[Kikyo cosplay] Inuyasha: The compatibility between this landscape and the Japanese style shrine maiden outfit is maxed out

This draft has actually been saved in my phone's notes for several years. When I scrolled past the scenery of this water area and the red framed gate, the image of Kikyo standing by the water immediately popped into my mind. This time, I finally managed to schedule a trip here. Even after experiencing various twists and turns along the way, being able to step on the real wooden boardwalk and feel this tranquility made it all worth it.

Let's talk about the on-site environment first; it was even more crystal-clear than I imagined. Although I came with ordinary expectations, the blue sky, distant mountains, and the red wooden gate frame reflected on the water surface in front of me created a naturally formed framing composition that was truly perfect. The modified Japanese style shrine maiden outfit I wore was custom-made in advance. The material of the white outer garment is quite crisp and won't easily collapse, and the red inner long skirt with the large area of red and white color blocking really enhances the complexion under the sunlight. The wig was also pre-trimmed in a straight-bang style. When the breeze blew and the hair fluttered, I instantly found the character's aloof yet resilient state.

However, the biggest regret of this shoot was definitely the prop mishap. Due to a courier error, the iconic longbow and arrows I had prepared were sent to the wrong address, and there was absolutely no time to remedy it on the day of the shoot. To be honest, I was a bit panicked standing in front of the camera at first. Without the signature props, I always felt that my movements and expressions lacked a bit of soul. But on second thought, the charm of the character herself doesn't just lie in when she is holding a weapon. That gentle and tranquil demeanor when facing nature and gazing at the water surface could perhaps be showcased in another way.

Therefore, I changed my empty-handed movements into interactions with the scene. For example, squatting on the stone platform by the water, reaching out to touch the ripples on the surface, and feeling the cool moisture; or standing on the boardwalk, slightly lifting the wide sleeves, and letting the wind blow the ribbons of the clothes to create a sense of lightness wrapped by nature. The photographer also understood my ideas perfectly. Instead of asking me to strike stiff poses deliberately, they let me walk freely on those wooden boards with a faint scent of decaying wood, capturing the most natural and spontaneous moments.

After the final photos came out, I was truly amazed by the pure colors. The post-production of this set of Waterscape photography didn't involve exaggerated color grading; it mainly retained the high-saturation blue sky, white clouds, and shimmering water surface from the original images. The red pillars, white clothes, and blue sky—these three vivid colors gathered together—were exactly the ethereal scene I had imagined.

Although not holding the bow took away a bit of the character's sharpness, I feel that these photos better express the gentleness and tranquility deep within Kikyo's heart. As a hobbyist who has been doing Cosplay photography for many years, I think quickly changing one's mindset when encountering unexpected situations is an essential quality. A work completed with regrets actually appears more vivid because of these real little episodes. If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely come back here to visit with the real bow and perfectly make up for what was missing.

Although this trip was like a special forces mission and rushing back and forth was very tiring, being able to appreciate such natural scenery through the opportunity of cosplay is also a very happy thing. I hope this love for the character and the scenery can be well conveyed through the photos to everyone who sees them.