Writing a thesis and being completely stuck is so painful, so painful, so painful. Sitting in front of the computer screen all day with a blank mind and messy data. Not wanting to keep draining myself in the dorm, I simply went out to do some cosplay to find an emotional outlet.
For this set of photos, I chose an altered Japanese style costume with a main palette of white, teal green, and soft pink. To match this Anime-style outfit, I specifically picked a teal green twin-tail wig with naturally curved ends, accented on both sides with pink and gold interwoven floral accessories to create a cool and delicate aesthetic. Since the hairstyle is quite eye-catching, I spent considerable time styling the wig beforehand to ensure it looked seamless and well-fitted.
In terms of makeup, I usually wear everyday styles, but to match the overall 2D vibe this time, I focused heavily on the eyes. I wore blue-grey colored contacts, broadened the eyeshadow blending area, slightly elongated the outer eye corners, and applied false eyelashes to make the gaze look more spirited. The base makeup was kept fair and fine-textured, which, paired with light pink blush and lipstick, gave a doll-like modeled finish.
The shooting location was a specially arranged Japanese-themed set. The backdrop featured purple wisteria vines and orange-red maple leaves, creating a vibrant color contrast that beautifully complemented my teal green hair. The photographer directed the scene while I adjusted my poses as requested. The first few shots were fairly standard half-body poses, but for the cover photo, I chose a top-down overhead angle where I slightly tilted my head up toward the camera. This angle not only highlighted the textures and details of the collar and sleeves, but also gave the facial expression dynamic tension rather than feeling stiff. In terms of props, I wore a large golden openwork pendant on my chest, which was a very exquisite accessory. A red crest pattern was applied to my left arm, adding a subtle touch of character detail. The entire photoshoot took about half a day; though somewhat tiring, shifting my full attention to styling and the lens truly helped dissipate a lot of thesis-related anxiety.
Taking these photos allowed me to experience a completely different identity. Sitting back in front of the computer now, although the thesis challenges remain, my mind is much calmer. Thinking about it differently, many bottlenecks in thesis writing are quite similar to assembling a complex cosplay look: both require breaking down details and tackling them step by step. After organizing these photos, it's time to face those dry literature reviews and experimental data again—hopefully with some fresh inspiration this time.