[Ellen Joe cosplay] The lazy shark in Zenless Zone Zero, roaming between sunlight and greenery

This time, to recreate Ellen Joe's style in Zenless Zone Zero, a lot of thought was put into the details of the overall makeup and costume styling. First is the short hairstyle with a black base and red streaks, which, paired with the iconic white heart-and-bone hair accessory on one side, instantly captures the visual focus. In terms of makeup, red colored contacts and deep eyeliner were deliberately accentuated, matching a cool fair foundation in an attempt to recreate the character's lazy yet unapproachable vibe. Beyond the face, this outfit has plenty of layers: the upper body is a black sleeveless top with white ruffles and a zipper, while asymmetrical black-and-red striped sleeve covers and black long gloves on the arms add a touch of functional techwear style.

The most important visual highlight is at the waist, where the wide leather belt with silver rivets and metal buckles cinches the waist while making the overall proportions more distinct. The lower body's black short skirt is accented with white lines, combined with asymmetrical leg warmers and black platform shoes, giving the figure both styling tension in the frame and comfortable mobility. The photos were taken in an outdoor balcony courtyard, where natural light hits the white walls and greenery, softening the layers of light and shadow. In the second full-body photo, I tried a confident and relaxed sitting pose—one hand resting on my chin and the other on the heel of my shoe—using perspective to fully display the leg lines and asymmetrical sock design, which feels more narrative than a simple standing pose.

Regarding the shooting environment, I really love this small courtyard filled with greenery. The white wooden plank walls, paired with climbing vines and colorful small blossoms, plus that light-colored woven flower basket, effortlessly construct a European courtyard feeling with a lazy atmosphere. This outdoor environment doesn't require overly complex lighting equipment; instead, the dappled light and shadow cast by sunlight through the plants enhance the texture of the photos. Changing into this Ellen Joe gear and sitting on the white wrought iron chair created a distinct clash of temperaments with the surrounding environment, making for a very comfortable daily photoshoot experience.

Just as I previously wrote in a post, "I want to go to Fes too," this kind of casual, light-outdoor venue is actually very suitable as a transitional practice between convention photos and full cosplay shoots. Participating in events or conventions tests not only character accuracy, but also the cosplayer's natural expressiveness in front of the camera. From finalizing the look to the final shoot, working with the team allowed us to feel the character's unique contrast of having a hint of playfulness behind that cold demeanor, which was especially interesting. Through this styling, I also gained a deeper appreciation for the unique charm in Zenless Zone Zero's art style, which carries a touch of sci-fi while staying close to everyday life. The blend of scene and character exceeded expectations; this bright contrasting style is indeed well-suited to showcase the character's modern, fashionable, and somewhat casual traits.

When trying this costume with numerous metal accessories and irregular cuts for the first time, I was worried movements would be restricted, but in reality, the stability of the belt and wrist guards was very good, making it convenient to adjust poses during the outdoor shoot. Every time I finish shooting a character with such rich small elements, I look forward to interacting with fellow fans at convention venues. I hope to present this character's unique temperament before more people with this set of works.