[Kumiko Omae Cosplay] Sound! Euphonium: Kitauji's Summer Echoes in the Stadium

Let's chant the Kitauji march forward slogan! This time I finally brought the Sunfes gear to a real stadium. Originally, I planned to shoot again on a day with bright summer sunshine, but the cloudy, soft light that day actually made the brass euphonium's reflection less glaring, making the white of the pleated skirt and the orange patches look exceptionally clean against the gray-toned background. This euphonium in hand is quite heavy; holding it to strike various poses was truly a test of core strength and arm power, but to restore the daily life of the concert band club, I had to grit my teeth and keep steady.

This session of stadium photography was intentionally shot on the steps and corridors of the spectator stands, because the wide-open lines of a football stadium's stands carry a rich athletic season atmosphere. The marching band uniform with a white base and blue shoulders, paired with a small pointed hat and white over-the-knee boots, stands out vividly against the orange seats and blue running track, instantly making me feel like I was standing in the cheering formation. Besides static poses playing the instrument, I also changed into yellow pom-poms to shoot a set of cheering shots—though missing the instrument, the dynamic movement of shaking the pom-poms is closer to the excitement of walking and waving during the Sunfes parade.

In terms of props, the details of brass instruments are crucial. To prevent the bell's reflection from overexposing, the photographer specially adjusted the angle, utilizing the lines of the metal guardrails on the steps to cut the frame, which both highlighted the character and preserved the stadium's depth structure. For the shot of crouching on the steps holding the euphonium (which is the cover), I intentionally let the skirt hem scatter naturally, and the lines of the boots and calves formed a perfect extension; the composition is the tightest and the emotion is the most relaxed, so I chose it as the cover.

Actually, the daily life of the concert band club isn't just about looking good. Holding such a heavy instrument while ensuring the posture doesn't collapse, and adjusting the center of gravity and breathing are fundamental skills. During shooting intervals, I repeatedly adjusted the position of the mouthpiece. Although this is just a Kumiko Omae Cosplay creation, thinking about the scenes in the original work Sound! Euphonium where they practice in the rain or under the scorching sun, I feel the cloudy weather before me is already very friendly. The green trees and tall buildings surrounding the stadium serve perfectly as background blur elements, giving the frame a sense of the city without losing natural freshness.

Speaking of the World Cup, although it has no direct connection to Kitauji High School's wind ensemble club, standing in front of such a massive lawn and stands inevitably brings to mind that atmosphere of a collective putting everything into a single cause. Wind ensemble performance, just like a football match, is an art of teamwork, where every section has its own rhythm and breath. This shoot counts as an attempt to bring a 2D scene into a real-world space. Next time, if there is a truly bright day with warm summer sunshine, I want to shoot another set of marching frames under backlighting, letting the brass sparkle with an even warmer gold.

Regarding uniform details, the upper garment's red triangular patchwork and golden buttons are very refreshing in distant shots, while the combination of white gloves and boots keeps the overall styling clean and crisp. To avoid the frame looking too plain, bright yellow pom-poms were specially selected to add a pop of color, echoing the orange seats. The entire process didn't use too much post-production skin smoothing, trying its best to preserve authentic light, shadow, and texture; after all, the stadium lighting itself carries a strong sense of narrative.

This shoot went from morning until afternoon. We even ran into some citizens taking walks in the middle; everyone curiously asked what character this was. Although I didn't explicitly say, that outfit and the huge instrument were enough to explain everything. Being able to replicate this campus memory in my own way is inherently a highly joyful thing. I hope this set of pictures can transmit a bit of vitality from the summer sports field, and serve as a memento for myself—Kitauji's summer is always moving forward.