[Castorice Cosplay] Honkai: Star Rail — Cool-Toned BW 2026 Convention Photos Record

This set of BW 2026 convention photos has a very clear overall tone. Under the complex truss structures of the exhibition hall ceiling and the rather cool-toned lighting on-site, the photographer Chino-chan immediately decided to go for a serene, cool white and blue palette. Since the harsh white lights of the venue were quite stiff, we took advantage of them to outline the character's facial contours and the metallic texture of the props. Because the venue's light sources were highly chaotic, the entire image would lose focus if the highlights weren't properly managed, and Chino-chan was indeed very experienced in this regard.

Regarding the costume, the blue-and-white and black color-blocking shows great depth under the cool light. What attracted me most was the white butterfly cutout decoration on the shoulders, which retained an excellent sense of transparency, keeping the upper body from looking too heavy. The black decoration with white flowers at the neck not only visually brightened the overall look but also perfectly anchored the center of gravity for the neck area. The pointed elf ears and a touch of blue feather decoration on the side were distinct details that enhanced character recognition. Paired with the long, deep-blue sleeves, the glossy texture of the sleeves took on a velvet-like matte effect under the cool lighting, which beautifully countered any overexposure issues from the highlights.

The long-handled scythe prop itself was a massive project and the hardest part to bring into the venue. To present a silver-blue metallic sheen and complex, streamlined textures in the photos, the surface of the prop was polished extremely smooth. As a result, it had to be handled with extreme care amidst the crowded convention traffic to prevent scratching. During the shoot, the center of gravity for this scythe was actually quite low, so holding it with one hand or dragging it on the ground to strike a pose still tested my arm strength. Whether standing while holding the long shaft with one hand or sitting with it laid across my legs, I had to constantly control its orientation to avoid blocking essential body lines.

For the posing guidance, we intentionally avoided the dramatic, flashy styles often seen at conventions. Since the overall aura leaned toward a cool detachment, I chose more tranquil sitting and standing poses. The look-back photo where I'm sitting on the hard floor required me to keep my core tight and back upright at all times, while keeping my knees naturally bent and ankles curved at a beautiful angle to subtly reveal the deep-blue high-heeled sandals with bows and the fine metal chain detail at the ankle. Standing while holding the pole with one hand, along with the dynamic movement of lifting one leg, was meant to break the monotony of a purely static pose and add a touch of flowing movement to the skirt.

The actual environment at the shoot was much more chaotic than what is seen in the photos. The Sony and Canon exhibition signs behind me were very eye-catching, the venue was packed with various photography gear and onlookers, and there were other cosplayers dressed in entirely different styles behind us. Fortunately, Chino-chan's framing and aperture control were extremely precise. Through a wide aperture, the clutter of the background was flattened out, turning the originally multicolored light patches and crowds into a high-quality background blur. It's fair to say that in such a packed exhibition hall, capturing clean convention photos with tight composition truly requires quick reflexes and a sharp eye.

Speaking of which, the peak crowd traffic at BW every year is absolutely crazy. Being able to find a corner that slightly avoided the crowd, arrange the skirt and props, and complete this shoot was already incredibly lucky. This outfit and the dramatic prop attracted many fellow fans on-site, and people kept asking about the materials used for the prop during breaks. Spending almost the entire day busy in this outfit inside the hall was tiring, and though we didn't shoot many sets, this single, proper set of convention photos met all my expectations in terms of costume fit, prop accuracy, and the photographer's capture of light and shadow. Engaging in cosplay itself is a physical expression of love, and this experience serves as an excellent visual record within my roleplay practice. I am deeply grateful to the photographer for their patient guidance in such a noisy environment, leaving a wonderful physical record for this convention memory.