[Antiquarian Cosplay] Identity V's Chinese Wuxia Style, Restoring the Beauty of the Martial Arts World

For this ancient style photography session and Antiquarian cosplay work of Qi Shiyi, I actually did a lot of homework on the texture of the costume during the preparation stage. This white and blue outfit carries both the gentleness of Chinese style and the character's unique coolness and decisiveness.

In terms of clothing materials, the outer light tulle and the inner dark-patterned fabric present an excellent sense of layering under the lens. The silver decorations on the shoulders and the overall rolled-edge embroidery accurately restore the details of Identity V's original artwork. To avoid looking too heavy, I intentionally adjusted the length and proportions of the ruff and tassel pendants on the neck so that they fit the natural curvature of the neck better.

For the choice of props, considering the character's professional traits, I specially customized this cyan-blue antique prop flute. Before the shoot, I purposefully used sandpaper to lightly sand down the edges, removing that overly eye-catching modern luster and changing it to a matte spray effect, which fits the environmental atmosphere of the Antiquarian better against the wooden background. I repeatedly practiced the gestures of throwing the prop and defending during the shoot. The focus of Chinese Wuxia power lies in "combining softness with strength"—even a stationary standing pose needs to present a tension of being poised for action.

Regarding the use of light and shadow in the scene, the shooting location this time was chosen at an antique courtyard pavilion, where the high-hanging lanterns and rough wood-and-stone structures provided a wonderful natural background. The photographer smartly adopted partial warm-toned lighting, avoiding the discordance brought by cold tones in the large wooden environment, allowing the post-processed images to present a cinematic film texture. The centered, low-angle image you see was designed to maximize the visual impact, allowing the Antiquarian's character temperament to blend into one with the surrounding environment under the enhancement of symmetrically structured wooden pillars and red lanterns.

In the high-angle shot of playing the flute and the close-up of looking into the distance in the gallery, my own emotions also calmed down as much as possible, with fewer distractions, immersing myself into that state of being in an antique courtyard. Players who have played Identity V should also know that the Antiquarian is actually a character in the game who excels at using mechanisms and tools for containment. Therefore, although the costume looks like a gentle lady from a wealthy family, a resilience of a martial arts world wanderer is hidden deep within her bones.

Restoring this costume to the extreme is actually the highest tribute to the character herself. Chinese Wuxia is not just about moves and gorgeous clothing, but more about the focus and attitude under each freeze-frame of the shutter. I hope that through the photos in this set of works, everyone can feel the unique Wuxia charm belonging to the Antiquarian beyond the Identity V manor.