one way to recreate a character: you don't necessarily have to smile or make lively poses; just sitting quietly can convey emotion in your own way. In selecting photos for this return, we kept the original composition without forcing the subject into the center, which actually enhanced that sense of detachment, making it a very satisfying attempt. Capturing such a tranquil feeling in a public venue indeed requires some thoughtful ingenuity. The entire shoot took a huge toll on both physical and mental energy, but seeing the result made it completely worthwhile.