In this edition, I'm sharing a photo set featuring Helektra's underwater-themed roleplay work. From early planning to on-site shooting, there are many details and insights worth sharing.
First is the choice of garment fabrics: the dark main fabric carries a matte texture, paired with semi-transparent black sheer mesh cuffs, presenting a translucent yet mysterious effect under the shroud of cool blue light. The special neck decoration and the striking red glove on my hand create a powerful visual anchor amid the cool tones of the entire frame, catching the eye instantly. Regarding the hairstyle, neat black blunt bangs combined with purple-red gradient tips, topped with a white uniquely shaped headpiece on the side, showcase a fantastic dynamic streamline feel when waving props.
The shooting environment was set up with immense atmosphere; the set utilized extensive blue ambient lights and flowing drapes to simulate deep-sea light and shadow. Props were also thoroughly prepared: a massive white shell throne, scattered pearl strands around, and foreground water splash effects made the entire frame look rich and thematically consistent. Photo 3 is a dynamic snapshot of me holding the custom prop weapon; the weapon's purple-pink gradient finish showed great texture under studio lights, faithfully restoring the character's battle-ready tension alongside the camera angles captured by the photographer. The weight balance on the weapon grip was well made, preventing it from slipping out of hand while posing.
In Photo 2's seated frame, I particularly love the compositional design using the large shell as seating. Wearing these pointed high-heeled boots and pattern-adorned Stocking outfit elements (black over-the-knee stockings), sitting sideways presented very sleek leg lines. The leg strap decorations cleverly echoed the boot cuffs' color scheme, appearing sophisticated under blue lighting. Beyond live lighting arrangements, post-processing added composite water flow effects and blurred bubbles to the entire set, giving the static studio shoot visual fluidity and an underwater illusion of weightlessness.
For makeup, to fit this cool, glamorous, and slightly aggressive character trait, I chose a clear, clean base paired with cool-toned eyeshadows—focusing on deepening the contours of eyeliner and eyeshadow. Paired with light blue-grey contact lenses, my gaze appeared significantly sharper before the camera lens. What proved quite challenging during Cosplay photography was keeping the sheer cuffs smooth; this fabric easily snags or sticks together, requiring re-adjustment whenever movements were slightly larger.
Before this shoot, the photographer and I communicated extensively regarding light and shadow angles; the fully immersive cool-toned lighting allowed me to completely merge into the environment, while a touch of warm highlight was intentionally preserved on my face to ensure it wouldn't turn into a lifeless blue face in photos. This trial in light balancing vastly elevated the final photo texture. This entire work is not merely a Game character recreation of appearance, but also an effective exploration of fabric textures and underwater atmospheric vibes in Honkai: Star Rail.