[Amiya cosplay] Arknights Firefly ACG Expo, riverside walkway outdoor shoot

Aside from shooting inside the hall at Firefly ACG Expo this time, we also chose this viewing platform by the river as an outdoor location. I felt that shooting this outfit in an open area with modern skyscrapers and water offers a much fresher atmosphere than pure indoor light and shadow. The overall costume features an off-the-shoulder design in a black-and-white color scheme; the upper body's white inner layer is paired with black ruffled cuffs, accented at the neckline with a bow tie and silver necklace, which, together with a black choker, perfectly highlights the neck and shoulder lines. The lower skirt's hem is rich in layers, piecing together black fabric with a lace-trimmed white skirt, while the black waist-cinching structure on the side provides a great visual transition. Everyone might have noticed that sky-blue strap around the thigh, which is a striking blue element in this Anime-style fashion set. Paired with pure white crew socks and shiny black platform shoes, a sense of visual balance is achieved.

The headpiece is quite complex. Aside from white bows decorating the dark brown long hair, there are two long rabbit ears on top, as well as a silver-and-black interwoven structure resembling a black feather crown. It feels quite substantial wearing it on the head, putting high demands on securing the hairstyle and ponytail. To match this intricate headpiece and overall style, the makeup incorporated a slightly sharper eyeliner style, paired with blue contact lenses to enhance eye focus. During the shoot, because of a river breeze on site, the skirt hem and hair fluttered slightly, adding some dynamic elements to the frame.

When taking full-body photos, I try my best to relax my posture. For instance, in the first and second photos, I intentionally extended my right hand forward, aiming to create a visual illusion of an invitation or interaction in front of the lens; paired with a slightly forward-leaning upper body, this gives the photos a better conversational feel. As for the third shot sitting on the railing, I felt that standing the whole time easily looks stiff and rigid; sitting on the railing with legs naturally crossed and hanging down, hands resting on metal bars on both sides, combined with a slightly tilted head expression, better restores a quiet yet slightly playful sense of relaxation. Hands also featured prop coordination: the left hand wore a black leather glove, while the right arm was wrapped with white cloth strips and a pink convention wristband, these tiny details serving as a supplement to the character setting.

As for lighting, the weather that day was cloudy with diffuse overcast light, which is quite friendly for preserving skin texture and dark costume details. Compared to complex indoor convention flashes or direct outdoor sunlight, this soft light is better suited for an outfit with cool tones and black-and-white contrast. Although the skyscrapers and river surface in the background feel somewhat like a different dimension from the 2D character, combining the foreground subject with the background's grey tones and cool color blocks via depth-of-field blur creates a cool, serene urban ambiance instead.

This riverbank shoot lasted for about two to three hours, during which we crossed paths with other fellow anime fans attending the convention, all of whom were very friendly. To enrich the camera footage for Cosplay photography, we changed several different poses and angles, capturing not only distant full-body shots but also half-body close-ups. Honestly though, these shoes were not easy to walk in; the soles required extra caution against slipping on outdoor stone pavement, so every location shift had to be moved slowly. Overall, being able to complete a set of works on such a waterfront urban walkway during the Firefly ACG Expo gave a great sense of accomplishment. To recreate a character defined by a black-and-white palette with rabbit ears and various cloth band decorations, clean makeup and neatly fitted accessories are paramount—which was also the step we spent significant time preparing before shooting. Through this outdoor record, I hope to present the character's energetic yet unique style wonderfully.