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Noticing neckties in a costume portrait
Follow a small tie from a close portrait into the complete outfit, then compare a different tie shape.

Mikako Minamino, AKB0048 · Photograph: Yenra · Archive tags: Adore Cosplay
Captured: 2015:02:13 14:07:07
A tie can be a small starting point for looking at a portrait. Find its color or outline below the face, then let your attention travel into the rest of the outfit. You do not need to identify every costume detail to make a useful observation.
These Katsucon 2015 photographs move from a close view of a red checked tie to a wider view of the outfit, then to a different pale-blue tie. Compare what remains visible at each distance and how the collar gives that small detail a place within the portrait.
Find the checked tie below the face
The red checked tie sits between the white collar and the green hair. The face is sharper than the tie, but the red and dark pattern remains easy to notice. Compare the small area below the chin with the larger shapes around it.
Let your eyes move from the face to the tie and back again. A detail can contribute without becoming the sharpest part of the photograph. Try describing where you see the pattern, rather than guessing the fabric or the way the tie was made.
Follow the pattern into the wider outfit

Mikako Minamino, AKB0048 · Photograph: Yenra · Archive tags: Adore Cosplay, ycard
Captured: 2015:02:13 14:08:08
The wider photograph reveals checks on the lapels, cuffs and skirt as well as the tie. A small central accessory now belongs to a larger pattern across the outfit. The white shirt and red-and-blue jacket give those checks other areas to sit beside.
Compare the two views. Which part of the outfit could you not see in the close portrait? A wider view can answer one question while giving you another detail to explore. The original Adore Cosplay subject links remain with these photographs; a subject tag is kept distinct from a supplied performer credit.
Compare a short pale-blue tie

Takahashi Minami, AKB0048 · Photograph: Yenra · Archive tags: Dejavudea, ycard
Captured: 2015:02:13 14:29:04
The pale-blue tie has a short, compact shape between white lapels with gold-colored edging. Its lighter color sits differently against the collar from the earlier red checks. Look at the small folds and the space around it before returning to the whole face.
Choose one difference you can describe plainly: color, shape, visibility or repetition. Then finish with something the complete portrait adds. Looking at existing photographs is enough for this exercise; you do not need a costume, a particular knot or an exact match for these accessories.
Look back with curiosity.
- How much of the tie is visible?
- What changes when you see more of the outfit?
- Does the detail need to be sharp to remain noticeable?
Keep exploring
Noticing checks and grids in a photograph · Noticing where a photograph is sharp · Photographing the details that matter
Browse the complete Katsucon 2015 gallery. Follow a photograph into its original neighbors and see which small detail or portrait variation catches your attention next.