The venue lighting and environment at CP32 were great for shooting, and this time I took CP32 convention photos of Arknights Exusiai the New Covenant cosplay. Coordinating with camera angle recommendations from the photographer, Daodao, we quickly captured the exact mood we wanted. The most troublesome part of cosplaying this gear is the array of tactical straps and the geometric floating shard effects on the back; putting them on and adjusting them takes considerable time, but the final outcome was certainly worth it. The four photos shared today showcase two completely distinct shooting approaches.
The first two shots were taken from an overhead perspective looking down from the atrium. The broad geometric stripe shadows and deep yellow floor markings framed the character right in the center. This angle heavily tests physical tension, as overhead shots can easily make someone look shorter. I deliberately spread my arms wide to let the jacket and red ribbon expand outward, which—combined with the venue's crisp overhead lighting—truly gave off a battle-ready aura. The wig and high ponytail looked radiant under this high-contrast lighting, focusing the overall composition together with the floating white halo.
The latter two photos return to a more familiar portrait perspective. Leaning against the glass railing on the atrium's second floor, we used wide-angle lens distortion to elongate body lines. This time, the White tights cosplay paired with red-and-black tactical boots created rich depth alongside thigh rings and black straps, while nicely elongating the visual proportions of the lower body. The crowd flow in the venue was actually quite heavy, but the photographer skillfully avoided cluttered backgrounds, utilizing clean backlight from floor-to-ceiling windows and a wide aperture to blur out the people behind. The post-composited white geometric shards also fit the character's persona naturally, resembling materialized shields or energy.
Compared to complex powered armor designs, this Exusiai the New Covenant techwear outfit held up quite comfortably throughout a full day at the convention. The jacket splices leather and fabric, offering decent breathability without feeling stifling. The red wig was trimmed cleanly so it wouldn't obstruct vision. Portraying such a recognizable character really tests your gaze and posture; I tried to keep my expressions relaxed and confident rather than overly tense.
Everyone has seen how bustling recent Comicup conventions have been, so finding an open geometric light-and-shadow scene in such a crowded hall was a rare find. Convention photography indoors relies heavily on lenses and lighting; the contrast between the black leather jacket and white inner layer avoided clipping in both natural and mixed indoor light. Surface reflections under various light sources were rendered clearly. The geometric shard special effects around the perimeter framed the shoulders and back without overpowering the subject.
From hair and makeup to prop calibration, the entire preparation took over a week. Since this character features numerous white elements, maintenance required extra caution to prevent stains, and I consciously avoided dusty floor areas when posing. The red streamer was also a wonderful finishing touch—lightweight, yet catching the air with natural movement. The photographer was exceptionally patient throughout, capturing both macro striped light compositions and close-up interactions with precision, while keeping equipment details intact from this perspective. It was a standard yet highly rewarding convention photoshoot experience.