This time at the Chengdu CD Anime Convention, the Brown Dust 2 Convention photos were finally shot. For this styling, preparations took about half a month beforehand. This blue-based white-patterned tight dress looks simple, but the material is a glossy faux-water-ripple fabric that has a very textured reflection in the sunlight. To increase the layering, I matched it myself with a white long-sleeve inner layer. The black baseball cap plus the huge blue satin bow at the back is the visual focus of the entire outfit, which can not only block the glaring sunlight at the convention, but also neutralize the maturity of the dress with a bit of athletic vitality. For the wig, I chose a light platinum blonde color system, trimming the side wisps to let them naturally fall on the shoulders. In terms of makeup, the focus was on the eye makeup; blue contact lenses echoed the color of the dress, the eyeliner was slightly elongated, matching the overall cool and glamorous style. I also deliberately tied a metal leg ring on my right leg and put on those transparent chunky-heeled sandals, which are truly a sharp tool for walking around the convention for a day, and the transparent heels can visually elongate the leg lines.
The foot traffic at the Chengdu CD Anime Convention is truly massive. We found a relatively open rooftop and square outside the venue, with the blue sky and distant city high-rises as the background. The sunlight on that day was very abundant, even a bit glaring, but this strong natural light instead made the color saturation of the photos very high, requiring almost no fill light. When shooting Picture 1, to showcase the body proportions, I stood slightly sideways with my center of gravity on the back leg, the front foot lightly touching the ground, arms crossed, and one hand gently touching the brim of the hat. This posture can well stretch the leg lines while displaying a confident state. The photographer shot from a slightly lower low-angle position, instantly making the legs look extremely long. Picture 2 is a half-body close-up, where I tried to reach forward to create a spatial sense of interaction with the lens. Although the hand was blurred due to depth of field, the facial focus was very clear, the gaze looked towards the side-front, and the overall atmosphere was well in place.
To be honest, doing cosplay with long sleeves and short skirts in the summer is truly a test of physical strength. While walking around the venue, even with air conditioning, I still broke into a sweat, and the wig easily got tangled, requiring me to constantly hold a comb and setting spray to groom it. However, I met several fellow fans who recognized Brown Dust 2 at the convention, and everyone exchanged stamps and game insights, making me feel in that instant that all the hard work was worth it. Many photographers were also very enthusiastic, queuing up to shoot orderly and helping each other hold reflectors.
This time the Convention photos could present such a photo-like texture, thanks to the photographer's precise control over light and shadow. We waited on the rooftop for a time slot when the light was slightly softer, matching the architectural lines in the background, and the effect shot out had a strong urban feel. The colors of the whole set of pictures mainly revolved around blue, white, and black, making the visual very unified. For cosplayers who want to capture a similar effect, my little suggestion is that outdoor convention shoots must have good sun protection; although transparent high heels are versatile and make legs look longer, you must prepare a pair of flat shoes for traveling. When choosing locations, try to find modern architecture with geometric lines or clean skies as the background, so that the main character will stand out more. Although this character styling was designed according to the style of Brown Dust 2, I incorporated a lot of my own understanding of the character's temperament into the makeup and styling, hoping to convey this unique aesthetic through these photos.