[Gongsun Li Cosplay] Listening to the Flute in Sorrow, Wishing Good Fortune Against the Wind

"Listening to the flute in sorrow, wishing good fortune against the wind"—presenting this Honor of Kings Gongsun Li Cosplay photoshoot set featuring the Smoke of Partings skin, shot at Guyi Garden. Chosen for a shoot in Shanghai's Guyi Garden, the lush greenery and dappled light perfectly match the cool, classical, and ethereal base tone of the Smoke of Partings skin.

Regarding the outfit's styling, the white halter top fits snugly against the skin, with red accent stitching at the neckline and golden cloud patterns on the chest serving as visual focal points. The hem tailoring and buckle details were restored as closely to original designs as possible, paired with detachable wide sleeves featuring a semi-sheer black tulle texture that creates a light, floating feel when walking. To facilitate movement during actual shooting, I fixed the inner cuffs to prevent slipping and ruining frames.

The headpiece was a major challenge for this styling. The black horn-shaped headpiece on top needed to be securely fixed onto the hair bun for stability, while wrapped golden cloud accessories and dangling small gold bells added rich layering. The deep blue wig underwent layered trimming and subtle wave-texture styling to recreate a fluffy yet artfully messy look. During outdoor shooting, constant attention was needed to adjust stray hairs and prevent the long braid from tangling with the prop umbrella.

For makeup, I opted for a clear, translucent base paired with earth-toned eyeshadow, focusing on elongating the eyeliner and wearing light blue contact lenses alongside straight-cut bangs to give my gaze deeper intensity. Nude lip gloss was applied to minimize heavy makeup feel, making the entire photoset look more natural.

The prop oil-paper umbrella played a significant decorative role during the shoot; its traditional blue-and-white patterns and dark base color created a striking visual contrast against the white outfit. I experimented with several holding poses, such as letting it hang naturally when closed or half-blocking the frame when open. For the cover shot angle, tilting the umbrella slightly while pairing it with my left hand's posture allowed body lines to stretch naturally. Photographer Zhou Xiaoshua handled lighting remarkably well, utilizing light filtering through Guyi Garden's dense canopy to illuminate my face and hair edges, creating soft highlights.

The weather on shooting day was very cooperative, with comfortable afternoon sunlight bathing the set. In an open natural environment like this, one must maintain sharp focus to catch expressions while managing body posture. To achieve this lightweight, aloof state, I practiced combining gazes and hand gestures in front of the mirror several times before shooting, aiming to embody the unique feeling of this skin—seemingly gentle yet harboring resilient strength.

Post-production color grading focused primarily on unifying environmental tones and enhancing translucency, avoiding heavy color overlays that would wash out Guyi Garden's natural beauty. The entire photoset blends traditional Chinese elements, real garden scenery, and character skin traits quite seamlessly. To me, every outdoor shoot feels like a complete immersive recreation—allowing me to re-examine character designs while discovering fresh inspiration within the scene. Tacit coordination among photography, costume, makeup, and props is key to a great shoot; special thanks to the crew that day for working towards a shared vision on set.