Cosplaying Medusa (Medusa cosplay) from Battle Through the Heavens was quite a major challenge. Shooting at the Beijing ijoy Anime Convention on October 2nd gave me a much deeper appreciation of this outfit. From a hardware standpoint, the biggest difficulties of this red-and-gold ensemble were the massive golden headdress and the heavy, floor-sweeping train. The weight of the headdress put immense pressure on the cervical spine, requiring me to keep my neck straight at all times. Meanwhile, the dress was made of highly reflective satin; while the texture was fantastic, it was prone to reflective overexposure under the harsh overhead lighting of the Anime convention, so finding side lighting or backlighting angles was crucial.
To showcase the slender, fair, and elongated leg lines, I did quite a bit of homework on posing. Standing cannot be a simple upright posture; it requires a subtle tilt of the waist and hips to elongate leg proportions, while keeping the slit fabric flowing smoothly without flapping erratically, which would disrupt the silhouette. Sitting poses tested core strength even more: crossing the legs, for instance, avoided bulkiness while maximizing perceived visual length, which, paired with high-platform red-and-gold heels, completed the commanding aura. Between takes, my feet were very sore due to the sheer weight of the gown.
With so many people taking photos at the Anime convention, the photographer guided me to find numerous angles across the hall to dodge background passersby. Because the costume itself was gorgeous and carried strong visual impact, my facial expressions needed to maintain a cool, haughty, and glamorous demeanor to match the outfit's essence. At the same time, I practiced controlling hand placements—such as placing a hand against the chest or reaching outwards—to enhance dynamism and spatial extension.
The waist structure of this garment was also distinctive: the stiff golden corset cinched the waistline, though it restricted movement to an extent. Walking around the Anime convention venue or executing broad motions required extra care to prevent the train from being stepped on or tripped over. Transitioning from sitting to standing especially required stabilizing my center of gravity before slowly moving my legs. Putting on and taking off such a floor-length gown is tedious, requiring a companion's help to arrange the train. Because the venue for Beijing ijoy Anime Convention was huge with extensive walking, I placed anti-slip pads inside my heels to prevent blisters. Beyond its regal appearance, the physical weight challenge of this Medusa cosplay ranks near the top among all the costumes I've ever worn.
Although wearing this gear was exhausting—with platform heels and a floor-sweeping gown making every step precarious—seeing the final result made every bit of effort worthwhile. The outdoor convention grounds were just as expected, with the voluminous red gown looking exceptionally striking in the lens. This set gave me valuable experience in shooting characters with dominant red-and-gold palettes. In harsh lighting, visuals can easily become visually cluttered or overexposed, making crisp movements and expressions essential. This work received wonderful feedback from friends, making for a deeply satisfying creative journey. The atmosphere at the Anime convention was fantastic, and I'm thrilled to have had this opportunity to capture satisfying photos.