[Ganyu Cosplay] Atmospheric Lantern Rite Masterpiece: The Liyue Secretary's Spring Leisure

The theme of Lantern Rite has actually been on my mind for a long time, and this time I finally had the opportunity to shoot a photo set for this blue and white color-schemed Ganyu Lantern Rite outfit. The curvature of the short-styled wig is very critical; the hair strands were treated with highlights and an ash-blue color blend, which, paired with that iconic pair of red-and-black gradient horns, carries a strong traditional Chinese charm in front of the wooden folding screen.

The most exhausting part of the costume this time lay in the patchwork design of the neckline and sleeves, where the semi-translucent black gauze paired with gold thread edging perfectly connects the cutout on the chest. That bell pendant around the neck is a very important memory point, adding to the layering of the overall look. The detached sleeves on the arms were treated with gold trim and subtle patterns, making the texture and reflectivity under the lights perfectly match the character's traits. The silver thigh ring on the leg combined with strapping details keeps the character's sense of mystery while facilitating movement.

For the makeup, I intentionally kept the eyeshadow quite clear and transparent, focusing primarily on the contouring of the eyeliner, which, combined with the light blue colored contacts, makes my gaze look both distant yet gentle. Lantern Rite itself is a warm and lively festival, so there's no need to be too rigid during the performance; interacting with the lens in a relaxed state feels much more natural, and gestures like covering the mouth or using a fan to block half of the face can enhance the narrative feel of the frame.

The indoor-constructed scenery utilized Chinese-style moon gate window frames and faux-antique plum blossom branches. This set of photos used soft, warm yellow side-lighting in its light and shadow, forming a warm-and-cold contrast with the dark blue dress, giving both the skin and wig a great level of translucency. As table arrangement elements, Xuan paper, an inkstone, and a round fan are essential props. The round fan is printed with elegant floral patterns, and the hand-painted lines stand out even more in close-up shots. During the shoot, I experimented with several different postures—whether sitting elegantly or leaning forward with a bit of playfulness, they all integrated beautifully with the festival atmosphere of the Liyue region.

Creating this Lantern Rite derivative look for such a classic character indeed required a lot of adjustments on details, such as the stability of the horn ornaments and the arrangement position of the skirt hemline, which all underwent multiple revisions. People might look at the character normally and think the clothes are simple, but in flat photography, organizing these tiny creases and stitch lines is often where true craftsmanship is most visible. Overall, this photo set not only retains the traits of the original character design but also incorporates some traditional Chinese aesthetics into the photography. No matter what setting I shoot in the future, this state of focusing on details will likely be maintained continuously. This exploration beautifully captures the essence of Cosplay photography and Anime realism.