[Tenshi Hinanawi cosplay] Touhou Project, recording convention selfie details

This outfit's stand-up collar design works exceptionally well to accentuate the neck and shoulder lines, with the large red bowtie placed in the center forming an obvious visual centerpiece. The long, straight blue hair reveals a relatively pure hue under the lighting environment, which, paired with the red-eyed contacts, swiftly establishes an overall color contrast. When choosing the wig, the length of the forehead bangs needs to match the makeup—neither too long to block the vision, nor too short to leave too much blank space on the forehead.

The light source at the venue during the shoot was quite chaotic, with most exhibition halls relying on overhead cold white light pointing straight down; once this light hits the face directly, it easily makes facial shadows look harsh. Therefore, when taking selfies, I intentionally adjusted the phone's angle to let the light sweep across from the front-side, which prevents the reflections on the forehead and bridge of the nose from overexposing while preserving the three-dimensional feel at the collarbone and neckline. Additionally, the fabric patchwork of the white shirt and black vest should preferably retain some fabric texture on camera; excessive skin smoothing will wipe away all the wrinkles, making the clothes look fake.

The hat is a rather critical heavy accessory in this styling. The front of the hat uses a stack of metallic-colored decorative pieces, white artificial flowers, and green leaves, adding visual weight above the head. However, if worn too straight, the brim will press down on the bangs, making the face look cramped; so when taking selfies, I usually need to adjust the angle slightly to let the hat tilt backward and upward a bit, leaving a sense of breathing room between the bangs and eyebrows. The golden cord brooch is pinned on my left chest; it is not only a decoration to secure the clothing but also forms fine points of luster under side-lighting, enhancing the overall delicacy.

When considering poses, the placement of the hands directly affects the vibe of the entire photo. Standing completely straight easily looks rigid, so I utilize hand interactions with the attire. In the first image, I lightly prop my chin with the back of my hand, allowing the shoulder and neck lines to relax naturally; in the second, I hold the brim of the hat, a composition where the gaze focuses exactly between the eyes and the hat, and the upward extension of the arm also drives the movement of the bowtie on the cuff; the third shows my index finger lightly resting below the throat, keeping the framing steady yet adding a touch of casualness. These three attempts were all quickly adjusted within the same environment, aiming to capture the most natural state.

Many people easily overlook the tightness of costume fitting when taking cosplay selfies at conventions. For instance, this character's neckline structure is relatively complex; besides matching the inner shirt, the outer ties and vest edges interlace with one another, so if the arms are raised too high, the neckline will deform. Thus, before shooting, I adjusted the shirt's collar button to a suitable position that showcases the layers without choking the neck. Below the red bowtie is a metallic buckle with small rhinestones; the position of the buckle actually serves as a visual guide in the frame, guiding the gaze down along the neckline to match well with the general look expected of convention photos.

Through these few shots, I found that selfies actually don't require highly complex backdrops. As long as the lighting is in place and the focus is on the clothing texture, hair direction, and expression from the eyes, even in a relatively cluttered corner of the hall, one can get quite decent-looking pictures. For post-processing, I tried my best to retain the colors of the original image, only adjusting the contrast and shadow details to maintain the purity of the wig's blue hair, red eyes combo, without applying exaggerated color filters. Every time I head out, the weight of the equipment and the crowdedness of the venue often affect performance, but being able to leave such a set of photos under a mixed condition of natural light and flash is also a record of my own preparation process for this Touhou Project showcase.