[Herta Cosplay] In the Universe of Honkai: Star Rail, I Too Am a Visitor to the British Library Exhibition

This photo set was shot in a real-scene setup displayed at the British Library Exhibition, perfectly matching the retro and mysterious vibe I wanted for my Herta cosplay. Honestly, from preparing this outfit to the shoot itself, the whole process had quite a backstory.

Herta as a character has an incredible amount of costume detail: an off-the-shoulder design paired with a blue-and-white spliced skirt, along with that iconic lock-clasp decoration on the chest. I chose a long silver-gradient wig, and spent a lot of time adjusting the headpiece and blue necktie to achieve maximum accuracy. During makeup trials alone, I experimented with the eyeshadow tones several times because the character naturally exudes a cool yet nimble aura, making eye expression crucial.

On the shooting day, we arrived at the British Library Exhibition venue first. The real-scene setup was packed with texture—dark retro-patterned wallpaper, heavy natural wood furniture, and an oil painting on the wall created a dark yet ornate tone, closely fitting the spatial setting where Herta resides. To capture different perspectives, the photographer selected a classic high-backed wooden chair as the main prop. In this photo set, rather than sitting primly in the chair, I chose to sit on the smooth tabletop, which better showcased the full costume's details and lower-body structure. The wood grain reflections on the tabletop had fantastic texture, creating a great color resonance with the white socks and black chunky-heeled boots.

As you can see in the photos where I extend my legs leaning beside the chair back, or sit cross-legged on the tabletop reaching out my arms, these were all spontaneous adjustments we made on location. Because the high-backed chair itself is carved wood with intricate lines, simply sitting on it sometimes made the frame look cluttered; sitting on the table instead allowed us to use the chair as a background frame, locking the visual centerpiece firmly on me. To capture that lightweight feel during the shoot, I kept controlling my center of gravity to make my body lines look more graceful rather than stiffly frozen.

Speaking of how the costume feels to wear, the materials chosen fit the character design well. The upper-body fabric is crisp and structured, ensuring the shoulder lines and collar retain their shape without sagging, while the skirt uses a lighter fabric with nice drape, allowing it to spread out naturally when sitting. However, when wearing the wig, it's essential to secure it properly, as turning your head and adjusting poses repeatedly can easily shift the bangs out of place, so we touched up the styling in the mirror during breaks.

What tested us most in this photo set was controlling the overall atmosphere. Dim lighting demands higher facial 3D definition for cosplayers, so base makeup and contouring had to be heavier than daily makeup while maintaining skin texture, otherwise it easily looks greasy or chalky in dim environments. The combination of white socks and black boots, accented with a touch of purple, gave the lower body a strong presence in the frame—especially when placing my legs on the tabletop, where the line extension added dramatic tension.

Overall shooting efficiency this time was great. Being able to complete a Herta cosplay in a real-scene venue full of exotic charm and academic aura was a truly precious experience. The scene arrangement gave me plenty of inspiration as well—sometimes you don't need overly fancy lighting; as long as the atmosphere is right and paired with proper body language, the character itself radiates a unique appeal.