[Cirno cosplay] Ice crystal prism props and blue convention photos from a year ago

Looking back at this set of photos taken at the convention last year while sorting through my folders today, I still feel that my hard work back then was completely worth it.

The assembly cost of this costume lies mainly in stacking layers. The wig selected is an ice-blue color—not a dark blue, but a bright blue that shines under light. To present the appropriate thickness, I trimmed the bangs for a long time, while also keeping in mind the curvature of the sideburns on both sides to avoid making my face shape look too wide. In terms of accessories, the most eye-catching part is the large blue-and-white color-blocked bowtie on top of my head, its edges fully sewn with small white plush balls. The same plush element also extends below the ruffles of the skirt hem; these small balls make the entire styling look very fluffy on camera, yielding a texture akin to some kind of ice crystal, though the actual touch is highly soft.

The inner layer of the outfit is a long-sleeved white shirt, while the outer jumper skirt is a light lake-blue with a fabric that carries a tiny bit of matte finish, which avoids reflecting light cheaply under the complex light sources at the convention site. The large red bowtie at the neckline is made of a customized crisp, firm fabric, and the decorations in the exact center feature snowflake silver ornaments and teardrop-shaped crystal beads, visually neutralizing the high-contrast red-and-blue color scheme with more intricate details.

As for props, the floating ice crystal prism prop used this time is highly unique. They are made of brushed holographic material, which creates a multi-colored diffraction light under natural light, appearing like rays reflected from real blocks of ice. To capture their scattered feel surrounding me, I hung them on fine iron wires of varying lengths before shooting, which were then held up by an assistant. Although this kind of little trick is troublesome, it is always more logically grounded in reality than relying purely on post-processing synthesis. The refraction produced when light hits the props and the colored light spots projected on the ground are highly difficult to replicate fully in post-production.

I tried to make the base makeup as matte as possible, paired with light-colored contact lenses and localized highlighting to reinforce the innocent feel from the eyes. The under-eye blush was applied relatively heavily, and a bit was swept on the tip of the nose; paired with this straight-bangs hairstyle, it steers the character's temperament toward a youthful, lively, and nimble state. The eyebrow color was also bleached two shades lighter according to the wig, unifying the overall color tone.

Regarding composition choices, the standing poses mainly showcase the overall costume silhouette and dynamics. For instance, the posture of handing out a crystal can excellently balance the props on the left side of the frame with the skirt hem on the right side. The advantage of the sitting photos lies in their ability to close-up the leg lines and the white lace short socks on my feet; the combination of white lace socks and sneakers carries a strong sense of youthfulness. Alternating between these two types of poses yields a set of images that possesses both a sense of action and a quiet atmosphere.

Reviewing the changes over the past year, the hardships of going on a convention outdoor photoshoot are actually concentrated in the early stages. The large area of the skirt hem easily drags on the ground and gets dirty, so when shooting the sitting poses on that grey floor, I specifically placed a cloth underneath. Looking back at the photos now, the completeness and texture of the costume from the viewers' perspective have already exceeded my expectations at the time. The weather on the day of the shoot was overcast; although we couldn't capture the rim light from direct sunlight, the soft diffuse reflection illuminated all the details without leaving ugly shadows. This kind of shooting experience tends to leave a deep imprint in my mind—not just the final photos, but more so the fun of cooperating with everyone during the process.

My expectation for this set of photos doesn't lie in how heavy the filters are, but rather in the recreation and coordination. If there were any regrets about the outdoor shoot, it might be that some larger-scale movements couldn't be executed due to site constraints. But overall, this blue, white, and red color combination, paired with the special reflections of the prisms, successfully achieved the clear and lively effect I wanted for this Baka 9 look. Sharing it serves as a way to put a period on this Touhou Project piece.