[Vill-V cosplay] Taking photos with cosplayers at conventions big success

This convention taking photos with cosplayers session was truly a double test of physical strength and expression management. To portray this Steampunk style character well, just putting on the equipment took nearly two hours at the hotel. The gears on the hat on my head were glued on piece by piece; to ensure they wouldn't fall off while walking around the convention, I specially sewed a few anti-slip clips on the inside. The leather corset on my body was tied very tightly in the back to fit the curves; although the photo results were great, the cost was that sitting down to rest became an impossible task. The facial makeup specially emphasized the eye makeup, matching the gear goggles elements, and added a bit of mechanical feel with metal-textured stickers. The silver-gray wig was also brushed for over half an hour to achieve this look that appears casual but not messy.

While wandering around the venue, I met a few friends cosplaying superhero characters. Their bodysuits had very vibrant colors, forming a strong visual contrast with my brown-black color scheme. At first, everyone posed in many cool ways on the grounds, and the red bodysuits were very eye-catching against the gray venue floor. I also joined their large group photo squad. When taking group photos, what tests you the most is actually the positioning. Because this costume has exaggerated accessories and takes up a lot of space, coupled with the large movements of the friends in bodysuits, I needed to constantly adjust angles to ensure everyone was in the frame and not blocked.

When taking a picture with the friend wearing the red-and-black bodysuit, he gave a thumbs up, and I subconsciously cupped my chin, making the frame unexpectedly harmonious. When taking photos with three friends in red-and-blue bodysuits, I raised my hand and made a peace sign; although the leather gloves on my arms pinched a bit tightly, seeing the final photo results made it all worthwhile. This outfit is actually quite inconvenient to move around in at a convention, especially weaving through crowds, having to constantly protect the gear props around my waist from being knocked off. But this is precisely the fun of role-playing, stepping from 2D into reality, making a flat design three-dimensional.

The key to taking good photos, besides makeup and clothing, largely depends on light and shadow. The convention site features overhead lighting, which easily casts shadows in the eye sockets and under the nose, so I tried to choose relatively open places with even lighting, and slightly raised my head when shooting to make facial lighting more even. Sharing the frame with these characters of distinct styles tests not only one's camera presence but also the cooperation between both parties. The players at the scene were all very friendly; although everyone didn't know each other, as long as our eyes met, a simple "Can we take photos together?" could immediately open the group photo mode. Today's convention trip not only collected good-looking group photos, but also made me experience the wonderful chemical reaction brought by different character outfits under the same lens, and the collision of different elements enriched the layers of this set of photos a lot.