Standing in this scene filled with a hardcore industrial texture, paired with the solid long polearm weapon in hand and the tactical mechanical backpack on my back, I tried to recreate Anby Demara's sharp capability and composure as a Cunning Hares employee. A lot of preparation went into this shoot early on. To stay true to the character design in Zenless Zone Zero, extensive effort was put into recreating the Techwear outfit style of the costume. The contrasting armor stitching design of neon green and black, combined with numerous straps and cutout elements, gave the entire outfit not only strong visual impact, but also remarkable depth under the refractions of light inside the warehouse.
Instead of a pure indoor studio shoot, I chose an abandoned industrial warehouse featuring wasteland graffiti walls, rusty wire netting, and warning oil drums. This rugged environmental backdrop formed a striking contrast with the high-tech tactical gear I was wearing. The chunky white-and-green color-blocked techwear shoes on my feet combined red and black straps, offering an exaggerated, unique design while providing solid support when stepping on the oil drum during filming. Furthermore, the paired dark gray over-the-knee Stocking outfit featured unique white cloud patterns, which elongated the leg proportions visually while enhancing the character's distinct recognizability.
Speaking of the pose I was most satisfied with in this shoot, it was probably the one where I sat on a large blue oil drum with yellow-and-black warning stripes, leaning forward slightly with a blade in one hand. The photographer's framing was ingenious, using the ambient wire netting as a foreground frame to naturally draw viewers' eyes toward me. The red contact lenses and silver-white short hair appeared exceptionally vibrant under the venue lighting. I deliberately adjusted my posture to showcase the character's sharp yet subtly alluring qualities through the cut of the skirt and straps. The combination of over-the-knee stockings and techwear shoes wrapped nicely around the calf contours, producing a look perfectly fitting Anby's cool and composed setting.
The shot holding a burger later on was actually a little easter egg midway through filming, originally meant to capture the character's playful vibe of calmly eating anytime, anywhere. Unexpectedly, this gap-moe contrast ended up being the most lifelike and relatable image of the entire set. The large backpack prop on my back was actually quite heavy, filled with various mechanical appliques and orange transparent parts. Combined with the weapon and black tactical armguards, I had to adjust my center of gravity carefully to stay upright in front of the lens. However, to convey the character's easygoing and dashing spirit, all the physical effort was entirely worth it.
I was truly immersed during the shoot that day. From a casual look back over my shoulder, to a battle-ready pose holding the weapon, and finally to a nimble moment standing on one leg, every photo attempted to capture the unique survival state of a Cunning Hares member among urban ruins. The gaffer placed a blue-purple ambient light from behind on the side, complemented by soft key light from the main source, which highlighted the neon green fabric tones while rendering the face skin texture and makeup exceptionally clean and natural.
Overall, from the early prop design and costume tailoring adjustments to on-set pose coordination and lighting direction, this was a deeply sincere endeavor. Rather than forcing high-difficulty poses, I aimed to blend her seemingly cold, actually reliable, and occasionally cute personality into every natural expression. The charm of industrial-style Anime cosplay photography lies in its gritty raw texture. Standing fully equipped amidst the scrap piles and raising props felt like truly breaking the fourth wall to become a decisive, action-oriented member of the Cunning Hares.