This photoshoot for Chang'e - "Stellar Vessel" from Honor of Kings took roughly over a month from initial preparation to final delivery. Because the original concept art is exceptionally rich in textural materials, after receiving the costume, I pondered deeply on how to authentically recreate that ethereal, detached grace—where the soul dwells within the vessel and coexists with humanity—in a real-world set.
The outfit's color palette is a classic tapestry of blue, white, and gold. In particular, the golden metallic armor pieces along the waist and arms required considerable sanding and fine-tuning beforehand to avoid looking cheap or creating harsh glare under studio lights. The trickiest parts were actually the translucent water ripple and ice crystal visual effect pieces wrapping around my arms; being completely transparent, even slight carelessness could reveal flaws under intense studio lighting. Fortunately, the studio set design was phenomenal: a colossal deep-blue glowing moon backdrop, complemented by surrounding white blossoms and red-crowned crane sculptures, instantly conjured an ethereal Xianxia style cosplay atmosphere the moment I walked onto the stage.
The "Stellar Vessel" held in my hand served as the visual focal point of the entire photoshoot. The shimmering blue illuminated lotus was actually a prop with an integrated LED lighting kit. During the shoot, to prevent the LED beads from looking artificial or stiff, photographer @桃若夭之 and I constantly adjusted angles. The light needed to cast an upward glow illuminating my face and the golden ornaments on my chest while preserving the mysterious, deep-blue ambient tone—which was quite an intricate test of lighting balance.
Foregoing conventional footwear to appear barefoot, the golden anklets and toe chains became the primary visual highlight of the lower body. The floor was laid with reflective silver material. Stepping onto it, I deliberately adjusted my seated posture so the skirt draped naturally while arching my insteps slightly, which visually elongated my leg lines while perfectly conveying a weightless, otherworldly aura. The set background also featured dangling strands of pearls, sheer gossamer, and artificial rockeries; slightly lowering the camera angle utilized perspective to seamlessly blend subject and environment.
Post-processing editor @愚公愚公想摸鱼 was also an immense help, delicately refining the textures of the water ripples and illuminating props without excessive skin smoothing, fully preserving the fabric's authentic weave and dimensional lighting gradations. Since this theme aligns with a Mid-Autumn Festival cosplay, releasing this set just in time for the holiday feels perfect. Through these frames, I hope to share the serene, celestial tranquility of the Moon Palace Fairy with everyone.