[Amiya cosplay] Level 9 Gale in Hangzhou Wasteland Convention Photos: Medic Class Conversion Facing the Catastrophe

Last week, I attended the Arknights-only event in Hangzhou themed "Rusty Shadows Reborn" and shot a set of Amiya cosplay in her Medic Class Conversion form. The location was set within the ruins of an abandoned industrial steel structure; the dust- and rubble-strewn ground paired with high-contrast light and shadow immediately set a heavy, somber mood. Honestly, the setting conveyed an intense sense of crisis, very much like facing a Catastrophe directly in the game.

The biggest headache on the day of the shoot was the wind. The weather forecast warned of Level 9 gale-force winds, and arriving on site proved it was no exaggeration—standing in the wind made you feel like you could be blown away at any moment. But this also came with a huge benefit: I didn't need to intentionally whip my clothes or wig around, as the wind blew them into dramatic disarray on its own. Still, this added immense difficulty for the photographer. Frequently, right as the composition was framed, a gust would blow hair flat across my face and send fabric flying everywhere. We had to seize brief lulls in the wind for quick snapshots, which ironically captured the most natural moments.

Speaking of the gear and props: the massive blue sash across the chest is a highly recognizable design, and care was needed to keep the printed lettering from getting caught or damaged by the wind. The skirt hem features hand-cut tattered fabric strips; while messy when still, in the wind they displayed vibrant life and chaotic motion. Paired with feathers and rabbit ears—which were quite heavy to wear, wobbling along with the wig in the wind—this natural shaking didn't look out of place at all. The staff prop in hand was truly heavy and long with a unique silhouette, requiring serious effort to pose with. The fabric strips tied around the arms and the glowing nail polish were also part of the detailed styling that took careful coordination.

To recreate the techwear aesthetic merging surgical scrubs and dissection garments for the Medic Class Conversion, the skirt details underwent multiple modifications—especially the tattered edge strips, which were specially treated with weathering smoke effects to look wind-eroded. The blue sash also required testing many materials to achieve that reflective sheen. The rabbit ears had internal wires for shape adjustment and were wrapped in plush fabric to retain their distinct shape in the strong wind. Though the gale made it hard to keep my eyes open, I strove to maintain a solemn, grave gaze, fitting the lore of facing an apocalyptic Catastrophe. This raw, wind-swept ambiance gave the photos a distinctive anime-like texture.

During the shoot, the photographer and I ran all over the ruins; to find angles for gorgeous backlighting, he was practically lying on the ground or climbing steel beams. In the second full-body shot in particular, the wind hit just right—facing against the wind, my skirt billowed high into the air as I turned back, showcasing the leg lines and Stockings texture. He felt that dynamic motion combined with natural light held immense tension, capturing the shot instantly. For a wasteland aesthetic, this disheveled, rugged, and even slightly battered state felt the most authentic. Because of the wind, hair needed constant fixing, and touch-ups took considerable time. Meeting fellow fans and exchanging Convention photos on site was also wonderful. Though the process was grueling, the outfit heavy, and keeping balance in the wind nearly made me fall, completing a shoot so deeply aligned with the character in a real wasteland setting made every bit of effort worthwhile upon seeing the raw photos. The shooting pace was fast, with spontaneous snapshots mattering far more than static poses due to the wind-driven unpredictability. The final impact truly rests in those candid captures. This hardcore outdoor Ruins photo shoot experience will stay with me for a long time. Here's sharing the finished results with everyone.