The scene at BW 2026 indeed had quite an atmosphere, and this time I'm sharing this set of BW 2026 event photos as Exusiai the New Covenant. The moment the strings were plucked, I actually found the core of this character, so the entire shooting process was about trying to integrate the on-site atmosphere in front of the lens with that sense of music and rhythm. Many players have discussions about this character's background settings, but in my interpretation, I thought more about how to respond to those settings through visual elements.
This costume is actually highly recognizable at the convention venue. Especially that red cape on the back, combined with the halo device on top of my head, its physical dynamic effects are highly bonus-adding during walking or performing some arm-waving movements. Because photographer Natsukawa Ryo captured snapshots very quickly, many stretching and turning moments were accurately captured. Actually, for event photos, it's hard to have perfect ambient light like in a studio shoot, but the overhead lights of the exhibition hall formed a highly geometric light source, which, coordinated with those floating light-block special effects in post-production, exactly fitted that visual impression of blending sci-fi with alternative worlds.
I remember spending quite some time preparing this makeup and styling, especially the hair color treatment of the wig as a red hair cosplay and the shaping of the high ponytail, as the crowds could easily deform the ponytail or make the bangs fly around. Before taking photos, I repeatedly adjusted the position of the headpiece to ensure that the halo looked highly natural from various shooting angles. In terms of cooperation with the weapon prop, this musical instrument prop with a characteristic hollowed-out design had a very nice grip. When holding it in my arms, I needed to adjust my finger postures to prevent the strings from blocking the patterns of the clothes or the features of the hat. To present a crisp feel, I specially incorporated some fixed-point turning or single-hand shoulder-tapping movements in the action design, in coordination with the design of this short skirt and long boots.
At the shoot site, we actually waited for a long time before finding this empty corridor area. At that time, there were still some footsteps from other exhibition areas nearby, but as long as I could focus in front of the lens, I could basically ignore these background noises. Because the costume is relatively heavy and the indoor temperature was on the higher side, I had actually sweated quite a bit midway through the shoot, but to maintain my state, I tried my best to control my expressions and actions, making every frame look more tension-packed. Some movements actually heavily tested balance, such as the posture of stepping forward with a single leg and reaching out a hand, requiring a tightened core to present a dynamic stability in the overall frame.
The color coordination of the costume was very outstanding in this shoot. The skirt and decorations with a black-and-white base color made the massive area of red elements highly prominent, while the combination of white socks and brown boots on the legs added a sense of layers. We experimented with several angles, featuring half-body close-ups to showcase the intimate interaction between the face and the musical instrument prop, as well as full-body snapshots to release the cape's aura. Although shooting this series of photos consumed quite a bit of physical energy, being able to leave such a layered set of works on the scene of BW 2026 was indeed a very happy thing.
Regarding the control of the overall styling and details, I believe that cosplay is not just outward imitation, but more about thinking over the meaning of the existence of every accessory on the character, such as the floating of that cape and the prints on its edges, or the texture of the arm decorations, which are all important parts of fully presenting the character. I hope that through the gaze, gestures, and the placement of the musical instrument prop in the frame, viewers can also feel the character's composed yet slightly lively personality. Regarding some small secrets behind this gear, such as the hanging decorative spheres or the heel height of the boots, these are all details that have been researched. I hope everyone can also feel that melodious tune and the accompanying adventure atmosphere when looking at this set of photos.
I always feel that a successful cosplay work cannot do without the polishing of every detail. For this event photoshoot, I did a lot of homework in advance, including pondering over the character's personality and the matching of the costume and props. Although the live environment was relatively complex compared to a studio shoot, the unique convention atmosphere of BW 2026 instead allowed the character to display a more vivid sense of daily life. When looking for light and angles, photographer Natsukawa Ryo was very patient. We utilized the natural white-light geometric lines on-site, coupled with the post-production light and shadow effects, to make it look both tech-savvy and whimsical. When I played this wooden musical instrument in front of the lens or whipped up my cape, I felt as if I had truly crossed dimensions, becoming that traveler wandering through urban ruins or fantasy lands.
The halo on top of the head was a minor challenge during the shoot. To ensure it didn't look obtrusive from various angles, it often required repeated angle adjustments. When standing to strike some static poses, I would focus on the expression in my eyes and the naturalness of my hand movements; once the photographer signaled the need for dynamism, I would coordinate with my steps, letting the red cape draw a beautiful trajectory in the air. In this shoot, the combination of long boots and over-knee socks was actually very helpful for the visual extension of the legs. Coordinated with the shorter lower wear, it beautifully enhanced the character's light yet powerful characteristics. I believe that settings with obvious fantasy elements like this, cooperating with modern live lighting, will generate a wonderful chemical reaction.
In terms of costume making, the black-and-white diamond geometric patterns paired with red carry immense visual impact, and this high-contrast color design can often yield great textures during shoots. To prevent the photos from looking flat, I worked hard to adjust my center of gravity and shoulder heights to break the stiffness. I might repeatedly redo a gesture or a gaze if it wasn't on point, but this is the professional quality of a cosplayer—just like a musician tuning an instrument, every link must be precise. I feel that what matters most for event photos is naturalness, needing no overly exaggerated expressions or deliberately forced poses; achieving a relaxed-yet-disciplined state is what allows the photos to transmit emotion.
This shoot lasted for about over an hour. Although very tiring, when seeing the final photo production results, that satisfaction was beyond words. The light and shadow atmosphere in the photos, the transparency of the clothing materials, and the interaction between the props and hairstyle all reached my prior expectations. I hope it can not only showcase a character's appearance but also allow those who see this set of photos to feel the character's determination and passion through my performance. Next time if I have the opportunity to participate in similar large-scale exhibitions, I will try more different movements and utilize the properties of the props better, making the creative process of cosplay more interesting.
Throughout the entire process, I don't want my words to carry too much of a lecturing tone; I just want to share my authentic experiences and thoughts behind this set of works with everyone. Every time weaving through the halls to look for suitable shooting angles, and every time lifting this hand-held musical instrument prop, is actually a re-creation of the character. Although this process is hard, it is also worth it. I hope this set of photos can become a shining point in the memory of the entire exhibition, rather than just a production-line product to farm traffic. I will maintain my love for cosplay and continue to polish my works, bringing everyone more high-quality contents.