For these Day 2 Convention photos at the Nanning Liangya Summer Convention, I cosplayed Musashi from Azur Lane (Musashi cosplay). The night before, I organized all props and wigs, pinched the animal ears to achieve a fluffy volume, and readjusted the curvature of the purple facial markings on both cheeks.
Because the convention had heavy foot traffic and complex lighting, overhead exhibition lights could easily cast awkward shadows. During shooting, we sought spots without direct overhead lighting as much as possible, utilizing ambient light to fill the face. The photographer used a Canon R6 Mark II paired with a Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art lens. This lens performed exceptionally well in such an exhibition environment—the wide aperture bokeh cleanly dissolved passing crowds in the background while keeping the focus tack-sharp on the highlights of the eyes and wig.
The design of this costume has rich layers: the black-and-purple base fabric features sequins and jacquard patterns, while the upper body splices black mesh and lace, presenting two distinct textures in front of the lens. The high mandarin collar and the metal clasp with beaded tassels on the chest echo each other, creating a focal center of gravity. The fine gold-thread piping on the detached sleeves reflected rim light under side lighting, defining the arm contours more clearly.
The round fan in hand served as a wonderful interactive prop during the shoot, balancing the composition in both half-body and full-body shots, while the purple flowers and tassels on the fan complemented the overall purple-and-black palette. For the cover, I preferred the fourth shot—a one-leg standing pose that elongated bodily proportions while fully showcasing the black high heels and purple lace garter details on the thighs in this Black tights outfit style. Because the character design features fluffy purple animal ears, I styled blunt bangs to resonate with the broad hair ornaments at the top, and the blue-purple gradient tips softened the darker overall tones.
The atmosphere at the Nanning Liangya Summer Convention is always fantastic. Though Day 2 was still bustling with crowds, everyone maintained great exhibition order. In between shooting sets, I held the round fan half-covering my face, capturing two half-body close-ups to show off the makeup and neckline ornaments. Portraying a character with high detail demands at a convention makes touch-ups and wig adjustments a real challenge, but fortunately, the face paint held up firmly without smudging.
Guided by the photographer, I explored side-reclining and single-leg standing postures. The short cut of the costume imposed little restriction on movement, making it easier to find relaxed and expressive poses. The Black tights outfit with lace trim subtly smoothed skin texture; with accurate foreground exposure, background bokeh lights were preserved to establish spatial depth. Compared to rigid standing, this dynamic posing resonated much better with my interpretation of Musashi's temperament.
Overall, shooting at the Nanning Liangya Summer Convention was a wonderful experience. Collaboration with the photographer went smoothly, and the captured light and shadow met expectations.