[Amiya cosplay] Remaining Calm and Resolute on the Battlefield of Arknights

The lighting setup for this blue, Cool tones photoshoot was quite distinctive. To capture that ripple and shadow effect in the background, the photographer used a white backdrop cloth paired with continuous blue-violet light sources to create a cold, rational atmosphere. The prop staff was quite substantial in weight, with an uneven textured surface and a thick grip that required significant effort to stabilize its center of gravity. To strike the pose shown in the photos, I experimented with multiple angles, eventually finding that standing sideways while tilting my head slightly down toward the camera worked best.

The costume details are intricate; the glossy bright blue jacket fabric is highly reflective, and combined with the black-and-white checkerboard patterns, it can easily look cluttered. Therefore, during the shoot, the color temperature was intentionally dialed down, allowing cool lighting to suppress these busy details. The sheer black Stockings on my legs produced noticeable reflections under the cool light; to highlight the leg lines, I revealed more of the legs in the framing and adjusted my standing stance specifically to showcase the expressive texture of this material.

Regarding hair and makeup, to complement the Cool tones, the eye makeup utilized purplish shades paired with clear, translucent blue-gray colored contacts, giving the eyes an ethereal yet resolute look. The large ears on top of the head were mounted onto the wig and were rather heavy, requiring continuous angle adjustments to keep them upright. The bangs were intentionally left longer to use shadows to partially veil the gaze, making the facial expression appear more focused.

The greatest challenge during this shoot was sustaining a cool, aloof, and powerful emotional presence over extended periods. Because blue lighting can make one appear pale, slipping out of character easily results in a blank, expressionless face. During shooting, I focused on imagining the character's environment, ensuring everything from body language to gaze exuded a steady, commanding presence. Every posture adjustment aimed to strike the optimal balance between power and tranquility.

In post-processing, the focus was placed on skin tone correction—preventing the cool light from making the face look sickly pale while preserving the cool, alluring reflections cast by light and shadow onto the Stockings. The fabric beneath the skirt hem was burning hot from high reflectivity, so some burning down was applied to keep it textured without glaring. Through this series of adjustments, the final presentation aligned with expectations. Sharing this experience is truly valuable for me, as it deepened my understanding of portraying characters with cool-toned light and shadow.

Photos with such Cool tones test skin texture even more, meaning the foundation needs to be exceptionally sheer and translucent without looking ghastly pale under blue lighting, which required testing numerous foundation shades. Additionally, in retouching, I avoided excessive skin smoothing, preserving natural skin textures to keep the look more authentic.

Preparation for this photoshoot also took quite a long time; particularly for the costume and props, getting accustomed to them beforehand was essential to prevent mistakes during the shoot. Mental state on the shooting day was crucial. I'm very grateful to my partner who assisted with lighting adjustments that day; cool light is very tricky with exposure, and we tested several hues before settling on the current blue-violet tone. Holding still was genuinely exhausting, as maintaining a steady pose until the shutter click finishes demands real stamina.