[Shameimaru Aya Cosplay] The Tengu Reporter of Touhou Project's Reitaisai

I finally received the convention photo taken for me by Brother Yinghua at Reitaisai. To restore Aya's setting at this Reitaisai, I put a lot of thought into the styling and props. Paired with this white haori with red trim and black wings, along with the iconic pointed ears and red pom-pom headwear, I instantly felt immersed as the Tengu reporter.

The lighting on the day of the convention was amazing. Brother Yinghua is great at capturing snapshots, utilizing the on-site natural light to bring out the excellent texture of the clothes. The white outfit looked very pure under the sun, while the black wings and skirt hem grounded the base color, and the red and yellow embellishments made the overall styling highly vibrant. The DSLR camera in hand and that newspaper printed with manga are indispensable work props for us Tengu reporters. Shooting the entire process felt like an immersive experience of interviewing and reporting.

Since Reitaisai is a well-known doujin convention held in Japan, the on-site environment was highly atmospheric. We moved back and forth along the steps and railings outside the venue to find good angles. While guiding me on posing, Brother Yinghua also had to avoid other cosplayers and passersby. Everyone was very friendly, and although it was crowded, the shooting process was exceptionally smooth. I also tried the feeling of sunlight spilling onto my face under backlighting—that morning light full of vitality was perfectly suited for Aya's lightweight, soaring temperament.

Although wearing pointed ears was a bit itchy and carrying the black wings all day was indeed quite heavy, seeing the final results made me feel everything was completely worth it. I tried my best to attend to small details like the small red pom-poms, the little hat, and the red Hannya mask hanging at my waist, hoping to bring a visual experience close to the original setting for the audience. I also intentionally made this makeup style look a bit delicate yet sharp, which, paired with the red eyes, gave a very translucent on-screen effect.

There were actually many fellow fans who came to take photos with me on-site, and I also showed them the newspaper. Playing a character who can both take photos and write is truly perfect for a convention venue. When everyone called me "Aya," I felt a special sense of belonging. Thanks to the photographer, Brother Yinghua, for his hard work in taking snapshots, carrying bags of equipment, and going up and down the stairs under the big sun. While shooting, I was also thinking that if Aya really came to the human realm for news gathering, she would probably be in this exact state—full of energy, weaving through the crowds.

I heard that many friends in China have also been following various Touhou Project fan creations lately. Being able to take a photoset I like in a place so full of fellow fan atmosphere like Reitaisai is truly a joyful thing. I hope to have the opportunity to bring this gear, along with my pen and camera, to capture more interesting moments at more conventions in the future.

This photoset counts as one of my relatively satisfying outdoor shoots recently, recording the capable and lively side of the young girl reporter. Outdoor natural light photography heavily tests a photographer's exposure control and composition skills. Brother Yinghua's shooting technique beautifully resolved the overexposure issue during backlighting, preserving the background layers and the cloud details in the sky, giving the entire set of photos a highly vivid Japanese manga feel. If anyone wants to try this style, you can actually capture a similar effect on a sun-drenched high ground or rooftop, utilizing front lighting and side backlighting. This wraps up a truly wonderful piece of Cosplay photography.