Today, I shot a set of convention photos of Reimu cosplay at the Chengdu World Line Anime Exhibition. Just as luck would have it, The Wind Rises—a sudden gust caught the hemline and sleeves, and the photographer brilliantly captured these dynamic moments. This outfit is packed with intricate details: the headpiece features a blend of red-and-white plaid and fluffy pom-poms; the top is a deep crimson corset with golden trim, accented by wide white flowing water-sleeves. The outer skirt is a colorful patchwork plaid fabric that blooms gorgeously when twirling. To complement the movements, I held a golden staff prop adorned with rainbow-colored streamers. In my hands, I also scattered talisman papers stamped with red runes. Capturing candid motion places rigorous demands on facial expressions and body control: the core must remain engaged while hand movements stay steady. When the wind hits, the drag from the hair and skirt is noticeable, requiring proper fill light on the face while keeping the gaze sharp and focused. The surrounding crowds were quite heavy during the shoot, but everyone was very courteous and cleared space for us. This costume has rich dimensional layering; to prop up the skirt, I wore a petticoat underneath, layered with multi-tiered White stockings and ankle socks, making the overall silhouette look remarkably airy and weightless. The finished shots radiate tremendous dynamism.
Regarding fabric textures, the outer layer is crafted from a somewhat structured organza-like material, allowing the wind to instantly sculpt its silhouette, while the inner pleated skirt uses softer fabric to create wonderful cascading folds during spins. The staff prop was custom-made by a friend; the golden orb at the top is striking, and the handle wrap prevents it from slipping during swings. The rainbow streamer is actually quite long, easily tangling around my arms in strong gusts, so shooting required a flick of the wrist to whip the ribbon out just right to freeze it mid-air. Looking at these photos: the first captures right as The Wind Rises; the second is when the wind was strongest; the third shows the skirt billowing in full bloom; and the fourth is the most graceful, expansive pose of the series—which serves as the cover photo. Lighting at the convention venue was great; natural light pouring through the glass curtain wall paired with indoor artificial light gave the skin a lovely texture without requiring heavy post-processing. To achieve the effect of floating talismans, we tried several times, and this set was ultimately chosen for having the most natural candid captures.
I've cosplayed Reimu several times before, but this patchwork plaid skirt edition carries exceptional expressive power in dynamic motion. The costume's accessories are also distinct: the chest knot is woven with golden threads, with tassels draping down naturally to echo the streamers. I hope this photo set filled with wind elements and motion lets everyone feel the thrilling atmosphere of the convention. Foot traffic at the Chengdu World Line Anime Exhibition was indeed massive. To shoot these outdoor scenes, I woke up early to do my makeup. The wig was long straight brown hair; to create the effect of windblown strands, I heavily set the roots with hairspray while keeping the ends silky smooth. For colored contacts, I chose reddish-brown, giving my gaze a sharper focus. Putting on this outfit was quite meticulous: to achieve that puffy silhouette, I layered inner linings and a petticoat beneath, carefully smoothing out each tier of plaid fabric. The convention floor was rather slippery, requiring extra caution while twirling.
In truth, while everyone sees that frozen moment in the photo, behind it lies repeated jumping, spinning, and posture recalibration. Particularly when catching the wind lifting the skirt, one has to wait for the breeze, chase the light, and prevent facial expressions from distorting. I adore this dynamic photography style, harmonizing the lightness of the garments with the vivacious charm of Touhou Project. The rainbow streamers and paper talismans on the props were fantastic visual aids for dynamic photography, preventing the composition from looking static while enriching visual depth. Although walking through the convention for hours in this full getup was exhausting, seeing the final photos made every effort worthwhile. That's all for today's share!