Putting on a red beret and adjusting my goggles before this aircraft cobbled together from metallic pipes, massive cooling fans, and scrap parts, this long-awaited travel photoshoot scene finally became a reality. Today's theme is the "Flying Mushroom"; although styled with Lolita fashion, I wanted even more to infuse this intertwining of retro aesthetics and industrial textures with a whimsical Fairy tale style and Steampunk charm.
Let's first talk about the camera gear used for this shoot. The body was a Canon EOS R6 Mark II paired with a Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 lens. This combination performed rock-solid under harsh outdoor sunlight; the 35mm focal length is remarkably well-suited for full-body environmental portraits. To capture both the aircraft's immense scale and the subject's lightfooted grace within the same frame, I deliberately had the photographer try plenty of low-angle upward shots. The R6 Mark II's articulating screen helped tremendously at these extreme angles, and its autofocus system locked tenaciously onto eyes even amid cluttered backdrops—yielding an extraordinarily high hit rate even when I was jumping with all my might. Additionally, a Pocket 4K (Pocket4p) was mounted on one side to document behind-the-scenes B-roll perspectives.
The lighting conditions were actually quite challenging: broad daylight coupled with highly reflective metals across the aircraft's surface made it easy for the composition to lose tonal depth. Consequently, we kept the aperture around f/2.0 to f/2.8 rather than shooting wide open. This ensured proper separation and bokeh between the subject and background without turning the mechanical details behind me into an indistinct blur. The shutter speed was cranked up above 1/800s, perfectly freezing my skirt hem and hair strands without motion blur as I leapt on one leg with arms outstretched.
In terms of costume styling, this red pinafore dress with white polka dots served as the visual centerpiece—its vibrant hue stood out strikingly against the blue sky and silver metal. To echo the aviator motif, I wore a red hat fitted with vintage goggles, with brown fingerless gloves and brown lace-up ankle boots creating top-to-bottom harmony. Naturally, to heighten the layered richness and maidenly playfulness of the ensemble, I paired it with White stockings, allowing leg lines to extend gracefully during jumps. This styling genuinely demands kinetic body language to bring it to life; standing still would create a disconnect from the colossal mechanical marvel operating behind me. Thus, I spent most of the time running around or leaping high into the air, while the photographer scouted various angles to capture each candid moment.
The scene here carried a powerful sense of déjà vu blending wasteland realism and fantasy—reminiscent indeed of something out of a Hayao Miyazaki animation. Metallic drums, cooling fans, blue propellers, along with distant cartoon sculptures and green meadows, all enriched the narrative depth of the frame. Instead of conventional Sweet or Classic styles, this Lolita dress adopted an adventurous spirit; paired with these industrial props, it sparked a marvelous chemical reaction. Throughout the shoot, I kept imagining the "Flying Mushroom, take off!", genuinely feeling as though I had embarked on a fantastical journey. The temperature was quite warm that day, and running around in White stockings and boots was certainly a physical workout, but seeing the chiaroscuro and vivid colors in camera made every bit of effort worthwhile. In post-processing, I slightly boosted saturation while retaining the warm, tactile glow of sunlight, avoiding over-retouching to faithfully recreate our authentic visual experience during this travel photoshoot.