The shooting process of this set of convention photos was overall a great test of my cooperation with the photographer. The scene was in the public area of a large convention center, where the floor is that highly polished marble with intense reflection. Combined with the high-ceilinged, large-area glass curtain wall, the natural light and the venue's lighting equipment interwove, bringing quite a few challenges to our shoot.
For this shoot, I chose a Chinese-style cosplay outfit in a Wuxia style. The upper body is a blue-green sleeveless modified Chinese-style top; the fabric features a subtle pattern with great texture, and the collar and Chinese frog closure design beautifully refine the neck lines visually. The hemline has a split swallowtail design, fluttering in the wind when walking. Inside, it is paired with a bright red long skirt. This red and blue-green color blocking was highly eye-catching at the convention venue, making many passersby turn their heads.
The accessories at the waist are a highlight of the entire look. A wide black leather belt embellished with many metal rings and rivets brings a touch of wasteland or hard-edged martial arts wanderer vibe. Beneath this belt, a gold fine chain hangs a string of dangling ornaments resembling bells or copper coins, emitting a slight metallic clashing sound when walking or posing, which counts as a sensory auditory identifier for the styling. For the hair, to fit the style, I didn't do overly complex braids but simply tied it up with straight bangs, then wrapped a red hair ribbon, leaving long dangling ribbons at the back of the head so they could flutter in the wind during turns or large movement ranges.
To shoot this perspective-filled martial arts starting stance in the photos, I also repeatedly adjusted for a long time. The right hand had to be placed as close to the lens as possible, utilizing the wide-angle lens's distortion to magnify the palm, creating a strong visual impact as if actively pushing force toward the lens. The extension of the left arm couldn't be small either, forming a balanced tension between left and right. This movement looks simple, but standing while simultaneously keeping the back straight, neck and shoulders relaxed, hand exerting force, and facial expression maintaining focus and composure was truly exhausting. After a few sets, my neck and arms felt quite sore.
The actual live environment during the shoot was actually very crowded. Quite a few passersby and photographers can be seen in the background of the photos. On the left side, there was a black reflective umbrella, and on the right, a large softbox with a honeycomb grid was set up—this was the rim light and main light specially set up for me by the photographer. Because the convention center's overhead lights were extremely bright, without these live fill light equipments, the character could easily be eaten by the ambient light, resulting in very harsh facial shadows. But with these auxiliary lights, they not only illuminated the facial details but also brought out a better luster on the blue-green costume.
When shooting cosplay at a convention venue, the biggest test is having the patience to adjust postures while finding suitable shooting angles in the crowd. For this set of convention photos, we didn't deliberately look for Chinese-style gardens or outdoor courts; shooting inside this modern steel-structured space instead generated a sense of contrast. The light and shadow of modern architecture casting on the Chinese-style styling looked very unique, and the reflections on the transparent glass also gave the frame more depth.
Although people were coming and going with shutter clicks echoing constantly on-site, once immersed in the shooting state, I would automatically block out the surrounding noise and focus on the details of each set of movements. This outfit is not those Hanfu styles with massive, complex skirts, but this simplified tailoring and unique color scheme allowed me to maintain high recognition among the numerous anime characters at the convention.
For me, interpreting this Chinese-style Wuxia cosplay was a very fresh attempt. Under different lighting and angles, this costume can also display different temperaments, either sharp or introverted. This set of convention photos captured the exact martial arts feel I wanted. The live lighting and venue cooperation were indispensable, and the costume's texture itself withstood the lens. The overall styling design and shooting ideas perfectly suited my taste for my casual cosplay diary.