[Gongsun Li Cosplay] Honor of Kings Smoke of Partings: A Serene Traditional Chinese Style Record in the Corridor

Stepping in front of the lens in this Smoke of Partings outfit to recreate this iconic image from Honor of Kings required careful coordination in both styling design and scene pairing.

The costume itself was the core focus of this photoshoot. The main color palette is pure white and greyish-blue; the striking golden vortex-shaped ornament on the chest carries significant visual weight, and paired with the red-and-white color blocking and neckline design, it elevates the character's nimble charm. The fabric features a subtle sheen and jacquard patterns, while the sleeves have generous layered tiers, complemented by numerous accessories including metal rings, tassels, and a cyan jade pendant at the waist. Wearing it required constant adjustments to avoid tangling while walking, and during shooting breaks, my teammates frequently helped me straighten out the shoulder straps and fluttering ribbons.

What took the most time was styling the wig. The deep blue high twin buns paired with a golden crown and red beaded strings required careful smoothing and setting bit by bit using steel combs and hairspray to ensure the strands wouldn't fray or collapse when turning my head or holding the umbrella. I also chose a relatively matte texture for the wig to create a better contrast against the dark wooden pillars of the corridor background.

For makeup, I aimed for a cool, serene look without being bland. The eye makeup used a cool greyish-blue blend, with slightly elongated and subtly winged eyeliner. Contouring was applied to emphasize bone structure, creating a harmonious color balance with the hair and costume. For the lips, I chose a natural nude pink, ensuring that my complexion still looked healthy even under shadows during the shoot.

The shooting location was a waterside corridor with rich classical charm. The dark pillars and deep-toned wooden flooring helped lower the overall color temperature of the frame, making the character in white-and-blue clothing pop. Outside the corridor, the lake and verdant mountains provided beautiful bokeh elements. Since we were shooting underneath the corridor roof, managing the light tested our technical execution. Natural light filtering through wooden railings cast uneven dappled spots on the face; to achieve clean and soft diffused light, we largely avoided midday and shot during the morning or late afternoon when light was more gentle and scattered.

The blue-and-white ink-wash style oiled paper umbrella looked stunning on camera, though it was surprisingly heavy to hold. During the shoot, holding it up continuously for various poses required good center-of-gravity control—especially when resting it on my shoulder—to prevent unnatural tilt angles. The shot holding bamboo slips captured another tranquil posture, bringing out the scholarly and poetic facet of the character.

Switching between standing and sitting poses was another attempt to capture the character's aura. Sitting with legs crossed gracefully showcased the details of the skirt hem and the glossy black high-heeled boots; the straps around the ankles looked sharp and sleek, while the patent leather texture added a dynamic sheen to the photo. For standing poses, body balance was key—holding the umbrella with one hand and gently raising the other to create a sense of visual elongation.

Overall, our collaboration ran smoothly across lighting, positioning, and on-set directing. Post-processing mainly refined the natural transitions of light and shadow without excessive reshaping or skin blurring, as preserving natural skin texture is essential. Every session of Cosplay photography is a journey of translating 2D designs into 3D reality; from props and styling to framing, minimizing any sense of dissonance in every step ensures the final images stand the test of time.