[Temari cosplay] Naruto convention photos, the tension of the folding fan in Wind Release: Great Kamaitachi

To successfully shoot this set of Temari convention photos, the giant folding fan alone took a long time to figure out. Previously, in order to find the right material for the fan ribs, I compared props from many places, and finally decided on this white large fan that has a lot of weight when unfolded. The purple circle pattern on the fan surface was also repeatedly compared to strive for the best visual effect in front of the lens.

In terms of wig styling, Temari's iconic four blonde buns really test the fixation of the hair net and the amount of hairspray. To make each bun fluffy and well-shaped, I spent nearly an hour backstage backcombing and teasing it bit by bit with a steel comb, and used a lot of hairspray to ensure it wouldn't collapse during a whole day of activities at the convention. The metal plate of the forehead protector also had to be adjusted to the position that fits the forehead best, without blocking the line of sight, while ensuring that the front-face angle looks good when taking pictures.

For the costume matching, this time I chose a black cross-collar top and a slit lower skirt, paired with a wide red belt. The overall color contrast is very striking. The fishnet stockings worn underneath are an important detail to enhance the character's temperament. To prevent them from being snagged by props or nails when posing, I deliberately chose a style with medium mesh size and great elasticity. The black platform boots on my feet increased my height advantage, but the weight was also very real, and every time I squatted down and stood up, it was a battle against gravity.

What tests a person the most during this photoshoot is actually the stability of the posture. To restore the character's aura, I chose a low-center-of-gravity crouching posture, with one hand supporting the ground and the other hand supporting the huge folding fan upward. This posture not only requires the core strength to tighten, but also needs to keep the upper body straight. The environment at the convention site was very noisy, with many tourists and photography equipment around. To avoid the cluttered crowd, the photographer found several low-angle upward shooting angles, using the large fan as a background board to focus completely on my facial expressions and body tension.

The portrayal of the gaze is the core of this set of convention photos. Temari is a calm and decisive ninja, so when facing the lens, I put away my usual smile and tried to make my gaze look sharp, cooperating with blue contact lenses to strengthen the unique sharpness of a Wind Release ninja. Actually, when striking the action imagery of Wind Release: Great Kamaitachi, in order to maintain balance, my thigh muscles were shaking slightly, but fortunately the final photo effect was very satisfactory.

Shooting convention photos is both physically demanding and full of fun. From the refinement of clothing details to the on-site light and shadow coordination, every link needs to be taken seriously. The lighting conditions of this convention were actually quite complex, but through continuous communication with the photographer, we finally found a way to use the on-site top light to outline the character's silhouette, preventing the black clothes from blurring into a lump in the picture. Being able to record my understanding and love for the character in this way makes the whole process very worthwhile, no matter how tiring it is.