[Gongsun Li Cosplay] Smoke of Partings Water Reflections, The Cinematic Feel of Backlit Photography

Shooting this water-based backlit photography blockbuster for Smoke of Partings, the primary challenge to solve was this highly recognizable head styling. The two exaggerated circular hair buns, coupled with dripping tassels and golden chains, not only had to stay upright but also maintain symmetrical stability during shooting. A lot of thought went into fixing the wig and balancing the weight of the hair ornaments. The layers of the clothing are also quite rich, with white and ink black as the primary color scheme, supplemented by red accents. The wide water sleeves and irregular hemline present an excellent sense of drape when standing still or holding the blade.

Regarding props, to fit the character's temperament, I selected a long blade prop with a white sheath. Considering the balance point when held by a single person, this blade needed to be gripped steadily with one hand. In the actual shoot, I chose to cross my hands in front of my chest, which can both enhance the frame's strength through visual guidance and prevent the long blade from being swayed by the wind to affect the overall composition. Since it was an outdoor water environment, the prop's center of gravity shifts when facing the wind or turning the body, so even striking a simple pose requires core engagement to stabilize it.

This photo was shot on the roof of a boat on the lake. The boat roof was covered with circular corrugated tiles, and the feel underfoot was completely different from flat ground, carrying a natural rise and fall. This environment perfectly fits the elegant feel of being immersed in the martial arts world and sailing on the water in the Smoke of Partings setting. However, to avoid getting the clothing hem wet when boarding the boat, the range of motion was somewhat limited. Fortunately, the photographer caught a brilliant backlit moment where the top light poured down from slightly behind the head, outlining a clear golden silhouette along the edges of the hair strands and tassels. At the same time, the shimmering waves on the lake acted as a natural soft reflector, filling the facial light softly without harshness, and the translucent quality of the entire negative emerged instantly.

The accompanying words of the original post carry a hint of aestheticism and regret, and the Smoke of Partings look itself bears a cool and melancholy temperament. To fit this atmosphere, I didn't use too many exaggerated expressions, but instead tried my best to restrain my gaze and emotions, maintaining a calm yet undercurrent-surging feeling. Putting on, taking off, and moving in the costume also limited part of the execution; for instance, the wide cuffs easily blocked the hands when not holding the blade, so during composition, I deliberately adjusted the angle of my elbows to ensure the hands and the grip of the hilt were clearly visible in the frame.

As an outdoor shoot, weather conditions were actually a major test. There was a breeze on the water surface that day, and even a slight gust would cause the tassels on the hair ornaments to dance wildly, requiring us to seize the shutter during gaps when the wind died down. Meanwhile, boarding the boat and stepping on the boat roof also posed challenges to keeping the costume clean, but fortunately, the final images showed no continuity errors or out-of-character issues. Overall, this photoset hopes to present a sense of tranquility akin to a traditional Chinese ink wash painting, allowing viewers to project themselves into that martial arts fantasy realm filled with grievances and love. Focusing on the restoration of every detail and the transmission of emotion was the greatest harvest of this shoot.