[Cirno cosplay] Ice Fairy in Touhou Project, a Refreshing Touch of Blue in the Bamboo Forest After Rain

This Ice Fairy look was an outdoor shoot completed during a continuous rainy season, aiming to capture that heart-refreshing coolness amidst the moist bamboo forest and blooming blue hydrangeas.

First, regarding the design details of this costume: the light blue primary color scheme paired with layered white lace ruffles gives the collar and skirt hem a lightweight texture that creates wonderful dynamic movement while walking. The eye-catching red bow on the chest serves as the only warm accent in the entire ensemble, naturally pulling the visual focus to the torso. The wig was chosen as a light blue blunt-bangs bob, close to the original character, with matching large bows secured on both sides of the head. Under outdoor natural light, the hair strands display vivid color contrast and rich layering.

Besides the transparent umbrella, key props brought for this outdoor location shoot included the multi-faceted ice crystal props floating behind me in Photo 2. These translucent blue-purple geometric shapes refract surrounding environmental light in front of the lens, matching the "Ice Fairy" attribute exceptionally well. To craft this set of props, we installed lightweight acrylic brackets inside and carefully concealed transparent fishing line; during shooting, angles needed careful adjustment to make them appear as if floating in mid-air behind me.

The weather on the shoot day fit the mood perfectly, with light rain falling and high air humidity. The scene in Photo 1, where I hold a transparent umbrella while walking up slippery stone steps, was captured right as the rain softened. The transparent umbrella surface reflected a blue-white sheen under subtle lighting, while water droplets and mist clinging to the rim added a beautiful hazy atmosphere. This moist vibe softened the gloominess of the dark bamboo forest, allowing the light blue outfit to stand out as the sole visual focal point.

Photo 2 was shot during a break when the rain paused. We moved to a wooden boardwalk lined with freshly bloomed blue hydrangeas on both sides. The hydrangeas' color formed a lovely gradient harmony with my outfit. The action of lifting one foot and waving my arm aimed to highlight the character's playful agility. The photographer captured this moment brilliantly, not only keeping the full extension of my legs, but also catching the ice crystal props tilted at a slight angle behind me, creating a weightless, airy floating effect.

The full-day shoot was physically demanding, as the wet ground after rain—whether stone steps or bamboo boardwalks—was quite slippery. To run and jump safely, I specifically chose black block-heeled leather shoes with non-slip treads on the soles, paired with white frilly socks. As for makeup, to adapt to high outdoor humidity and soft natural lighting, I used a foundation that was more matte and oil-controlling than usual. The eye makeup moderately reduced color saturation to focus more on how eyeliner enlarged the pupils. During shoot intervals, I frequently used loose powder to blot T-zone oil, ensuring the character stayed clean and crisp on camera.

During color grading in post-production, we avoided over-saturating colors, focusing instead on preserving the bamboo forest's lush green base and the outfit's icy blue tones, while stripping away warm yellow sunlight tones to lean the overall color temperature cold. This treatment made the atmosphere closer to Touhou Project's Ice Fairy living by the Misty Lake—possessing both wild natural charm and small-animal agility. One could say this attempt in the rain-soaked bamboo forest photoshoot and hydrangea bushes fully materialized a cool, pure visual style in Anime-style photography.