[Saber Alter cosplay] Summer Poolside Portraits of Salter

Shot this swimsuit Salter last summer and finally sorted through the archive near the end of the season. At the time, an outdoor pool set was ready, and since schedules aligned, we took this set of photos. As an alternate form of Altria in Fate/Grand Order, Salter's outfit required thoughtful selection: a sleeveless, high-neck black mini dress with open-side tailoring. This cut looks striking in a poolside setting but demands great physique and posture to flatter the garment's lines. The silver-white wig was custom-trimmed, with the bangs and side strands refined to match the character's signature sharpness.

For makeup, the focus was placed on subtle red smudging around the outer eye corners, complemented by light contact lenses and vivid red lips. This cool-toned palette created a striking contrast under the bright outdoor sun, requiring more reserved expressions to stay true to character. The natural light on the day was intense, and pool reflections easily risked overexposing facial highlights, necessitating frequent angle adjustments or using water ripples as natural fill light. This organic bounce was much softer than a reflector board, making the skin texture look luminous and clear.

The prop gun was custom-made in advance; though plastic, its matte coating looked realistic with a solid grip that allowed proper tactical weapon poses. The green auxiliary accessory in hand balanced the color palette, keeping the pure black outfit from feeling too heavy against the blue-and-white background. The thigh strap placement also needed constant readjusting—posing for this shoot showed that beyond expression control, small details are key to high accuracy.

Post-processing focused on unifying skin tones, retaining facial shadow gradations, and boosting overall clarity and airy atmosphere. The background water was subtly blurred so the subject naturally popped in focus, while distant greenery retained a summer vibe. Looking back, the over-the-shoulder profile composition still looks great.

Although I couldn't shoot new material at Hirakata this year, flipping through last year's photos brings back memories of shooting by the water under the scorching sun. The heat, glare, and tension of holding poses with fresh makeup are vivid memories of that summer. This set serves as a fitting tribute to that season. Going through the full journey from hair, makeup, and shooting to editing is always a valuable refresher and step forward in craftsmanship.